Bill would authorize music bingo

Nonprofit organizations would be authorized to conduct “music bingo” under a bill considered by the General Affairs Committee Jan. 26.

LB1047, introduced by Bellevue Sen. Rick Holdcroft, would amend the Nebraska Bingo Act to include music bingo as an authorized form of bingo and allow for the use of song titles, artists and musical genres as a selection method.

The measure also would increase the amount that can be charged for each bingo card from 25 cents to $1 and increase the maximum prize amount that a licensed organization may award from $25 to $50.

Holdcroft said music bingo currently is classified as a gift enterprise, which nonprofit organizations categorically are prohibited from offering.

He said the bill would remedy this problem by broadening the definition of bingo to include music bingo, which would enable nonprofit organizations to use it as a form of charitable gaming.

“LB1047 … ensure[s] nonprofit organizations can conduct one popular form of bingo and assist them with raising money for charitable purposes,” Holdcroft said.

Angela Grote, vice president of advancement at V.J. and Angela Skutt Catholic High School, testified in support of the measure. She said the funds raised through music bingo could help provide tuition assistance to students.

Traditional fundraising events have become increasingly expensive to host, she said, while music bingo events provide low overhead and high margin opportunities.

“Music bingo directly strengthen[s] the financial health and community reach of Nebraska’s charitable organizations and private educational institutions,” Grote said. “This bill provides a scalable way to turn a small investment into thousands of dollars of direct program fundraising.”

Elliott Piper, owner of The Music Bingo People, also supported the measure. He said his business typically provides over 1,000 music bingo games annually for for-profit entities, such as bars and taverns, retirement facilities and senior centers.

Expansion of the Nebraska Bingo Act to include music bingo would allow this same model to be used to support and raise money for local nonprofit organizations, Piper said.

No one testified in opposition to the proposal and the committee took no immediate action.