BILL NUMBER: S5614
SPONSOR: ADDABBO
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to removing
restrictions on the frequency certain authorized organizations may
conduct bingo games
 
PURPOSE:
Modifies the restrictions on how often a senior center, church or other
similar organization can hold recreational bingo games.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of this bill amends General Municipal Law § 495-a(2)(1)(13)
and (C) to change the restriction that certain groups can only hold
recreational bingo games from once a week, or 30 times in one year to
twice a week, or 60 times in one year.
Section 2 of this bill provides the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Assisted living and senior residences often hold recreational bingo
games for the amusement of their residents. Participants do not have to
pay to play, and, by law, the individual prizes must be worth under ten
dollars, or a total of one hundred fifty dollars on any calendar day.
Prizes are usually low-cost household necessities, like paper towels or
small packages of toilet paper. Many seniors enjoy bingo and would like
to be able to play more than once a week, or 30 days a year.This form of
bingo is not gambling, since the participants do not have a financial
stake in the game and receive only a nominal prize. The bill would
remove the artificial and unnecessary restriction on the number of days
a group can hold a recreational bingo game and allow them to decide how
often to play bingo based on the interest of their participants.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
N/A
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There is no fiscal impact on the State or local governments.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law.