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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, April 6, 1993                   TAG: 9304060390
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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BINGO LAWS NOT UNIFORMLY ENFORCED

IN 1990, through establishing consistent accounting procedures and a diligent application process, Roanoke city took bingo out of the hands of the "professional bingo operators," and put it in the hands of nonprofit organizations.

Now that enforcement of regulations by the city has increased revenues from bingo for the nonprofit organizations, it seems more stringent regulations need to be enacted to make sure that it's being spent on charity.

I find it difficult to understand why surrounding localities are not as diligent in pursuing laws already mandated in the Code of Virginia governing the operation of bingo games.

Games that are clearly illegal are being played in Roanoke County and Christiansburg at the present time, giving a somewhat misconceived impression that the laws only apply to Roanoke city. In fact, these laws apply to all localities and only the city enforces them.

Laws are only as good as their enforcers. If these laws exist, then enforce them and do it equitably throughout the state.

Legitimate nonprofit organizations will have nothing whatever to fear from closer scrutiny and everything to gain. BRENDA L. DUNCAN ROANOKE

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