Many counties around the United States are shutting down electronic bingo facilities, claiming that they do not fall under the traditional description of traditional bingo. Electronic bingo is quickly becoming an “illegal lottery” and those who play it are breaking the law.
The legal definition of a lottery varies by state. Gambling constitutes accepting, recording or registering bets, or carrying on a policy game or any other lottery, or playing any game of chance, for money or other things of value, according to US Legal Definitions. Tile 18, U.S.C., Sec. 1995, makes it a federal crime or offense for anyone to conduct an ‘illegal gambling business.’
Gambling is accepting, recording, or registering bets, or carrying on a policy game or any other lottery, or playing any game of chance, for money or other thing of value.
Title 18, U.S.C., Sec. 1955, makes it a federal crime or offense for anyone to conduct an “illegal gambling business.” There are three main aspects that define an illegal gambling business:
- Is in violation with the law in the state that the business resides,
- Involves five or more persons who conduct, finance, manage, supervise, direct or own all or part of such business; and
- Has been or remains in substantially continuous operation for a period in excess of thirty days, or has a gross revenue of $2,000 in any single day.
So, where does bingo fall into place? Most states have bingo amendments which will either explicitly allow or explicitly deny the right to play bingo. Most older people in America play bingo often, just not always for money.
One state that has made electronic bingo illegal is Alabama. In a recent release, Alabama law argued why the electronic bingo machines should be seen as illegal. “[The machines] accept cash or credit and then dispense prizes based not only upon elements of chance, but purely on the basis of chance. These are the quintessential hallmarks of a slot machine under Alabama law.”
Regardless of your state law, the future of electronic bingo looks grim.
