Charitable gaming; certain common interest communities qualified to conduct bingo.
HB2078 amends Virginia’s charitable gaming laws to create a specific framework for certain common interest communities, such as property owners’ associations and condominium associations that qualify as housing for older persons, to conduct bingo. The bill adds these communities to the statutory definition of “organization” eligible for charitable gaming and then limits their gaming authority to bingo only, with participation restricted to residents of the community. It also caps their activity at no more than seven days per calendar year, limits total annual gross receipts from all charitable gaming to $40,000, and sets lower prize limits than those generally applicable to other qualified organizations.
The bill also makes conforming changes to related provisions governing exemptions from fees and reporting, prohibited practices, and prize limits. In particular, the new common interest community category is treated as a limited charitable gaming participant, while existing rules on registration, supplier requirements, use of proceeds, and conduct of games remain in place. The measure does not broadly expand charitable gaming; instead, it creates a narrow exception for a defined class of residential communities and preserves Department oversight.
HB2078 would amend sections 18.2-340.16, 18.2-340.23, and 18.2-340.33 of the Code of Virginia to add qualifying common interest communities to the list of organizations eligible to conduct charitable gaming, but only for bingo and only under strict limits. It would also establish special prize caps and operational restrictions for those communities, while leaving the broader charitable gaming regulatory structure intact. The bill would affect homeowners' associations, condominium associations, older-person housing communities, and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which administers charitable gaming permits and compliance.
The only recorded vote in the available history was unanimous at the subcommittee level, with a 7-0 recommendation to lay the bill on the table. That suggests the proposal did not advance at that stage, despite no recorded opposition in the vote itself. Because there are no committee transcripts, the available record does not show detailed debate, but the vote history indicates at least procedural hesitation or a decision not to move the bill forward immediately.
The main policy issue is whether common interest communities should be allowed to conduct bingo as a charitable gaming activity at all, and if so, under what limits. Supporters would likely view the bill as a narrow, controlled expansion for older-person housing communities and similar residential associations, while potential critics may be concerned about opening charitable gaming to private residential entities, even with restrictions. The bill’s tight caps on days, receipts, and prizes, along with the resident-only limitation, appear designed to address concerns about commercialization and keeping the activity local and limited.