What's happening
This bill waives bingo licensing fees and increases prize limits for certain residential, charitable, and not-for-profit group bingo events.
Why it matters
Reduces financial barriers for community groups. by eliminating the bingo license fee for certain residential and not-for-profit events, making it easier for these groups to organize social or fundraising activities.
Significantly increases allowable prize values. for qualifying bingo events, raising the single-game cap from $10 to $25 and the annual total from $150 to $375, potentially making participation more attractive and rewarding for players.
Expands eligibility and flexibility. by including not-for-profit and religious organizations in the list of groups that can benefit from these changes, and by raising the frequency of allowable bingo days from 15 per year to 2 per week, facilitating more regular community engagement.
Maintains safeguards against commercial exploitation. by ensuring that only residents, members, employees, or volunteers of the relevant organizations can conduct the games, and that no one is paid for running them, reinforcing the focus on charitable and recreational purposes rather than profit.
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Who cares
Headline styles
End Bingo License Fees
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to racing, gaming and wagering
- Referred to rules
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6944
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
November 17, 2017
Introduced by Sen. TEDISCO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to waiving the licensing fee for the conducting of bingo for certain purposes
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 481 of the general municipal law, as amended by section 5 of part MM of chapter 59 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
(a) Issuance of licenses to conduct bingo. If the governing body of the municipality determines that the applicant is duly qualified to be licensed to conduct bingo under this article; that the member or members of the applicant designated in the application to conduct bingo are bona fide active members of the applicant and are persons of good moral character and have never been convicted of a crime or, if convicted, have received a pardon or a certificate of good conduct or a certificate of relief from disabilities pursuant to article twenty-three of the correction law; that such games of bingo are to be conducted in accordance with the provisions of this article and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the commission, and that the proceeds thereof are to be disposed of as provided by this article, and if the governing body is satisfied that no commission, salary, compensation, reward or recompense what so ever will be paid or given to any person holding, operating or conducting or assisting in the holding, operation and conduct of any such games of bingo except as in this article otherwise provided; and that no prize will be offered and given in excess of the sum or value of five thousand dollars in any single game and that the aggregate of all prizes offered and given in all of such games conducted on a single occasion, under said license shall not exceed the sum or value of fifteen thousand dollars, then the municipality shall issue a license to the applicant for the conduct of bingo upon payment of a
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13559-02-7
S. 6944 2
license fee of eighteen dollars and seventy-five cents for each bingo occasion; provided, however, that no such license fee shall be charged for games of bingo conducted pursuant to clause (B) or (C) of subparagraph (i) of paragraph (b) of subdivision two of section four hundred ninety-five-a of this article; and provided, further, that the governing body shall refuse to issue a license to an applicant seeking to conduct bingo in premises of a licensed commercial lessor where such governing body determines that the premises presently owned or occupied by such applicant are in every respect adequate and suitable for conducting bingo games.
§ 2. Clauses (B) and (C) of subparagraph (i) of paragraph (b) of subdivision 2 of section 495-a of the general municipal law, as amended by chapter 441 of the laws of 2007, are amended to read as follows:
(B) within any apartment, condominium or cooperative complex, retirement community, or other group residential complex or facility where (I) sponsored by the operator of or an association related to such complex, community or facility, (II) such games are conducted solely for the purpose of amusement and recreation of its residents, (III) [no player or other person furnishes anything of value for the opportunity to participate, (IV)] the value of the prizes shall not exceed [ten] twenty-five dollars for any one game or a total of [one] three hundred [fifty] seventy-five dollars in any calendar [day] year, [(V)] (IV) such games are not conducted on more than [fifteen] two days during any calendar [year] week, and [(VI)] (V) no person other than an employee or volunteer of such complex, community or facility conducts or assists in conducting the game or games.
(C) on behalf of any bona fide social, charitable, educational, recreational, fraternal, religious, not-for-profit, or age group organization, club or association solely for the purpose of amusement and recreation of its members or beneficiaries where (I) [no player or other person furnishes anything of value for the opportunity to participate, (II)] the value of the prizes shall not exceed [ten] twenty-five dollars for any one game or a total of [one] three hundred [fifty] seventy-five dollars in any calendar [day] year, [(III)] (II) such games are not conducted on more than [fifteen] two days during any calendar [year] week, [(IV)] (III) no person other than a bona fide active member of the organization, club or association participates in the conduct of the games, and [(V)] (IV) no person is paid for conducting or assisting in the conduct of the game or games.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to waiving the licensing fee for the conducting of bingo for certain purposes
Purpose or general idea of bill
To increase the number of days per week bingo games can be played and to increase the value of the prize a bingo game can pay out.
Summary of specific provisions
To amend the General Municipal Law in relation to waiving the licensing fee for conducting bingo games purposes.
Currently, law limits the value of bingo prizes to ten dollars ($10.00) for any one game or a total of one hundred and fifty dollars ($150.00) in any calendar year. Bingo games cannot be conducted on more than 15 days during the calendar year. This Bill is aimed at senior citizen groups and other similarly situated groups or organizations who meet in their retirement community, condominium, residential facility, etc. to play bingo for socialization and recreation.
This Bill would increase the value of bingo prizes up to twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for any one game or a total of three hundred seventy five dollars ($375.00) per calendar day. Games would be limited to no more than 2 days any calendar week. No person other than a member of the club, association or organization would be allowed to participate in the game. No person shall be paid for conducting or assisting the games or games.
Justification
Bingo games are important to senior citizen groups and other similar groups. Bingo games promote socialization and provide mental stimu- lation. Bingo games enhance a sense of community from what might other- wise be a lonely life. It is an enjoyable source of entertainment and comradery that is easy to organize, implement and maintain. The prize money is secondary to the socialization aspect of the event.
This Bill will allow senior citizen organizations to play "free" bingo up to twice a week. Currently the value of the prize money is limited to $10.00 per game. This Bill would increase that value to $25.00 per game or up to $375.00 per calendar year. This Bill would also allow "free" bingo up to two times per week.
Prior legislative history
New Bill
Fiscal implication
To be determined
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.