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Possible fiscal help for New Jersey drum corps??


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NJ voters yesterday PASSED a ballot question yesterday that might be a positive thing for corps, though I am 

not sure.  It allows qualified groups to use bingo proceeds for their purposes, from the way that I read it.

This also pertains to raffles.   I am not sure just how much this helps, but it can't hurt......as far as I know, it

would impact junior and senior corps......anyone with non-profit status who proclaims their purpose as

"educational".   I do know that bingo can generate a ton of money (so can well-run raffles), and bingo

has supported many corps.  Sadly, some corps lost their bingo operations (sometimes due to their own fault),

and suddenly that source of revenue was gone.

   I just hope that perhaps this has a positive impact on drum corps based in NJ.

 

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO ALLOW CERTAIN ORGANIZATIONS AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT GAMES OF CHANCE TO USE PROCEEDS FROM THOSE GAMES TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION Do you approve amending the Constitution to permit all groups that are allowed to conduct bingo or raffles to use the net proceeds from those games to support their groups? Currently, only veterans and senior citizen groups may use the net proceeds from those games to support their groups. All other groups that are permitted to conduct bingo or raffles may only use the proceeds from those games for certain purposes. They are not permitted to use those proceeds to support their groups. The amendment would allow the other groups that conduct bingo or raffles to use the proceeds to support their groups as well.

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Bingo can be a cash bonanza for an organization or a bust. Much depends on competition. Are there other successful Bingos in the area. Bingo players are often creatures of habit and will not go to other venues, so if there’s competition, it may not be successful. Do you have enough volunteers to staff a Bingo game? You need the callers, the people who sell the scratch tickets, the people who sell the concessions which is usually more than snacks. You also need set up and clean up. It takes time to establish a profitable Bingo, usually four or five years. Can you staff a labor intense activity when you may see meager profits for a while? Then there are also other factors. In Massachusetts there were profitable Bingo games that funded churches, schools, athletic booster programs, VFW, K of C, American Legion posts. A hugely popular and successful one was sponsored by the 27th Lancers. Though 27th was no more prior to laws changing, smoking was no longer allowed in public places, and that, along with Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods opening all but killed Bingo. Telling Nana that her Virginia Slims were no longer welcome at Bingo games was the same as telling Nana to stay home. Though based on the number of Bingo games I worked at, Nana’s voice often sounded like she preferred Lucky Strikes, no filter.🙂

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Given the proliferation of casino gambling not only here in New Jersey, but New York and Pa., I don't this Amendment would be any kind 

of reliable funding source.

It may help for limited, special fund raising events.

But that's about it.

 

 

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9 hours ago, Tim K said:

Bingo can be a cash bonanza for an organization or a bust. Much depends on competition. Are there other successful Bingos in the area. Bingo players are often creatures of habit and will not go to other venues, so if there’s competition, it may not be successful. Do you have enough volunteers to staff a Bingo game? You need the callers, the people who sell the scratch tickets, the people who sell the concessions which is usually more than snacks. You also need set up and clean up. It takes time to establish a profitable Bingo, usually four or five years. Can you staff a labor intense activity when you may see meager profits for a while? Then there are also other factors. In Massachusetts there were profitable Bingo games that funded churches, schools, athletic booster programs, VFW, K of C, American Legion posts. A hugely popular and successful one was sponsored by the 27th Lancers. Though 27th was no more prior to laws changing, smoking was no longer allowed in public places, and that, along with Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods opening all but killed Bingo. Telling Nana that her Virginia Slims were no longer welcome at Bingo games was the same as telling Nana to stay home. Though based on the number of Bingo games I worked at, Nana’s voice often sounded like she preferred Lucky Strikes, no filter.🙂

I understand all of your points......you have to have a good place and run it like a machine.....some corps that have done so have done very well with it.........I am not sure if it is still the case, but some of the major California corps had their own bingo halls that were enormous money makers.............all I was saying is that the opportunity is now there if a corps wishes to pursuit it at any level in NJ (and now may be a good time, as most bingo was out due to the restrictions imposed).......the new law also applies to raffles, which  can bring in decent cash as well.........

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7 hours ago, rpbobcat said:

Given the proliferation of casino gambling not only here in New Jersey, but New York and Pa., I don't this Amendment would be any kind 

of reliable funding source.

It may help for limited, special fund raising events.

But that's about it.

 

 

It can't  hurt, as the new law also relaxes things on bingo and raffles.  Every dollar counts.  Another thing interesting is this......it refers specifically to bingo and raffles, but in the intro simply says "games of chance".   Just having the ability to run a "casino weekend" somewhere, with things like blackjack, roulette, wheels, etc.........can take in a good deal of money in a matter of days.......people will come out to a "neighborhood event" if it's for a good cause and they can have some fun with a chance to win.......I once played a gig at a very well established Parochial Church and School's "casino weekend", where they used most of the money for school funding.  We were a casino act, and they also put us up, so they were spending some money.  They had all kinds of things, plus great food, etc........I know from Friday night to Sunday they cleared around $125,000........and that was in the mid 1980's.............

