What's happening
The bill amends bingo regulations, limiting games to one day per week and thirty times per year in certain residential and organizational settings.
Why it matters
Reduces the frequency of bingo games. in residential complexes and organizational settings, meaning residents and members will have fewer opportunities for recreational bingo—potentially affecting social activities for seniors, clubs, and similar groups.
Imposes stricter limits (one day per week and thirty times per year). on when bingo can be held, which could impact groups that relied on more frequent games for community engagement or fundraising (even if prizes are small and participation is free).
Expands the list of eligible organizations. to include religious and not-for-profit groups, possibly increasing access for some communities while simultaneously restricting how often all such groups can host bingo games.
Aims to tighten oversight of informal gambling. by reducing loopholes or excessive use of recreational bingo, possibly reflecting concerns about unregulated gambling or its social impacts in residential and organizational environments.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Limit Bingo Game Days
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.470
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading cal.526
- Substituted for A6212A
- Referred to racing and wagering
- Returned to assembly
- Repassed senate
- Amended on third reading 3917a
- Vote reconsidered - restored to third reading
- Returned to senate
Show 7 earlier actions
- Recalled from assembly
- Referred to racing and wagering
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 59–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.350
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to racing, gaming and wagering
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Limit Bingo Nights Yearly
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Daniel Rosenthal
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3917--A Cal. No. 350
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 21, 2019
Introduced by Sen. STAVISKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering -- committee discharged and said bill committed to the Committee on Rules -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to a third reading, passed by Senate and delivered to the Assembly, recalled, vote reconsidered, restored to third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to the operation of certain bingo games
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. 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 dollars for any one game or a total of one hundred fifty dollars in any calendar day, (V) such games are not conducted on more than [fifteen days] one day per week and not more than thirty times during any calendar year, and (VI) 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
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08837-03-9
S. 3917--A 2
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, (III) such games are not conducted on more than [fifteen days] one day per week and not more than thirty times during any calendar year, (IV) no person other than a bona fide active member of the organization, club or association participates in the conduct of the games, and (V) no person is paid for conducting or assisting in the conduct of the game or games.
§ 2. 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 the operation of certain bingo games
Purpose of bill
To increase the number of days on which senior citizen groups are permitted to conduct bingo games.
Summary of specific provisions
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.
Current law restricts the number of bingo games conducted by senior citizens groups to fifteen days during any calendar year. This bill is aimed at senior groups that meet in their apartment building, condo or cooperative, retirement community, other group residential complex or facility, or religious organization where such games are conducted sole- ly for the amusement and recreation of its residents.
No player or other person is allowed to furnish anything of value for the opportunity to participate. 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. No person other than an employee or volunteer of such complex, community or facility is permitted to conduct or assist in conducting the game or games. The same conditions apply to 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.
Justification
Bingo is a recreational activity long enjoyed by seniors. It helps to break down the walls of isolation through social interaction. The sched- uled activity gives them a reason to get up, get dressed and leave their apartment or room. It increases both their physical and mental activity. It brings a bit of excitement to their day.
This bill will allow senior citizen organizations to play 'free' bingo up to once a week and not more than 30 days per year. Free bingo is defined as a game where the value of a single prize awarded shall not exceed ten dollars and the total value of all the prizes awarded shall not exceed one hundred fifty dollars in any calendar day.
Prior legislative history
2018: S 4174 - Passed Senate.
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
Effective date
Immediate
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.