West Virginia House Bill HB2511

West Virginia 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/17/25
• Refer: 2/17/25
• Refer: 2/18/25
• Engrossed: 3/5/25
• Refer: 3/6/25
• Report Pass: 4/9/25
• Enrolled: 4/12/25
• Passed: 4/28/25

Caption

Relating to charitable bingo and alcohol sales and consumption while such bingo is taking places

Summary

HB2511 amends West Virginia’s charitable bingo law to create a narrow alcohol-related exception for certain nonprofit and volunteer organizations. Under the bill, alcohol and nonintoxicating beer may be sold or consumed at bingo games conducted on the premises of a fraternal beneficiary society, domestic fraternal society, veterans’ organization, or volunteer fire department, even though the general rule continues to prohibit alcohol or beer in areas where bingo is conducted. The bill also updates the statutory definition of “concession” to reflect that beverages regulated under the state’s alcohol laws can be sold at bingo events, while preserving the broader framework governing charitable bingo licensing, proceeds, and eligible organizations. The measure takes effect 90 days after passage, on July 11, 2025, and applies to bingo operations under Article 20 of Chapter 47 of the West Virginia Code.

Impact

HB2511 changes §47-20-2 of the West Virginia Code by carving out a specific exception to the prohibition on alcohol and nonintoxicating beer at bingo venues. The practical effect is to allow certain qualifying fraternal, veterans’, and volunteer fire department bingo events to host alcohol sales and consumption on their premises, while leaving the general ban intact for other bingo locations and organizations. The bill affects charitable bingo operators, patrons, and the nonprofit entities that use bingo as a fundraising activity, and it interacts with the state’s alcohol regulation provisions in Chapter 60.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have received generally favorable support overall, as reflected by its passage in both chambers and the House’s concurrence in the Senate amendment. The final votes were comfortable, especially in the House, suggesting broad acceptance of the limited exemption. At the same time, the earlier amendment votes indicate some debate over the scope and details of the proposal before final passage.

Contention

The main point of contention was whether and how far to relax the existing prohibition on alcohol at bingo games. Opponents of broader changes likely favored keeping bingo events alcohol-free to preserve the traditional charitable-bingo framework and avoid regulatory or public-safety concerns, while supporters argued for allowing alcohol sales and consumption at certain long-established community organizations such as fraternal societies, veterans’ groups, and volunteer fire departments. The amendment votes suggest the legislature considered alternative approaches before settling on the narrower exemption that was ultimately enacted.