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Small games of bingo spared from ordinance
By SAUNDRA AMRHEIN, Times Staff Writer
NEW PORT RICHEY -- Small bingo games will not have to register with the county after the commission on Tuesday threw out plans to regulate all players. County commissioners voted unanimously to toss out the proposed amendment to the bingo ordinance that would have required all bingo games to register with the county and contribute money to charity. Only bingo games with 50 players or more now must register. The commission gave up the idea after organizers of small community bingo games complained about the hardship. Also, the county's citizens ordinance review committee unanimously suggested the change would be a waste of time. Nick Paglione, past president of the Suncoast Bingo Council in Port Richey, was one of several speakers at the meeting at the West Pasco Government Center trying to convince the commissioners to move ahead with more restrictions on the smaller games. His group had tipped off the county earlier this year that unregulated bingo was spreading. "What's so difficult?" Paglione said Tuesday. "(They pay) $25 to register one time and (fill out) a simple sheet to say when you have bingo." Former County Commissioner Ed Collins, who helped lead the charge with the first ordinance, said he opposed the attempt to rope in smaller games. "I think you're overregulating," Collins said. Commissioners Ted Schrader agreed. "I see absolutely no reason to do it," he said. Commissioner Steve Simon said he opposed it after talking with Pasco County Sheriff Bob White, who told him he wasn't aware of problems with bingo games. -- Saundra Amrhein covers Pasco County government. She can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6244, or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6244. Her e-mail address is amrhein@sptimes.com .
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