The pay for bingo callers has been stuck at $100 for over 30 years. Charitable gaming, the people who attend bingo sessions and technology have gone through so many changes these past 30 years but one thing has remained steady...a good bingo caller is vital to running successful charitable gaming through bingo. To find and keep good bingo callers, they must be paid more. After 30 years it's time to give them more.

The comments from Old Dominion Aquatic Club, a nonprofit that has been operating bingo games for over 20 years as a fundraiser, are attached. We support the elimination of the $100 cap on caller and manager pay but strongly oppose making payment mandatory. This change would impose more than $21,000 in additional costs on our small nonprofit.

As an agency that conducts bingo, I write in support of the proposed legislation that allows increased remuneration for bingo managers and callers. However, I believe the legislation should use the word “may” rather than “shall” when referring to compensation at higher rates. This change would allow flexibility for organizations—particularly those with shorter sessions or those who utilize volunteer callers and managers—to determine what best suits their needs. Raising allowable compensation is a positive step. However, I strongly encourage further discussion regarding other aspects of charitable gaming, especially the rules governing the Use of Proceeds. The increased costs associated with higher pay, along with rising supply expenses, can adversely affect how funds are reported and spent. This, in turn, creates additional hurdles for charitable organizations in meeting minimum use-of-proceeds requirements. In summary, I support enabling organizations the ability to offer fair compensation to bingo callers and managers and I urge lawmakers to explore modernizing other outdated provisions in Virginia’s charitable gaming framework. Thank you for your support and leadership.

I’ve been a bingo caller for 32 years.While everything has gone up in life the compensation to call has not.

As a participant heavily involved in an organization that operates Bingo as an ongoing fundraiser here in Virginia. I am in support of callers and managers not being throttled by $100 per session. Bingo session permits are no longer than 6 hours, so assuming a caller works the full time, the current $100 is $16 per hour. However, it is difficult to find callers due to pay being so minimal compared to other jobs that may have better/more hours. Having the ability to pay more can help us recruit new people for those positions and/or retain current ones, or find substitutes when one calls out sick. In reference to the verbiage changes in 5e I am NOT in favor of the term “shall” in place of “may.” Requiring pay for registered callers and managers could be harmful for the organizations and their minimum Use of Proceeds (UoP) especially when we have volunteer managers and callers. This can also become a reporting issue where callers will need to be declared on the session reports and proof of payment to match. I ultimately believe there should not be a minimum/maximum allowed amount of renumeration, as licensed professionals the callers and manager should be free to negotiate these amounts with the organizations just like security, landlords and suppliers.

Hello My name is Mark Mckenney.I’ve been calling for about 32 years.In 32 years bingo has completely changed and rules and regulations has changed..Dab games were passed and allowed by State of Virginia about 10 years ago.A lot more responsibility has come along with dab game and the way they are played.I travel anywhere from 45 min to an 1hr depending on traffic to call.Hampton to Virginia Beach.Cost of living has gone up gas as well.we are taxed on the 100.00 we are paid now.