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Local News in Brief : Action Delayed on New Bingo Rules

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The Los Angeles City Council delayed for two weeks a vote on new rules governing bingo operators after Los Angeles Police Capt. James J. Docherty complained on Tuesday that the new regulations would do little to help police crack down on so-called “paper charities.”

Claiming that the regulations had been “watered down,” Docherty asked for a postponement “to get our arguments together” against the regulations.

Councilman Richard Alatorre, who proposed the regulations, denied that they had been watered down. His ordinance would limit bingo sessions to 350 people, allow a maximum of 40 games a night at each facility, require bingo supply vendors to get a city license and establish a bingo advisory board.

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Los Angeles’ 80 licensed bingo operators collected $42 million last year. Officials say some so-called charities have forced some small church-basement games out of business.

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