The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) recently launched an online directory of permitted bingo games played in the Commonwealth. Listed by locality, more than 400 regular games are available across the state. The directory will be updated monthly and can be found on VDACS’ website at www.vdacs.virginia.gov/gaming/index.shtml.
“Many Virginia charities, including volunteer rescue squads, booster clubs and programs to feed the homeless, use proceeds from charitable gaming as a tool to support their missions, said Michael Menefee, program manager for VDACS’ Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs. “At VDACS, we saw the opportunity to share our existing database of bingo games to make the information easily accessible to the general public for the first time.”
In Virginia, the purpose of charitable gaming is for organizations to raise funds toward their charitable cause. The VDACS Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs is responsible for issuing or renewing approximately 350 charitable gaming permits per year to organizations, as well as the regulation of charitable gaming activities in the Commonwealth. Additionally, under Virginia’s charitable gaming regulations, VDACS performs on-site training and operational inspections of bingo events, initiates compliance audits of organizations conducting charitable gaming and more.
The VDACS Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs promotes the integrity of charitable gaming activities. Through revenue generated by their bingo, instant bingo and raffle activities, charities donate in excess of $25 million a year to charitable, community, educational or religious causes.
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