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Committee hears from nonprofits pushing to raise charity gaming chip limits
Summary
Lawmakers considered House Bill 5116 to increase daily charity 'millionaire party' chip-sale limits from $20,000 to $40,000; veterans-service organizers and charity gaming groups said higher limits would help fundraising while one tribal group submitted opposition.
Representative Rhett Mueller presented House Bill 5116 asking the committee to double the current daily chip-sale cap for nonprofit 'millionaire parties' from $20,000 to $40,000. The sponsor described the bill as a fee-limit increase only—not a change to the licensing mechanics or oversight.
Mike Cunningham, president of Veterans Treatment Assistance Corps (VTAC), said training and certifying service and therapy dogs costs "anywhere from $25,000 to $50,000," and that after event costs a charity might keep only about $3,000 out of a $20,000 cap. "I'm respectfully requesting that you guys double that amount," Cunningham told the committee.
Kim Spalsbury, gaming co-chair of the Grand Ledge Lions Club and vice chair of the Michigan Charitable Gaming Association, described how millionaire parties generate a substantial portion of local nonprofit budgets and urged indexing the chip limit to the Consumer Price Index and permitting more event days and modernized advertising rules to help small charities expand fundraising opportunities.
Committee members had few questions during the hearing; written witness cards included support from the Michigan Charitable Gaming Association and a letter of opposition from the Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians.
What happens next: The bill drew broad support from charity and supplier witnesses; committee members indicated they would work through a small number of pending concerns and amendments before advancing the measure.
