Number Might Be Up at Some Bingo Venues

Seniors in Dana Point might have to look elsewhere if they want to play bingo.

A proposed ordinance that the City Council reviewed this week would prohibit bingo in city-owned facilities, though games could be played in other public--and private--places in Dana Point.

The ordinance doesn’t halt games at schools, churches and nonprofit organizations that play bingo in non-city facilities.

But the proposal is bad news for the Beach Cities Senior Club, which had asked the council for permission to hold bingo games at the city-owned Creekside Park Community/Senior Center.

“I’m disappointed,” senior Marion Hamm said. “I think playing bingo is a nice pastime, and it doesn’t seem to hurt anyone.”

The seniors wanted to start bingo games to “enhance programs and services” for senior citizens in Dana Point, community services manager Bonnie Nicholl said.

The seniors had planned to hold bingo games mainly as a social event.

Any proceeds, not expected to amount to much, would fund senior services.

The council voted 3 to 2 this week in favor of the bingo ban on all city-owned facilities.

One of the dissenters, Karen Lloreda, said she hoped there would be more council support for senior bingo when the proposed ordinance comes back for final approval at the next council meeting Jan. 28.

“Apparently there is a concern that bingo in some way is a type of gambling,” said Lloreda, who wants to allow seniors to play bingo. “I don’t see it quite in that light.”

The city does not have a bingo ordinance. The proposal would establish regulations, including a ban on minors participating in the games.

Organizations would have to pay $50 to obtain a license to operate bingo games.

The council decision was frustrating to Beach Cities seniors, 47 of whom signed a petition in support of allowing bingo at Creekside.

“I can’t see any reason not to do it,” Capistrano Beach senior Geraldine Wernet said.