When she heard that other municipalities had ceased holding Bingo games with money on the line, Diane Patrizio, East Hampton Town's director of human services, decided to check on East Hampton's own license to conduct the game at its senior center.
She discovered that not only had the license expired, but also that under New York State's Gambling Commission regulations, it would be unlawful for East Hampton to offer bingo with monetary prizes, as it's considered gambling.
The state commission regulates games of chance, of which bingo is considered one type, and allows charitable organizations to apply for a license to run games. Such activities can also take place in private residences, retirement homes, churches, or other venues as long as no money is involved. State rules mandate that "no player or other person furnishes anything of value for the opportunity to participate," and "the prizes awarded or to be awarded are nominal," defined as not exceeding $10 for any one game or a total of $150 on one calendar day.
A township such as East Hampton is not considered a charitable organization, Ms. Patrizio said, so by extension, its senior center is not eligible to hold games of chance for money. "A senior center that is its own entity is eligible to conduct licensed Bingo," a state official wrote in an email to the town.
The end result, Ms. Patrizio said in a recent email to The Star, is that the games can continue at the East Hampton Senior Center — just without any money on the line.
East Hampton Town's bingo games are generally held on Tuesdays at the senior center, located at 128 Springs-Fireplace Road in East Hampton, starting at 12:30 p.m. State rules also limit the town's bingo games to one session per week and not more than 30 times in a calendar year.
"While there might be a few unhappy members," Ms. Patrizio wrote, "many are pleased that moving forward Bingo will be free and prizes will be awarded. I'm working with our senior citizen club leader to offer themed Bingo moving forward." C.S.