California Bingo Machines Unplugged

Bingo machines have now been banned across California, after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a preliminary injunction that had previously permitted the machines to operate in the state.

The electronic gaming machines had been banned by the California Legislature in 2008; however the preliminary injunction allowed operators to run the machines for charity events. In California, Indian tribes have exclusive rights to operate slots machines, and the state and several tribal councils felt that the bingo machines were similar.

Views of this move have been understandably mixed, with bingo organisations strongly against the ban. "They got a law passed, and they took us to court saying they are to close. They are not a slot machine. It is an electronic bingo machine," said Topo Padilla, a member of the California Charity Bingo Association and president of the El Camino High School Boosters Club.

On the other side of this argument, Doug Elmets, a representative for the Tribal Business Alliance said, "It's a slot machine, and they are slot machines. And that's why the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Legislature, and the attorney general all agreed that they need to be removed." While this may be the case, the ban is still a major loss for charity bingo halls across the state. Even though there is a ban across California you can still play online bingo.