The Michigan Senate is soon expected to approve a bill that would boost payouts for bingo games operated by nonprofit groups. Under the current law, bingo jackpots are limited to $500 and bingo operators are prohibited to host more than 10 games a week. Senate bill 435, sponsored by senator Jim Barcia, would allow nonprofit bingo parlors to offer as many as 14 games a week with jackpots of up to $3,500.

The new bingo regulations would enable nonprofit bingo operations to better compete with other entertainment venues, such as casinos, that have contributed to the downturn in charity bingo revenues over the last decade. According to Barcia, bingo revenues for nonprofit organizations have dropped from $44 million in 1990 to $8 million today. Higher jackpots are likely to attract more players and help nonprofit groups living mainly on bingo money to survive.