New law allows charitable groups to keep part of bingo games' profit
COLUMBUS -- Provisions of a 2003 law governing charitable bingo have been loosened, under a bill signed into law Thursday by Gov. Bob Taft.
The new law, sponsored by state Rep. Nancy P. Hollister, a Marietta Republican, allows qualifying charitable groups to keep 75 percent of the first $75,000 net profit they make from bingo games for defined operating expenses or reimbursement of expenses. At least 25 percent of the first $75,000 must go to charity.
It also increases the time organizations can conduct instant bingo games from 10 hours a day, six days a week to 12 hours a day, seven days a week.
The new law was passed by the Legislature in May.
The previous charitable bingo law was aimed at getting rid of storefront bingo parlors that flouted Ohio's charitable-gaming law by failing to report their income properly and failing to donate the required percentage to charities.
Organizations complained that under that law, their own charities were penalized because the state required them to cover their operating expenses with part of their net profits.
The new law becomes effective 90 days after being filed with the secretary of state's office.