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Committee hears bill to restore 49‑ball coverall and industry debate over bingo prize limits
Summary
Senate Bill 73 would restore longstanding bingo practice by specifying a 49‑ball coverall; the hearing also revisited a separate, unresolved industry request to raise a per‑game prize cap that split smaller and larger operators.
Senate Bill 73, which would amend authorized bingo rules to restore a 49‑ball coverall, received mostly supportive testimony in the Senate Ways and Means Committee public hearing.
Sponsor Sen. Tim Lang, R‑District 2, told the committee the bill corrects a drafting mismatch between the statute and current industry practice. “Apparently, we do 49. Somewhere in some bill we change it to 50. However, the operators were never notified. They've been working under 49 all along,” Lang said. The bill’s remaining language had been narrowed in the Senate to the single change restoring 49 balls after a separate proposal to increase the per‑game prize limit (the “bridal” limit) from $4,000 to $6,000 failed in the Senate.
Representatives of bingo halls and charities described how the 49‑ball carryover coverall works in practice and argued the revision merely clarifies existing practice. Rhonda Lane of Wolverine Youth Football Association and several bingo operators said the change corrects statutory language and helps avoid future enforcement confusion. “Everyone is in agreement with the carryover,” Lane said. She and others asked the committee to reconsider increasing the night‑of prize limit, arguing rising costs since 2008 have squeezed charitable bingo operators.
Republican Rep. Bill Bolton offered an amendment to raise the per‑game prize cap to $5,000 as a compromise; Sen. Lang said the Senate struck a proposed $6,000 increase after smaller halls objected because larger commercial halls could attract bigger jackpots and potentially draw players away from smaller, community‑based venues.
Testimony from operators and a distributor described operating costs that have grown since the last statutory change: rent, paper and supplies, and pull‑tab costs have increased substantially, industry witnesses said. Lottery staff told the committee there are roughly 10 to 12 licensed commercial bingo halls (about 10 active), with additional charity-run games not requiring commercial licensing.
No formal action was taken. Supporters said the 49‑ball change removes ambiguity. Debate about raising the per‑game prize cap remains unresolved, with smaller operators warning larger halls would benefit while larger operators and some charities asked for an increase to keep bingo competitive with other gaming options.
