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Frederick County Delegation approves bill allowing credit-card payments at volunteer fire-hall bingo with $500 cap
Summary
The Frederick County Delegation voted to adopt a delegation bill to allow credit-card acceptance at local volunteer fire-hall bingo events, adding an amendment that caps credit-card transactions at $500 to make the measure more palatable in committee.
The Frederick County Delegation voted during a brief meeting to make a bill a Frederick County delegation proposal that would permit credit-card payments at volunteer fire-hall bingo events, with an amendment capping each transaction at $500.
The chair (unnamed in the transcript) introduced the measure as a way to help volunteer fire departments raise revenue, saying, “Long story short, they do bingo. And right now... you can't use... a credit card or a debit card, to participate in bingo night at a local fire hall, which is, kind of absurd.” Delegates moved and seconded the item and opened discussion with senators and delegates about practical and policy concerns.
Senator Karen Lewis Young said she could not support the bill without a limit, urging a restriction such as $2.50 or $500 to make it acceptable in committee. “I cannot vote for it without that,” she said. Delegates debated appropriate thresholds, with some arguing $2.50 is conservative and others favoring $500 to accommodate family purchases at fundraising events.
The delegation discussed a logistical hurdle: statewide gaming systems currently differentiate debit and credit transactions, and credit acceptance is broadly restricted in gaming law. Delegate Fair summarized the practical challenge, describing how existing systems and Lottery guidance treat debit and credit transactions differently and explaining that allowing credit cards would require authorization and operational changes.
To respond to committee concerns and secure support, the chair revised the motion to make the measure a Frederick County delegation bill with an amendment limiting credit-card acceptance to $500 per transaction; Delegate Fair seconded the revised motion and the delegation signified approval.
The delegation recorded the motion and adoption; no formal roll-call of votes by name appears in the transcript. The chair said there was no opposition for the record.
What happens next: the delegation will submit the bill as a Frederick County delegation measure and work with committee members and Lottery staff on any technical changes or further amendments as the bill proceeds through committee.
