Mar. 23, 2017
HARRISBURG – Legislation introduced by Rep. Kate Klunk (R-Hanover) would bring Pennsylvania’s outdated Bingo Law into the 21st century while helping nonprofit organizations attract more players by allowing for increased prize limits.
Under
House Bill 411, prize limits would increase from $250 to $500 for any one game of bingo; from $2,000 to $4,000 for jackpot games; and from $4,000 to $8,000 for total amount of prizes awarded in a calendar day.
“By doubling the prize limits, organizations, most of which are nonprofits that rely on bingo fundraisers as a means of creating cash flow, would be able to further help the communities in which they serve,” Klunk said. “A quirk in the current law forbids organizations from advertising the dollar value of cash prizes. This bill would remove that and also allows organizations to advertise bingo on the internet and through social media.”
Additionally, Klunk’s bill would remove restrictions on the number of days a licensed association may conduct bingo games, permit pre-draw bingo and allow new members of a licensed association to assist in the operation of bingo. It also would allow for guests callers, opening up the possibility for local celebrities to call numbers during games.
“Pennsylvania enacted its Bingo Law in 1981 and it has remained largely untouched since then,” Klunk said. “The legislation would greatly improve our state’s antiquated bingo law and would make it easier for organizations to offer more games and higher prizes.”
The legislation also includes a provision that would allow a volunteer fire company created from the merger of two or more companies to be immediately eligible for a bingo license. Under current law, the fire company has to wait two years before becoming eligible.
Klunk’s previous bill from last session passed the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support but the Senate failed to act on it.
Representative Kate A. Klunk
169th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Greg Gross
717.260.6374
ggross@pahousegop.com
RepKlunk.com /
Facebook.com/RepKlunk