Senate Bill Report HB 1707 — Bingo Conducted by Charitable or Nonprofit Organizations (March 16, 2023)

Summary

A Senate Bill Report on HB 1707, as of March 16, 2023, for the Senate Committee on Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade, on an act relating to bingo conducted by bona fide charitable or nonprofit organizations. The brief summary states that the bill eliminates the requirement in the definition of bingo that a game be conducted only in the county within which the organization is principally located, and requires licensed organizations to be based in Washington, limited to a maximum of three licenses. The report lists Representatives Kloba, Reed and Eslick as sponsors and states Appropriation: None. Persons testifying PRO are Representative Shelley Kloba, Prime Sponsor, and Nathan Phillips of Northshore Senior Center.

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Full text

                            SENATE BILL REPORT
                                  HB 1707

                                      As of March 16, 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.


                                     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

     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




     This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative
     members in their deliberations. This analysis is not part of the legislation nor does it
     constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Senate Bill Report                              -1-                                         HB 1707
     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.




Senate Bill Report                             -2-                                        HB 1707


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