Since 1997, 34 Sacramento County charitable organizations that run bingo games have been trying to get the county to stop taking so much of their bingo revenues. After eight long years, it looks like there is a settlement in sight.

The sheriff’s department claims that they have spent $200,000 more than they collected from the organizations in bingo-related law enforcement, but the bingo organizations claim that the sheriff’s department had no right to the money to begin with. California state law does not allow taxation of bingo revenues, but it does allow fees to be paid for “compliance” with state regulations.

The bingo organizations contend that the sheriff’s office has taken more than needed to ensure compliance. With the final verdict predicted to leave the situation in a type of limbo, the charities now plan to tackle California’s laws to force a change which would not allow county authorities to take any of the bingo profits. The verdict is predicted to “forgive” the organizations of any debts the Sheriff’s Department claims they owe, while not returning any of the $2 million that the organizations claim they were overcharged. In addition, it is expected to put a three-year freeze on raising the rates, which currently stand at 1.15% of the total monthly prizes.