Despite Hammond, Florida mayor’s July 12 veto of a City Council bill to allow video bingo and increase bingo hours, the bill has now become law. Mayor Mayson Foster vetoed the ordinance, saying that allowing video bingo in Hammond would create more gambling problems, possible damage to local businesses, and a possible rise in crime. Despite the increased revenues that the video bingo would have guaranteed to the city, the Mayor voiced his concerns about the possible harm from allowing video bingo.

At the time that the mayor vetoed the bill, he knew that it was very likely that the veto would be overturned, and asked the council not to overturn his veto. He said that despite the probable overturn of his veto, he felt it was important to voice his concerns and that he was unwilling to sign a bill he disagreed with.

On Tuesday, in a 4-1 vote, the council voted to keep video bingo available at whatever hours live bingo games are open, and to double the legal hours for live bingo. Local pastor Rev. Lonnie Wascomb warned the council that their votes were being watched, and anyone who voted for the ordinance would not have his parish’s votes in the next election.