Charity bingo to become legal in California

LOS ANGELES - OCTOBER 7: Newly elected California Governor Arnold Schwarznegger addresses supporters from the stage following his victory in the California Recall Election at the Century Plaza Hotel October 7, 2003 in Los Angeles, California. Gov. Gray Davis lost by a wide margin in the recall, while Schwarzenegger won handily over his nearest Democratic opponent, Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante. . (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)The governator is said to be considering considering a bingo bill that will allow charities throughout the state of California to host offline bingo games.

While bingo isn't the first thing one is likely to think of when it comes to Arnold Schwarznegger, the governor of California appears keen to repeal stone age gambling laws to allow the popularity of bingo to fill the coffers of the needy.

At present the SB 1369 legislation outlaws the electronic charity bingo machines previously used to generate income for hundreds of charities.

The main obstacle to the law being overturned is contractual clauses in the state's agreements with Indian casinos. If any bingo laws were overturned the Indian casinos would instantly become eligible to offer online bingo.

There are also concerns that legalising gambling would negatively effect the California state lottery, one of the worst performing lotteries in the United States.

"The extreme concern of legislative supporters of SB 1369 was eliminating the perceived threat of these charity operations to established gaming operations,” said Ravi Mehta of the California Charity Bingo Association.

"This concern was so extreme that legislators didn't take the time to consider the long-term consequences and rushed this bill through the Assembly and Senate in late August."

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