No 2, Yes 3--Bingo! Games Saved

In a surprising finale, the City Council decided Tuesday night to allow a 15-year-old church bingo tradition to continue.

After first deadlocking 2 to 2 on whether to allow St. Edward Catholic Church to continue its Friday night games, the council gained a fifth voice when Councilwoman Toni Gallagher entered about two hours after the meeting had started and provided the pro-bingo vote.

“Toni saved the day,” said Gerry Williamson, a member of St. Edward. “I think the church has a right to do what they want on their property.”

Gallagher remained in her council seat for discussion of other issues and could not be interviewed about her late appearance.

The council backed off on its earlier effort to draw up a comprehensive ordinance on whether to allow bingo, by which groups and under which conditions. Instead, it decided to keep on with the policy it has used so far of observing the county code, which allows bingo licenses on private land.

St. Edward has been holding bingo games since 1982, years before the city was incorporated in 1989. Every Friday night, about 230 players, mostly senior citizens, gather in Knight Hall, calling out letters and numbers to raise money for the church school. But since the church’s county-issued bingo permit expired in October, the City Council had been debating outlawing the game.

“It’s very traditional in a Catholic church to have bingo games,” said Joe Sinacori, St. Edward principal. “It’s defrayed some of the costs for education for families. It’s a critical part of our school program. We highly value it. We would miss it terribly if it was gone.”

The issue of what to do about bingo first arose when members of the Beach Cities Senior Club asked the city three months ago for permission to play the game at their future senior center. The council denied the request because the center will be a city-owned facility.

The council then learned that schools and churches have been partaking in the gambling game for years.

St. Edward renewed its bingo license with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department every three years. City Atty. Jerry Patterson said licenses issued by the Sheriff’s Department fail to meet requirements under state law, such as specifying where bingo games can be held, who can sponsor them and how much cash can be awarded. On Tuesday night, the council voted to allow the church to continue with a Sheriff’s Department license, provided that the license meets state requirements.

All of the council members approve the idea of some bingo in the city, but in its first vote, the council deadlocked 2 to 2 over whether to allow the game on private property only or everywhere in the city.

“There is a difference of opinion as to whether gambling should be allowed in city-owned facilities, which in a way is asking the question should a public facility be involved in facilitating gambling,” Mayor William Ossenmacher said. “My opinion is no.”

But Councilwoman Karen Lloreda voted against allowing the church to continue its bingo games because she wanted the privilege extended to the senior citizens and other groups.

“It has never been our objective to instill a citywide ban on bingo,” she said, “but to stop hypocritical action of denying bingo to some and allowing it to others.”

But bingo fans said the game is a fund-raiser and a harmless form of entertainment.

“It would be in the afternoon. There wouldn’t be a lot of money involved in big jackpots,” said Evie Love, president of the senior club. “It would be low key, but still enough money to help take care of the needs at the senior center.”

The senior club, which was hoping to use the bingo funds to furnish the new center, is scrambling for ways to come up with some money, she said.