November Legislative Update

Changes are being proposed in Ohio, there are new personnel in Virginia, things have stalled again in Pennsylvania, and the Illinois Gaming Board has issued their first set of “Draft Rules” regulating Video Lottery Terminals (VLT’s). All this and the Department of Charitable Gaming in Kentucky wants to decide what you can buy, who you can buy it from while adding bar codes and the requirement that charities scan their tickets. Read on for more information.

1. Pennsylvania - The small games of chance bill in Pennsylvania has stalled again. The legislature heard from a lot of clubs rejecting the 20% tax so that portion was taken out of the budget bill. Subsequently, the whole bill with all the positive changes for the clubs and bingos in Pennsylvania has again been put on the back burner. If you are in Pennsylvania, we urge you to call your representative and senator and ask that they do something for the charities for a change instead of always expanding what the casinos can do.
2. Ohio - HB 155 - (Ticket Dispensers) - This bill was approved by a vote of 12-0 this week and will be sent for floor approval. There is also a bill be proposed that would increase the bingo payout to be more competitive with the states around Ohio. The bill would also do away with the “top tier” rule, would define a bingo event game as an instant bingo ticket, clarify that you can give instant tickets away as long as you account for the full profit, would allow for an organization to play three times a week and allow up to three organizations to play at the same location. This bill has yet to be introduced but should be in the next month. This would help charitable bingo games as well as fraternal and veteran clubs.
3. Kentucky - The Department of Charitable Gaming (DCG) has issued requests for proposal (RFP’s) to take over the manufacturing, distribution, and electronics of bingo in the state. We have spoken to many concerned customers and we urge you to continue to call Governor Beshear at 502.564.2611 and ask him to stop the government’s takeover of charitable gaming. ACT NOW! We have also spoken with many manufacturers and feel confident in saying that you will NOT continue to get the tickets you are used to playing, despite what the DCG may say in town hall meetings. Bill Thinnes from Douglas Press, the manufacturer of King of the Mountain™ has stated publicly that they will not be changing that game nor licensing it to anyone else. Emile Bourgoyne of International Gamco has stated the same thing as has Michael Costanza from Tabco. Can your game exist without seal card games from Douglas Press, International Gamco or Tabco? Call your state representative and state senator at 800.372.7187 and ask that they stop this state takeover of charitable gaming!
4. Illinois - There are a set of draft rules for the VLT’s that has been published by the Illinois Gaming Board. LBC has begun working with an attorney in Illinois that specializes in gaming law. If you have ideas on what changes should be made to the current Illinois charitable gaming law, please email them in or write them up and give them to your sales representative. We will compile your ideas and with the help of our attorney, look to make some favorable changes to the charitable laws in Illinois next year.
5. We have been told that Betty Bowman is retiring from the Office of Charitable Gaming in Virginia soon and her replacement has been named. Andres Alvarez is the new head of Charitable Gaming and the Department has been reorganized into Consumer Protection. LBC is seeking clarification from the office on the legality of bingo event style games as well as the use of video verifiers. A video verifier simply shows a video replication of the seal card and adds some fun animation. Bingos and clubs in other areas are using the video verifiers to add some fun and excitement to their games.