SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6588

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Commerce, Trade, Housing & Financial Institutions, February 3, 2000

Title:  An act relating to bingo games and licenses.

Brief Description:  Changing bingo provisions.

Sponsors:  Senators Bauer, Deccio and Prentice.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Commerce, Trade, Housing & Financial Institutions:  2/3/2000 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, TRADE, HOUSING & FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6588 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Benton, Hale, Rasmussen and Winsley.

Staff:  Catherine Mele (786-7470)

Background:  Charities and nonprofits engage in the following gambling activities: punchboards/pulltabs; bingo operations; social card room operations; raffles; fund raising events (Reno nights/casino nights); and amusement games.  The law limits the number of times a charity or nonprofit engages in some gambling activities.  Charities and nonprofits may only use their premises three days a week for bingo.  Charities and nonprofits cannot share bingo operation premises. Charities and nonprofits must give a certain percentage of monies raised from gambling to their stated charitable purposes.

Satellite bingo began in September, 1999.  This game allows  charitable and nonprofit bingo halls to join together once or twice daily to offer a large guaranteed prize to one winner within the state.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The Gambling Commission may allow charities and nonprofits that offer bingo games to share bingo facilities at one location with other charities and nonprofits six days a week.  The commission may not issue new charitable and nonprofit gambling licenses until July 1, 2005.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute eliminates references that permit nonprofits and charities to offer electronic bingo.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 28, 2000.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Consolidation of bingo halls will help save money.  Electronic bingo will allow us to modernize and reach more markets.  It will increase card distribution and allow for faster playing.  The Gambling Commission supports this legislation, and is concerned about the charities and nonprofits because revenues have declined in the last couple of years.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Ric Newgard, WA Charitable Gaming; Kevin Crum, Imperials; Cheryl Strange, Residence East Corporation, Renton Bingo; Ed Fleisher, Gambling Commission.