AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- NON-CHARITABLE BINGO (Creates a new chapter to provide for non-charitable bingo by the state lottery division.)

H8154

2026 -- H 8154
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LC005605
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- NON-CHARITABLE BINGO

Introduced By:
Representative William W. O'Brien

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
House Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Title 11 of the General Laws entitled "CRIMINAL OFFENSES" is hereby
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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 71
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NON-CHARITABLE BINGO
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11-71-1. Definitions.
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The following definitions apply within this chapter:
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(1) “Allowable electronic bingo aid” means an electronic device which satisfies the
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following criteria:
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(i) An electronic bingo aid must function primarily as an electronic aid or labor-saving
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device that requires some interaction between the player and the device, but where the numbers are
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drawn independently and apart from the device, and the device can only be utilized in a common
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bingo game along with other players competing for a common, preannounced prize;
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(ii) In addition to being tested and approved, an electronic bingo aid must provide for
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accountability, integrity, security and fairness of the game. As such all electronic cards in play
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during any bingo game must be fully accounted for at any time during and after the game by an
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independent accounting means and must be fully verifiable at any time by an independent
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verification means;
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(iii) Electronic cards available to players shall be part of a predetermined deck, group or
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series of cards, no two (2) of which shall be alike, and electronic cards shall not be arranged or

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distributed so as to give any player preference to any particular card. All cards must have an equal
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chance of winning;
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(iv) In order to insure the integrity and fairness, the electronic aid shall preclude any
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unauthorized transfer or substitution of electronic cards during (after the start of) any bingo game;
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(v) As the primary function of the system must be to assist the bingo player as the player
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plays bingo, the system must not generate the bingo numbers utilized in the game. Upon the player
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calling “bingo”, the player's winning card must be simultaneously displayed to all players playing
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bingo to allow all players the opportunity to verify the winning card;
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(vi) The particular arrangement of numbers required to win a particular game shall be
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clearly displayed on or through the electronic aid before the start of the game without the necessity
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of any player action or inaction; and
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(vii) The called bingo numbers must be presented on the electronic aid as they are
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announced by the bingo caller without the necessity for any player action or inaction.
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(2) “Bingo” means a game of chance in which each player receives a bingo card, either
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paper, hard card, or electronic representation thereof. Each bingo card, whether paper card, hard
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card or electronic representation thereof, is defined as a series of five (5) vertical rows of five (5)
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predetermined numbers ranging from one through seventy-five (75). Numbers are drawn or
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otherwise obtained by chance, from a set of consecutively numbered balls of essentially equal size,
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weight, and shape, and publicly displayed or otherwise publicly made known. The player first
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having a specified patterned of announced numbers appearing on their card, upon verification by
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an authorized person and/or through electronic or computer verification means or otherwise, shall
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be declared the winner.
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(3) “Bingo equipment” means the receptacle from which the numbered objects are drawn,
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the display board upon which the numbered objects are displayed, the master board or bingo rack
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upon which the numbered objects are placed upon being drawn, bingo cards, electronic
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representations or otherwise, and any and all computer and/or electronic systems which are utilized
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as electronic aids in playing and verifying bingo, and any and all other articles essential to the
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operation, conduct, and playing of bingo.
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(4) “Director” means the director of the division.
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(5) “Division” means the state lottery division of the department of revenue and/or any
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successor in interest thereto.
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(6) “Hosting facility” refers to the Lincoln gaming facility and the Tiverton gaming facility.
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(7) “Non-charitable bingo operator” means a non-charitable entity authorized by the
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division to host and conduct bingo.

LC005605 - Page 2 of 5
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11-71-2. Operation of non-charitable bingo games.
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(a) The division shall have the power and authority to license, regulate, supervise and
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exercise general control over the operation of non-charitable bingo at a hosting facility including,
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but not limited to, the conduct of bingo, the distribution of prizes, and the use and licensing of bingo
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equipment, the use and licensing of allowable electronic bingo aids, the licensing of a non-
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charitable bingo operator as well as persons, firms, corporations in the business of the sale and
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rental of bingo equipment. The Rhode Island state police shall have the power and authority to
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investigate as to the direct or indirect ownership or control of any licenses and to revoke or suspend
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any license for just cause after a hearing.
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(b) Any non-charitable bingo operator approved by the division may promote, carry on, or
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conduct the game of bingo provided as follows:
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(1) Bingo is conducted at a hosting facility.
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(2) No person under the age of eighteen (18) years shall be permitted to play the game.
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(3) Notwithstanding any regulation to the contrary, the division shall have regulatory
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authority over marketing regarding non-charitable bingo.
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(c) Within one hundred eighty days (180) of enactment of this section, the division shall
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promulgate regulations for non-charitable bingo.
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11-71-3. Allocation of non-charitable bingo revenue.
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(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 42-61-15, the division of lottery is authorized to
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enter into an agreement to allocate non-charitable bingo revenue among the state, the state’s
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authorized non-charitable bingo operator, and the host municipalities.
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(b) The allocation of non-charitable bingo revenue shall be:
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(1) To the state, fifteen percent (15%) of non-charitable bingo revenue;
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(2) To the non-charitable bingo operator, eighty-four percent (84%) of non-charitable
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bingo revenue;
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(3) To the town of Lincoln and the town of Tiverton collectively, one percent (1%) of non-
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charitable bingo revenue, divided whereby the town of Lincoln receives eighty percent (80%) of
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such allocation and the town of Tiverton receives twenty percent (20%) of such allocation; provided
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that, the amounts received under this subsection shall be credited towards the Lincoln Minimum
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and Tiverton Minimum, respectively, pursuant to § 42-61.2-7.
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(c) Non-charitable gaming revenue allocated to the state shall be deposited into the state
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lottery fund for administrative purposes and then the balance remaining into the general fund.

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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC005605
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LC005605 - Page 4 of 5
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- NON-CHARITABLE BINGO
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This act would create a new chapter to provide for non-charitable bingo by the state lottery
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division.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC005605
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LC005605 - Page 5 of 5