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For years, charitable organizations have held bingo and raffle events as a way to raise funds. But under Alabama’s draconian gaming laws, even those fundraisers run afoul.
Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, is bringing legislation to clear the way for those organizations to return to hosting bingo and raffle events, arguing that they are not the intended targets of the laws on the books.
“The attorney general came out with an opinion that I think he is absolutely right in the way he is interpreting the law and that you can’t do it,” Hill said. “It is a gaming matter certainly when you’re drawing bingo balls or raffle; it is a game of chance. I totally agree with the attorney general’s rationale and why he stopped it. We need to carve out an exception for entities like athletic associations things like that that can operate absolutely legally.”
The Legislature could not simply approve the bill — because it deals with gaming, it would have to come before voters as a constitutional amendment.
The legislation simply allows for traditional bingo and traditional raffle games to be conducted for “noncommercial charitable fundraising purposes.”
Hill said his bill is not intended to create loopholes for gaming outside of the traditional concept of a bingo or raffle fundraiser.
“The nice thing is this bill will have a lot of ryes looking at it,” Hill said. “I’m certainly amenable to addressing any issues. I am not trying to do anything clandestine.”
The House passed a comprehensive gaming bill early last session, only for it to flounder in the Senate. The difficulties from last session have led some lawmakers to be skeptical of any attempts to addressing gaming at large in the upcoming session.
Lawmakers return to Montgomery to pass bills beginning in February 2025.
