SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 1707
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade, March 21, 2023
Title: An act relating to bingo conducted by bona fide charitable or nonprofit organizations.
Brief Description: Concerning bingo conducted by bona fide charitable or nonprofit organizations.
Sponsors: Representatives Kloba, Reed and Eslick.
Brief History: Passed House: 3/4/23, 96-0.
Committee Activity: Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade: 3/16/23, 3/21/23 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Eliminates the requirement in the definition of bingo that a game must be conducted only in the county within which the organization is principally located.
  • Requires organizations licensed to conduct bingo games be based in Washington and is limited to a maximum of three licenses to conduct bingo activities.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, FINANCIAL SERVICES, GAMING & TRADE
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Stanford, Chair; Frame, Vice Chair; Dozier, Ranking Member; Boehnke, Gildon, Lovick, MacEwen and Mullet.
Staff: Clinton McCarthy (786-7319)
Background:

The Legislature has declared fund-raising by bona fide charitable and nonprofit organizations to be in the public interest. In addition to specific fund-raising events, charitable and nonprofit organizations may conduct bingo games up to three times per week. Bingo games are those in which prizes are awarded on the basis of matching numbers or symbols on a card to numbers or symbols selected at random. Bingo cards may be sold only at the time and place where the game is conducted. In 1999, bona fide charitable and nonprofit organizations began offering satellite bingo. This game allows bingo halls to join together once or twice daily—during operating hours—to offer a large guaranteed prize to one winner within this state.

 

In 2002, the Legislature removed provisions that limited charitable and nonprofit organizations from conducting bingo or using their premises to conduct bingo more than three days a week.  Charitable and nonprofit organizations licensed to conduct bingo were permitted to share bingo facilities.  Organizations that conducted bingo games more than three times a week were directed to include a warning on the hazard of pathological gambling on any of its advertising or promotion of its gambling activities.  

 

The definition of the term bingo in current statute requires games to be conducted within the county where the charitable organization or non profit is principally located.  
Summary of Bill:

The requirement that games be conducted within the county where the charitable organization or non profit is principally located is removed from the definition of the term bingo.  A bona fide charitable or nonprofit organization must be principally located in the state of Washington, and is limited to three licenses to conduct bingo activities. 
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO:  Some non-profits operate outside of one county.  Bingo is a social activity that brings people together.  Even though the non-profit wants to offer Bingo in one county, they want to cross into another county to have Bingo in a second county as well.  For organizations that straddle county lines, the current law is difficult.  Bingo allows for the building of communities that are really important in the post-COVID environment.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Shelley Kloba, Prime Sponsor; Nathan Phillips, Northshore Senior Center.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.