RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s small-scale bingo games would need licenses to legally operate under a bill backed by the Senate Finance Committee.
Committee members Tuesday passed the proposal to require for-profit “beach bingo” operators to apply annually for a $300 license.
Operating without a license could result in up to 60 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
A beach bingo game has prizes of $10 or less. The games are not limited to beaches.
Randolph Country Republican Rep. Pat B. Hurley is sponsoring the bill. He says there is no way to track how many of the operations exist in the state and licensure will be a step toward regulating them.
Current law already requires nonprofit organizations to apply for a $200 license each year to operate a bingo game.