SB 5565
In CommitteeSenate
Bingo gambling/senior groups
Permitting senior-focused groups to engage in certain bingo gambling activities.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill expands gambling permissions for senior-focused organizations by allowing them to hold weekly bingo games without a state license and raise up to $10,000 annually—up from the general $5,000 cap—while maintaining strict rules on transparency, recordkeeping, and use of funds. It formally includes senior centers and 55+ communities in the definition of eligible nonprofits for bingo and raffles.
- Adds explicit inclusion of senior centers, housing organizations, living centers, and 55+ communities as eligible 'bona fide nonprofit organizations' for bingo and raffles under state law.
- Allows qualifying senior-focused organizations to hold one bingo game per week (up to 52 times per year), whereas most other nonprofits are limited to two events per year, totaling no more than 12 consecutive days.
- Raises the annual gross revenue cap for bingo by senior-focused groups to $10,000, while other nonprofits remain capped at $5,000 for all gambling activities combined.
- Permits these groups to operate bingo and raffles without a state license, provided they follow all other legal requirements—including local police notification, recordkeeping, and use of funds for nonprofit purposes.
- Requires that all revenue (after prizes and expenses) be used only for the organization’s charitable or nonprofit mission, and prohibits paying staff or members for organizing the events.
Who is affected
- Senior-focused organizations — Senior centers, housing organizations, living centers, and communities where at least 55% of residents are age 55 or older gain new permission to hold weekly bingo games and raise up to $10,000 annually from bingo without a state license, as long as funds support their nonprofit missions.
- General charitable and nonprofit organizations — Existing qualified nonprofits (e.g., charities, credit unions, employee groups) retain current ability to run limited raffles and bingo without a license, with added clarity that senior-focused groups are now explicitly included under the same rules.
- Local law enforcement agencies — Local police agencies must be notified at least 5 days before any bingo or raffle event, increasing administrative coordination but ensuring transparency.
- State government employee groups — State employees participating in approved raffles for the State Combined Fund Drive or other approved charities gain a streamlined, license-free way to raise funds—though only among fellow agency employees.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Senior centers and 55+ communities gain explicit eligibility to conduct weekly bingo without a state license and raise up to $10,000/year—doubling the previous cap—potentially strengthening their financial base to support programming, meals, transportation, or social services for older adults, especially in underserved areas where public funding is limited.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(4), Sec. 2(2)(b), (3)(b)Increased revenue from bingo can support educational and recreational programming for seniors (e.g., health literacy workshops, technology training, intergenerational activities), helping combat social isolation and promote lifelong learning—particularly valuable in rural or low-income communities with limited access to senior services.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(4), Sec. 2(2)(b), (3)(b)By enabling senior-focused nonprofits to raise up to $10,000/year more easily, the bill may improve access to health-related services (e.g., medication adherence programs, mental health support, wellness screenings) delivered through senior centers—addressing critical gaps in geriatric care access for low-income and rural older adults.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1(4), Sec. 2(2)(b), (3)(b)The bill strengthens transparency and accountability by requiring local police notification, detailed recordkeeping, and strict use-of-funds restrictions—reducing risk of misuse while preserving the exempt status of these activities, which aligns with public expectations of nonprofit integrity.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(5), (6), (7)Senior housing organizations and 55+ communities gain new fundraising flexibility to support affordable housing maintenance, utility assistance, or home modification programs—helping older residents age in place safely and avoid institutionalization, especially in high-cost regions like King or Snohomish counties.
HousingPeopleRef: Sec. 1(4), Sec. 2(2)(b), (3)(b)
Potential Concerns (5)
Local law enforcement agencies must be notified at least 5 days in advance of each bingo event, increasing administrative burden for police departments—especially in rural or under-resourced jurisdictions—though this is a modest increase given the existing notification requirement applies broadly to all exempt gambling activities.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 2(2)(b), (3)(b)The bill may modestly increase regulatory oversight by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB), but the fiscal impact is stated to be within current budget allocations, implying no net new cost to state taxpayers.
FinancialRef: Fiscal Impact sectionAllowing weekly bingo (52 events/year) for senior-focused groups—up from the current 2 events/year limit for most nonprofits—could increase exposure to problem gambling among vulnerable populations, though the bill maintains all existing safeguards (e.g., no staff compensation, fund-use restrictions) and does not relax oversight beyond existing exempt activity rules.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 2(2)(a)The $10,000 annual bingo revenue cap for senior-focused groups is double the general $5,000 cap, but this still represents a very small amount of revenue for most nonprofits; the change is unlikely to significantly affect financial sustainability for most organizations, especially compared to broader funding challenges they face.
FinancialRef: Sec. 2(4)(a)The bill explicitly prohibits paying staff or members for organizing bingo events, which maintains the current restriction but could limit flexibility for organizations seeking to hire part-time or contracted help to manage increased activity—though this is unlikely to be a practical constraint given the low revenue cap and volunteer-based nature of exempt gambling.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 2(2)(b), (3)(b)
Who Is Most Affected
Senior centers, housing organizations, and 55+ communities gain new ability to raise up to $10,000/year from weekly bingo without a state license—potentially improving program sustainability and service delivery for vulnerable older adults.
General charitable nonprofits retain current exemptions but face no change in their own limits; however, the bill adds clarity and inclusion, reducing ambiguity and potential enforcement disparities.
Local police departments face a modest increase in notification volume (up to 52 events/year per senior group vs. 2 for others), but existing protocols and minimal administrative burden keep impact low.
State employee groups (e.g., Combined Fund Drive participants) retain existing license-free raffle authority and see no change in scope or eligibility.
Older Washingtonians—especially low-income, rural, or socially isolated seniors—benefit indirectly from improved senior center funding, which can expand health, social, and transportation services.