Friday, March 20, 2015
COLUMBUS
A new group has formed to advocate for nonprofits that use charitable bingo to raise funds.
United Charities of Ohio wants lawmakers to update state laws that affect such games, including allowing electronic instant bingo and letting patrons bring their own alcoholic beverages to parlors.
Backers say such changes are needed to enable charitable fundraising efforts to compete with the state’s casinos, racinos, lottery games and other gaming options.
“In the last few years, more charities than I can count have vanished,” said Jason Bogavitch, who helps to run the Children’s Toy Fund in Stark County, which provides toys and entertainment to children suffering from serious illness and disease. “Their stories, their missions evaporated as the landscape of charitable gaming became more difficult. This process is accelerating to the point I fear within the next decade, there won’t be much left to represent charitable gaming.”
More than 2,100 locations hold licenses to offer the games;
licensees say they are seeing fewer players and funds raised through instant bingo, thanks to other gambling options in the state.
“We scrape for every single penny,” said Jenny Pike, president of the Humane Society of Columbiana County, which relies on instant bingo cards for some of its fundraising activities. “... Many people aren’t educated about the gambling and how it helps the communities. Well, if you want to know, just ask me.”
Read more about the matter in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.