Florida’s charity groups, churches, and veterans groups welcome the Senate’s decision to allow increased bingo jackpots. The new bill would allow jackpots of $500, double the previous $250, and regular games would have prizes of $100 instead of the previous $50. The previous prize limits were set in the early 1970s, and the new bill is the first to account for even part of the inflation since then.

A representative from Disabled American Veterans commented that the low prizes have stopped attracting gamblers, who have been wooed away to pari-mutuels, casino cruises, and Indian casinos. The veterans hope that higher bingo prizes will bring players back to bingo halls, as bingo offers an indispensable source of funding for charities.

A previous bill, legalizing instant bingo cards, which would have benefited charity organizations, also passed in both houses. The bill was ultimately vetoed, however, by Governor Jeb Bush. Only charity bingo games are affected by the bill, as Florida State does not allow non-charity bingo.