Although thousands of senior citizens spend many nights a week playing bingo for small prizes, in New York it is illegal to play the game in those cases in which money and prizes are offered, without a proper license issued by the state or a local authority. This could change if the bill passed by the state Senate and sent to Governor Spitzer is approved.

The new legislation, which has also been sanctioned by the state Assembly, would make bingo games legal, provided prizes are kept under $10. Orange County Sheriff’s Captain Dennis Barry assured that, in spite of current provisions, his office has never locked up people for playing illegal bingo.

On the other hand, state police in charge of monitoring video lotteries at raceways in Monticello and Yonkers, explained they have not carried out any operations to close illegal bingo halls, either.

If Governor Spitzer signs the bill into law, it would mean the legalization of harmless bingo games, mostly organized by charities and senior centers.