What's happening
This bill expands and clarifies bingo regulations for residential complexes, allowing more frequent games and including housing authorities.
Why it matters
Broadens eligibility. by explicitly allowing housing authorities (in addition to apartment, condo, and retirement complexes) to hold bingo games, which could increase social and recreational opportunities for more residents, particularly those in public or subsidized housing.
Increases frequency of permitted games. from 15 days per year to 2 days per week, allowing residents to participate more regularly and potentially fostering stronger community engagement and social interaction.
Permits guests. invited by residents to join games, making these activities more inclusive and encouraging broader community and family involvement in residential settings.
Clarifies compensation rules. by specifying that no one can be paid to conduct or assist with the games, helping to ensure these activities remain non-commercial and purely for recreation, potentially reducing risk of exploitation or unregulated gaming.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand Bingo Game Access
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to racing, gaming and wagering
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.375
- Referred to racing, gaming and wagering
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
177
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. HELMING -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to the operation of bingo games
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Clause (B) 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, is amended to read as follows:
(B) within any apartment, condominium or cooperative complex, housing authority, 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 and guests invited by such residents, [(III)] (II) no player or other person furnishes anything of more than one dollar in value per game for the opportunity to participate, [(IV)] (III) the value of the prizes shall not exceed ten dollars for any one game or a total of one hundred fifty dollars in any calendar day, [(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] is paid to conduct or assist in conducting the game or games.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04987-01-9
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 the operation of bingo games
Purpose
This bill provides provisions related to bingo games for housing author- ities and retirement communities.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 Amends the general municipal law to provide provisions related to bingo for housing authorities and retirement communities.
Section 2 sets an immediate effective date.
Justification
Recent changes to the bingo laws strictly limit when the game may be played, how often and by whom. This bill would expand these limitations to allow housing authorities to conduct bingo games and allow residents to invite guests to play for no more than $1.00 a game, two days a week. Enjoying this past time is something many residents like to do and should not inhibited from doing so.
Prior legislative history
2018: S.8721-Referred to Racing, Gaming and Wagering
Fiscal implications
None.
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.