New gaming oversight legislation passed

Friday, March 26, 1999 | 11:35 a.m.

The House gave final legislative approval to the bill last week.

Under the bill, the state Gaming Commission would review leases between charity bingo operators and their landlords.

Gaming Commission officials said they are concerned about professional lessors who rent property then charge charities exorbitant amounts for buildings to house the bingo games. The example regulators used was a professional leasing company going to an old abandoned mall and leasing space for $3,000 a month then leasing it to a bingo hall for $10,000 a month.

Gaming Commission Executive Director Chuck Patton said regulators do not expect to get into the minute details of a lease. But he said they suspect that many leases are out-of-line with what other property is renting for in a particular area.

"I think this is a boon to the charities in the state. It means the charities can keep more money," Patton said, rather than funds rather than going for the expenses of a bingo operation.

Regulators have been cracking down on bingo operations. An investigation begun last fall resulted earlier this month in former charity director Sue Hathorn pleading guilty to two misdemeanors of misusing money made at charity bingo operations.