Lawmakers to study bingo-card tax
Posted on Thursday, August 21, 2008
BENTON COUNTY — The powerful state Legislative Council decided last Friday to study possible changes in a state tax affecting charity bingo.
The council is a 36-member group of state representatives and state senators who do required legislative business — including oversight and studies of issues — between biennial state legislative sessions.
Voters approved both bingo for charity and raffles in an amendment to the state constitution in 2006; lawmakers approved regulations for the games in 2007.
The state has a 1-cent per bingo game card tax, which raised a little more than $ 1 million in the last fiscal year.
The same study would examine licensing procedures and a current requirement that bingo operators use cards bought from in-state, licensed distributors.
The study would also consider having citizens report violations of bingo regulations. Prosecutors and police have complained about checking bingo establishments.
The Legislative Council will take testimony on the subject next month.
State Sen. Kim Hendren, R-Gravette, said he’s glad to have heard from Arkansans on the subject, but the lawmakers don’t see a solution right now.
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