Gaming: bingo.

The California Senate Committee on Governmental Organization proposes to streamline charitable bingo regulations by removing obsolete provisions related to remote caller bingo and card-minding device oversight. The legislation eliminates sections of code that previously authorized remote caller bingo operations, which expired in 2017, along with associated emergency regulations and the Charity Bingo Mitigation Fund.

The bill removes Department of Justice inspection requirements for hand-held card-minding devices while maintaining existing rules for their use during live bingo games. These portable devices may continue assisting players in tracking called numbers, but must remain limited to basic monitoring functions without determining game outcomes or connecting to other bingo equipment.

Local governments retain authority to regulate charitable bingo through ordinances, with organizations required to maintain separate accounts for bingo proceeds used exclusively for charitable purposes. The measure preserves core requirements that players must be physically present, prizes cannot exceed $500 per game, and only qualified nonprofit organizations may conduct games. Cities and counties may continue charging up to $50 for annual operating licenses plus fees covering direct law enforcement costs.