HCS SB 940 -- BINGO

SPONSOR:  Pearce (Hoskins, 121)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Veterans
by a vote of 12 to 0.

This substitute changes the laws regarding bingo.  In its main
provisions, the substitute:

(1)  Defines a "bingo card monitoring device" as a technology aid
which allows a bingo player to enter bingo numbers as they are
announced that marks or otherwise conceals those numbers which
are electronically stored in and displayed on the device and does
not include any device into which currency, coins, tokens, or
electronic funds transfer may be inserted or be dispensed or is
capable of communicating with any other bingo card monitoring
device or any other form of electronic device or computer;

(2)  Allows an organization with an abbreviated bingo license to
conduct bingo games up to 15 times annually at which only pull-
tab cards may be used.  Currently, the limit is up to four times
annually;

(3)  Requires all organizations licensed to conduct bingo games
to pay a $50 annual license fee.  Currently, certain licensed
organizations are required to pay only a $10 annual license fee;

(4)  Authorizes the Missouri Gaming Commission to establish by
regulation the maximum daily prize amount for nonprogressive
bingo games.  Currently, the aggregate retail value cannot exceed
$3,600 for any one game other than a progressive bingo game which
cannot exceed $500 and no more than one $500 prize, other than
prizes in progressive bingo games, can be awarded on any single
day of bingo;

(5)  Repeals the provision allowing a licensee to require a
player to purchase more than a standard pack of bingo cards in
order to participate in a bingo game;

(6)  Allows a licensee to conduct bingo games twice a week
instead of the current once a week;

(7)  Increases the amount which may be used for advertising from
up to 2% to up to 10% of the total amount expended from bingo
receipts;

(8)  Repeals the provision which prohibits a licensee from
referencing the aggregate value of bingo prizes which exceeds the
authorized amount by law in an advertisement;

(9)  Prohibits a bingo game from being conducted between 1:00
a.m. and 7:00 a.m.  Currently, a game cannot be conducted between
midnight and 10:00 a.m.;

(10)  Requires a licensee who conducts bingo or pull-tab
activities on more than three occasions in any calendar year to
make quarterly reports to the commission.  Currently, certain
licensees are required to report annually;

(11)  Changes the record retention requirement of a bingo
licensee from three to two years except for those records
stipulated for one-year retention by regulation;

(12)  Increases the one-time application fee for a manufacturer's
license from an amount not to exceed $1,000 to an amount not to
exceed $5,000 and the renewal fee from an amount not to exceed
$500 to an amount not to exceed $1,000; and

(13)  Requires the applicant for a supplier's or manufacturer's
license to be responsible for the total cost of the criminal
history investigation incurred by the commission.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on General Revenue Fund in FY 2011, FY
2012, and FY 2013.  Estimated Income on Other State Funds of
$5,500 to Unknown in FY 2011, FY 2012, and FY 2013.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that attendance at bingo halls has
decreased in great numbers over the past several years, and bingo
is the main venue for fundraising for many organizations.  By
making these changes, several bingo operators will be able to
stay in business.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Pearce; and Dewey Rhein,
Missouri Association of Veterans Organizations.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:15 pm