LITTLE ROCK, Ark., (ABP) — An Arkansas constitutional amendment legalizing charitable bingo and raffles passed Nov. 7, despite the efforts of Baptists to defeat it.
Amendment 1, which passed with 69 percent of the vote, will allow non-profit organizations to raise funds through bingo and raffles. It lifts a ban on such games, which were illegal under Article 19, Section 14 of the state constitution. The Arkansas Constitution also prohibits lotteries.
The new ruling will restrict bingo and raffles to authorized organizations like religious, educational, veteran and civic groups that have existed at least five years. Proceeds from the games must go to charitable or philanthropic purposes.
Messengers to the Oct. 31-Nov. 1 Arkansas Baptist State Convention annual meeting had unanimously passed a resolution urging Baptists to reject the amendment.
“If there is lax law enforcement of the restrictions on the operations of charitable bingo, large commercial bingo could be conducted … under the guise of charitable bingo,” the resolution said, adding the ballot could lead to casino-like “high-stakes Native American bingo parlors.”
Larry Page, executive director of the Arkansas Faith and Ethics Council, said his goal will be to influence legislators to write tight legislation to avoid commercial bingo and Indian “bingosinos” and assure that “charitable bingo is really charitable bingo.”
“Let's make it the best charitable bingo law in America [so] a lot of the problems won't exist here,” he said.
Rep. Shirley Borhauer, (R), who sponsored the amendment, told the Arkansas News Bureau the measure was worded narrowly enough to stop for-profit groups from exploiting it.
“This is not going to open the door to casino gambling,” Borhauer said. “You can't come down here and open up a storefront and say, 'I think I am going to open up a bingo hall for my own financial gain.'”
The amendment will take effect Jan. 1.
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