Meeting details

Date: May 13, 2009

Location: Secretary of State’s Office, Blue Spruce Conference Room, 1700 Broadway, Denver, Colorado

Members Present: Bishop Dan Gincig, David Esses, Austin Gomes, Tom Bednark

Members Absent: Nick Pizzuti, Daniel Toussaint

Secretary of State Officials Present: Rudy Johnson, Mike Shea, Patrick Ryan, Shannon Bee

Meeting was called to order at 10:05 A.M.

A motion was made by Mr. Gomes to approve the March 11, 2009 meeting minutes as presented. The motion was seconded by Mr. Esses and approved by unanimous vote of the Board.

Secretary of State report

Mike Shea spoke about the charts which were distributed. The current charts show that bingo is leveling off. Occasions by quarter is down slightly, and the number of players is also leveling out from the decline. Gross wagered by quarter is in a slight decline. Gross per quarter for bingo is leveling off. The charts also show that groups seem to be selling more pulltabs per occasion (this is excluding bar and clubrooms). The number of raffles is also increasing.

Mr. Shea next reported on HCR 1003. It was passed by at least 2/3 of the House and Senate, and will be sent to the voters in the 2010 election. If it is passed by the voters, the Bingo-Raffles division would immediately be transferred to the Department of Revenue. In 2011 the Legislature would then decide ultimately where the Bingo-Raffles division would reside. The five years of existence and requirement that there be a dues paying membership was left in the law, which may be interpreted more restrictively than the office interprets the law now, if the division goes to Revenue. Chairman Gincig stated that if the Board wishes changes in the Bill, they will need to go to the Legislature and make their recommendations as to the changes they would like to see.

Public forum

Chairman Gincig introduced Tom Bednark, of Colorado Youth Basketball, as the newest member of the Board.

Chairman Gincig next asked about the new electronic equipment which was demonstrated at the last Board meeting. Mr. Shea stated that the office had just received the letter from Gametech. Mr. Esses made his report on what occurred in Wyoming when similar equipment was banned. He also looked at California which had similar problems. In Wyoming the district court found that Fast Action Bingo, which was a Gametech product, was not similar to the game of bingo and was, therefore, found illegal as it was felt the electronic game was a form of gambling. In California all electronics for bingo were almost banned because of this type of game. Chairman Gincig reported that of the players he checked with about this new game, the players in the halls felt this would not be a game that would be played regularly in a hall, but would be more of a type of game that could be utilized effectively in a bar or clubroom.

Mr. Shea reported that the Colorado Department of Revenue decided that this new electronic game was not considered a Class Three gaming device. The biggest problem with trying to get this game into Colorado is the time it will take to change the Rules to allow for this type of game and the possibility of Revenue taking the Division over. Mr. Shea stated he would provide the Board with a copy of the determination letter from our office regarding Gametech’s new electronic.

A motion was made by Mr. Gomes to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Mr. Esses and approved by unanimous decision of the Board.

Closing

Meeting adjourned at 10:48 A.M.

The next meeting of the Board will be October 14, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at the Secretary of State’s Office, Aspen Conference Room, 1700 Broadway, Denver, Colorado.