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Bill Would Allow Bingo Halls To Offer Bigger Payouts To Better Compete With Casinos

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Bingo is big business for the many churches and fire departments that use it as a source of income; and now, some lawmakers want to give you a new incentive to play.

Todd Long does the set up work for a night of bingo. It's a night crucial to the running of the Undercliff Fire Department.

"That keeps us able to keep the trucks on the road," says Long.

But bingo nights at the fire department don't bring in what they used to since the casinos went into operation.

"They took at least 30 percent to 40 percent of our business, and a lot of my clients that went to the casino have never came back to bingo," Long says.

St. Malachy's Monday night bingo has also watched its players move to the casino. Sandy Vaught has been in charge of the church's bingo for a couple decades.

"Because people would rather spend their money [at the casino], I guess," says Vaught. "It's a mainstay of the budget whatever we bring in goes for the church and the school."

It's a story played out all over western Pennsylvania by churches, schools and fire department bingo halls.

"They are their lifeblood," said Pennsylvania Rep. Nick Kotik. "That's how they pay the electric bill, that's how they pay the water and sewage bills."

Rep. Kotik, of Kennedy Township, helped pass a piece of legislation out of committee to the full house this week that will loosen the noose on bingo halls.

"If we don't help them to survive, they're going to go away, and there's going to be a void in the communities because they do so much charitable work," said Rep. Kotik.

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The legislation will allow the halls to double their payouts to better compete, and Long says it's helpful.

"Especially with the casino's giving away $100,000 prizes, and we're only allowed to give away $1,000," Long said.

The change will also lighten up on some of the daunting regulations the halls must currently follow. Rep Kotik says the money is important, but this is also about community life.

"It's a great social event for them," he says.

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