Indian Gaming > Small charities question California bingo deal

August 20, 2008

Small charities question California bingo deal

Small charities won't benefit from a bill that expands bingo operations, the California Charity Bingo Association said.

The bill allows charities and churches to offer bigger bingo games and run games simultaneously at multiple sites. Electronic bingo machines would be barred.

"Mega-organizations like the Catholic Church would do great," lobbyist Ravi Mehta told The Sacramento Bee. "But small charities … will be devastated by this."

The bill is being called a compromise between tribes and charities but the only tribes publicly identified with the proposal are the six who are part of the California Tribal Business Alliance. All six are represented by the same attorney.

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Bingo deal could hurt small charities (The Sacramento Bee 8/20)