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7 hours ago, Bob984 said:

It can't  hurt, as the new law also relaxes things on bingo and raffles.  Every dollar counts.  Another thing interesting is this......it refers specifically to bingo and raffles, but in the intro simply says "games of chance".   Just having the ability to run a "casino weekend" somewhere, with things like blackjack, roulette, wheels, etc.........can take in a good deal of money in a matter of days.......people will come out to a "neighborhood event" if it's for a good cause and they can have some fun with a chance to win.......I once played a gig at a very well established Parochial Church and School's "casino weekend", where they used most of the money for school funding.  We were a casino act, and they also put us up, so they were spending some money.  They had all kinds of things, plus great food, etc........I know from Friday night to Sunday they cleared around $125,000........and that was in the mid 1980's.............

As I remember, in NJ, Casino Nights could only give out prizes, not cash.

Since NJ now has Casino Gambling, I would think, if anyone wants to have a Casino Night with cash payouts, they'd have to follow the same Gaming Commission rules as any other Casino.

I would also think there'd be a lot of push back from Casino owners since, under state law, its only allowed in Atlantic City.

In fact, a recent Ballot Question to expand it to the Meadowlands, went down in flames.

 

 

Edited by rpbobcat
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12 hours ago, rpbobcat said:

As I remember, in NJ, Casino Nights could only give out prizes, not cash.

Since NJ now has Casino Gambling, I would think, if anyone wants to have a Casino Night with cash payouts, they'd have to follow the same Gaming Commission rules as any other Casino.

I would also think there'd be a lot of push back from Casino owners since, under state law, its only allowed in Atlantic City.

In fact, a recent Ballot Question to expand it to the Meadowlands, went down in flames.

 

 

It's strange, because in the wording, at first they say "games of chance", but then later specifically indicate bingo and raffles.  I think you are probably right in NJ, though.......parishes would be all over it, as states where it is allowed have had enormous fundraisers through a "casino night" or "casino weekend"....still, even with just running some raffles (and not having to worry about it) can make some cash for the corps......and if they can run a bingo hall regularly, and they lock in the right place and run it well, there is good money to be had......

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So if a corps can have bingo, games of chance, etc…. Can they have smoking in the building? No smoking laws killed a lot around me as lot of smokers felt that was about the last place they could go to be social and still light up. No smoking so… why go.

Having worked corps bingo in the “light em up” days. 🤮 Two degrees out and leave coat in the car so it wouldn’t smell like a cig. Then drive home with windows down cuz can’t stand yourself. 😫 And on some nights could barely see other end of building and it wasn’t that big

Edited by JimF-LowBari
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39 minutes ago, JimF-LowBari said:

So if a corps can have bingo, games of chance, etc…. Can they have smoking in the building? No smoking laws killed a lot around me as lot of smokers felt that was about the last place they could go to be social and still light up. No smoking so… why go.

Having worked corps bingo in the “light em up” days. 🤮 Two degrees out and leave coat in the car so it wouldn’t smell like a cig. Then drive home with windows down cuz can’t stand yourself. 😫 And on some nights could barely see other end of building and it wasn’t that big

So if they serve alcohol, do the local laws allow then for smoking? I know it's apples to oranges, but at least here in Tennessee, if you have a liquor license and meet all of the capacity requirements etc., then you can have a smoking section. We ran into that with pool halls. Many pool players smoke (myself included unfortunately.) We're also notorious for being complete cheap a^$es so we don't drink. I have a single shot of Sambuca when I go to practice or play now so I can support my local room (at least that's my excuse.)

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33 minutes ago, Weaklefthand4ever said:

So if they serve alcohol, do the local laws allow then for smoking? I know it's apples to oranges, but at least here in Tennessee, if you have a liquor license and meet all of the capacity requirements etc., then you can have a smoking section. We ran into that with pool halls. Many pool players smoke (myself included unfortunately.) We're also notorious for being complete cheap a^$es so we don't drink. I have a single shot of Sambuca when I go to practice or play now so I can support my local room (at least that's my excuse.)

PA is really anal and out of date with the drinking laws. Don’t know of any bingo places that serve booze. Last I knew “private clubs” like American Legion Posts could have smoking. But ones I know only allow it in the bar area. And of course the big casino near me has booze and smoking “areas” in the main casino. Smoking “areas” as everything is open and smoke doesn’t stay in its area. 🙄

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