SACRAMENTO – Non-profit charitable organizations would be able to host “Casino Night” fund-raising events under legislation that was approved by the state Assembly today

The measure, Assembly Bill 839 by Assemblymember Alberto Torrico, D-Newark, was approved with bipartisan support with 55 votes in favor, 12 opposed and 13 members not voting.

“Non-profit organizations provide essential services to California ranging from health care to youth sports,” Torrico said. “This bill will allow non-profits to host ‘poker night’ fundraisers under carefully limited conditions.

Under existing law, it is illegal for non-profit organizations to raise funds through card games or games of chance other than bingo. In recent years many non-profits in all regions of California that had planned to raise funds through poker or casino nights were forced to cancel events after being told they would be illegal

Torrico’s bill permits each non-profit organization to host no more than one casino night per year and offer non-cash prizes limited to values of $500 per prize and $5,000 per event. Cash prizes are prohibited and at least 90 percent of all proceeds must be contributed to a non-profit organization

Non-profits must pay a $100 fee to the state to cover the cost of administering the law and enforcing its provisions. The bill also limits sponsorship of casino events to non-profit groups that are at least three years old

AB 839 is sponsored by Attorney General Bill Lockyer and the California Department of Justice. It has been endorsed by major law-enforcement groups. Several card clubs that initially opposed the bill dropped their opposition after it was amended to impose stricter limits on non-profits’ gambling events