North Dakota pre-teens can now busy themselves with a more adult passion, bingo! While state law allows anyone under the age of 18 to play bingo if accompanied by an adult, only recently have bingo halls lowered their age limit to admit even 10-year-olds. These youngsters can pick up some serious lunch money as minors, like adults, are exempt from paying taxes on bingo winnings of up to $1,200.

Representatives from bingo halls throughout the state such as Dakota Skies Bingo, Bingorama, and the Bingo Palace, say that lowering age limits is a move designed to create more of a family atmosphere. However, it appears as though North Dakota bingo halls have simply gotten desperate for patrons after smoking bans went into effect earlier this year, draining a pool of bingo players that has already been depleted by the emergence of tribal casinos.

While not the most profitable form of gaming today, bingo is still a form of gambling, and there is stiff opposition to having pre-pubescent youths participate in it. Bob Stenehjem, a republican state senator from the capital, Bismarck, believes that legislation will be introduced soon to address this pressing issue.