UNCHARITABLE BINGO

PORTLAND – American Legion Post 211 is paying off a $4,250 fine for infringement of laws put in place to manage charity bingo games and how they are run.

One of those laws in particular is intended to keep proficient administrators from leading any activities that may serve to redirect customers away from the charitable purposes of the association, says Diane Freeman, state chief of philanthropy gaming.

Fredric Bailey, who as of late assumed control as officer of the post, told The Star Press, “We are not in the bingo business any more. It was a losing arrangement. The monies guaranteed simply didn’t exist. We were losing cash.”

The fine, being paid off in regularly scheduled payments of $355, is for utilising unlicensed bingo administrators, unallowable consumption of revenue for unallowable expenditures and failing to deposit money taken during the games directly in the hands of the gaming account, implying that it had been taken and used elsewhere, much to the annoyance of the trusting public.

An examination found that the Post had issued checks from the gaming record for financial costs to cover professional work including cooks, janitors and barkeeps. – all of which are expected to be covered by the establishment it self under the law in question.

What’s more, Post records recorded Donna, April and Cindy Kobel, apparently from Muncie/Delaware County, as bingo guests/administrators. As was shockingly revealed though, none of the three were authorised, nor did any of the three have a place with the Post for a period covering no less than one year as needed by law.

Army officer Tom Robbins, who was recognised as the individual accountable for the bingo operation, likewise was not authorised, and he had a place with the Post for just eight months.

Robbins affirmed that he had beforehand worked at bingo occasions for another association alongside the Kobels, as per a settlement agreement.

Amid the examination, then-Commander Max Ballard recognised that the returns from a 50/50 drawing had been put into an account other than the designated gaming account.

The Post, which is still permitted to offer force tabs, punchboards and tip sheets, was put on post trial supervision by the philanthropy gaming commission for a period of no less than two years. The Post put Ballard and officer Larry Miller on probation and furthermore suspended Robbins and the Kobels from philanthropy gaming for at least five years, subject to review.

Likewise, the Post’s officers consented to go to a philanthropy gaming class. Three other Indiana American Legion Posts have also been fined for philanthropy gaming infringement this year alongside two Eagles groups, a Moose lodge, a VFW Post and an AMVETS Post. The infringement included inability to keep up exact records matching the governing authority’s standards, gaming without a permit, inability to report tip board and pool drawing salary, and utilising unlicensed administrators.