Electronic Bingo Ban Devastates Charities
Just when California charities need financial assistance the most, a new court ruling bans an important fundraising tool by blocking charities from using electronic bingo machines to raise money.
Starting February 1, 2010, California charities can no longer operate electronic bingo games, severely limiting their ability to raise desperately needed funds.
Electronic bingo machines raise millions of dollars to support local charities every year, but special interests have pushed to ban the popular games and stop this critical funding source.
Electronic bingo was put in jeopardy last year when special interests urged State Lawmakers to ban the games. In what was described as a “back room deal, legislation seeking to ban electronic bingo games was rushed through the Capitol in just 11 days. Despite strong opposition from non-profit charities, Governor Schwarzenegger signed the legislation.
Charities and disability advocates immediately challenged the law in federal court, arguing the electronic bingo machines are necessary tools to ensure players with disabilities have equal access to bingo games. Sacramento Federal District Court Judge John Mendez sided with the charities, granting a preliminary injunction in April 2009, which allowed charities to continue operating electronic machines until a trial scheduled for August, 2010.
However, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the Mendez decision in December 2009, a decision that forced charities to shut off their machines on January 31, 2010. This devastating move will leave hundreds of California charities without a reliable fundraising source unless a sufficient alternative is presented.
CCBA believes the electronic bingo machines are necessary tools to ensure players with disabilities have equal access to bingo games. Not only do the machines provide access, they also provide funding to programs that assist the disabled. Electronic bingo machines generate millions of dollars a year for charities that help Californians with disabilities, like the Society for the Blind and United Cerebral Palsy.
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