FROM THE ARCHIVES:The growing bingo craze of the 1960s was curbed by a ban on commercial bingo following a court decision that it was a lottery and not a game. – JOE JOYCE
BINGO AS a private profit enterprise has been banned. It is no longer to be recognised as a game and must now be accepted as a lottery. The news was given in a statement by the Minister for Justice Mr. [Brian] Lenihan, which was issued yesterday.
This means that bingo may now be run only for charity or philantrophy [stet]; that prize money may not be more than £500 in any week; that bingo sessions may not be advertised in press, radio or television.
Anyone intending to organise a bingo lottery will have to apply to the District Court for a licence before the end of July. Bingo already advertised for the coming week will not be affected, whether or not the prize money is over £500.
The Minister’s decision was a result of an edict from the Supreme Court.
When an application has been made the Gardai will wait for the decision of the District Court before taking action, providing the applicant “proceeds normally.” This, explained the Minister, would give promoters a reasonable opportunity of complying with the new regulations . . .
Among the bingo promoters in the country are many suburban and rural cinemas and halls, church and sports organisations and organisations – Gael Linn, for example – who may claim to be philantrophic [stet] since their proceeds are used to help Gaeltacht industries and cultural activities.
It is understood that all bingo, whether in halls or what is called fireside-bingo, will be affected.
In the latter case the radio and television media have been used both to advertise and announce results. Evening and weekly newspapers have also been used as advertising media. Prizes at present reach the £2,000 a week mark. Recognised as “charitable or philantrophic” or not, the law that declares £500 as maximum prize for the lottery will take much of the profit out of the business.
The cinema, however, may gain a little. It has been hard hit in recent years both by bingo and television. On the other hand, more charities may benefit as the bingo craze, which was becoming widespread and which led to reports to the Minister of high entry fees and high prizes, should now find an outlet in the many smaller legally limited promotions that are bound to mushroom . . .
The proprietor of a Dublin amusement arcade, where bingo sessions are held nightly, said: “I hold a licence under the gaming Act which permits me to hold bingo sessions for commercial purposes, so long as I charge no more than 6d. [pence] per person per game and give prizes of no more than 10/- [shillings] per game.
“Since the 1956 Act the number of places in the city centre where bingo sessions are held for commercial purposes has dropped from six to two. The Act has operated unfairly against us, as people are no longer interested in small rewards when such big prizes are offered elsewhere.”
[ iti.ms/LBYGIW ]