A Court Ruling Taking Effect This Week Will Devastate Sacramento Charities and Booster Clubs

Sacramento - Just when California charities need financial assistance the most, a court ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals bans an important fundraising tool by blocking charities from using electronic bingo machines to raise money.

Starting February 1, 2010, California charities can no longer operate electronic bingo games, severely limiting their ability to raise desperately needed funds.

The impact is immediate and devastating.

Electronic bingo machines raise millions of dollars to support local charities every year, but special interests have pushed to ban the popular games and stop this critical funding source. Bingo fundraising supports extracurricular programs at numerous schools in the Sacramento area.

Electronic bingo was put in jeopardy last year when special interests urged State Lawmakers to ban the games. In what was described as a “back room deal" legislation seeking to ban electronic bingo games was rushed through the Capitol in just 11 days. Despite strong opposition from non-profit charities, Governor Schwarzenegger signed the legislation.

Charities and disability advocates immediately challenged the law in federal court, arguing the electronic bingo machines are necessary tools to ensure players with disabilities have equal access to bingo games. Sacramento Federal District Court Judge John Mendez sided with the charities, granting a preliminary injunction in April 2009, which allowed charities to continue operating electronic machines until a trial scheduled for August, 2010.

However, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the Mendez decision in December 2009, a decision that forced charities to shut off their machines on January 31, 2010.

This devastating move will leave hundreds of California charities without a reliable fundraising source unless a sufficient alternative is presented.

For more information see www.savecharitybingo.com