Kentucky Charitable Gaming Association

P.O. Box 441 Pewee Valley, KY 40056

www.kentuckycharitablegaming.org

(502) 554-2749

January 2006 Newsletter

KCGA Year In Review/Preview  - After an unusually busy year in 2005, the Kentucky Charitable

Gaming Association is proud of its accomplishments, but sees many goals in the future.

A recap of our accomplishments in 2005:

-         The KCGA more than doubled its membership

-         We helped several charities reconcile issues with Frankfort

-         Initiated discounts on various services for our members

-         Worked with regulators to establish fair and reasonable regulations

-         Had amendments drawn on several legislative bills to include charitable gaming

-         Constructed a plan for a Peer Review Program

-         Developed strong, positive relationships with officials within the Department of Public

      Protection

-         Constructed and administrated a website for contact and informational purposes

-         Participated in many forums and discussions on issues that directly affect charities who

      participate in gaming

Our 2006 agenda includes:

-         Working with legislators over the next year on bills that will improve charitable gaming

-         Strengthen our relationship with the OCG and the Department of Public Protection

-         Regulatory oversight that ensures our members can operate successfully

-         Marketing our industry to increase awareness and visibility of charitable gaming

-         Building strong, strategic alliances with organizations whose interests coincide with ours

-         Continuing to foster an atmosphere of education, support and patience between the

      Office of Charitable Gaming, and the charities who support it

-         Welcoming new members and helping existing members succeed

If you’ve got suggestions as to where we should focus our effort, please let us know.  As a

member of our large and growing organization, you have the opportunity to be heard. 

Call us at (502)-554-2749, or email info@kentuckycharitablegaming.org

If you’re not a member yet, what are you waiting for?  For the next 90 days, it’s only $100 to

join if you’re a charity.  That’s less than $2.00 per week for an annual membership!

Frankfort – You may not realize that the KCGA has retained the services of professional

lobbyist Ron Morris.  Mr. Morris has over 30 years of experience working with legislators

at both state and federal levels.  His comments on where the organization stands:  

“Throughout the year, we have strived to make things better for charitable gaming.  

Our efforts have centered on building relationships with state and local legislators.  

A portion of our time has been spent working the Louisville-Metro Council on the 

smoking ban.   The Health Department has attacked our charities’ right to smoke when 

they lease Bingo Halls.  For some unexplained reason, the Health Department has done 

so by issuing tickets to Hall Owners.   Our Association is standing firm on this issue and 

will probably end up in court much like the charities in Lexington.  We hope to win our 

battle to choose and protect our charities’ interests.

In addition we have made visits across the state with charities, hall owners and 

Legislators.  We are attempting to convince Legislators of several facts:

 1. Charitable Gaming Laws need some updating to provide more avenues for charities 

to increase their revenues.   In addition, we are looking at some changes in enforcement.

2. We have talked with the members of the gaming coalition to determine if their efforts 

will either intentionally or unintentionally hurt the existing charities in Kentucky.

3. We have advised many Legislators we will be hurt when the tracks get gaming unless 

we are also able to upgrade the way charities operate.

4. We are in negotiations with the Office of Charitable Gaming to work out some language 

to place in a bill for passage this session.  We have talked with a number of our members for 

ideas for this negotiation.

5. We are speaking to Legislators about this very important subject and 

invite your participation with us to provide more channels of communication.

6. As you read this, a hearing on the suggested new regulations will have 

been held.  Your lobbyist will have testified before the committee after 

assisting with the final product the committee looked at.  We spent many months 

surveying our members and working with the Office of Charitable Gaming to get a 

set of rules which could be of more benefit than harm to you as operating 

charities.

 To support our efforts to raise the image and importance of Charitable Gaming to 

the Commonwealth of Kentucky, we have embarked on an advertising campaign to 

communicate our message.

Currently you can hear our ads on WHAS and WAMZ radio stations.   We are also 

scheduling ads in the Kentucky Gazette; which recently featured a very favorable article 

on Charitable Gaming and it importance to Kentucky.

Our lobbying effort – which is coordinated specifically to protect your interests – can only 

be strong and successful in Frankfort if our members participate.  We encourage you to join 

us and offer your support.”

Mr. Morris will continue to work to build coalitions in favor of modernizing Charitable Gaming, when full gaming is next approached.  In addition, he will work with Legislators over the interim to bring about greater awareness of the need to modernize and protect charitable gaming in Kentucky.  If you want to improve your charities’ opportunity to increase its contributions to your community, we hope you will participate with us in our effort to bring about a better climate for us all.

Why Join Us? - Are you making your 40%?  Would you like to hold Monte Carlos more often?  Your KCGA membership strengthens your voice on potential changes that directly affect you.  KCGA members can be sure that their issues are receiving priority attention.  If you’re not a member yet, we strongly encourage you to join.  If you don’t, others will make decisions for you – without your input. 

What Can We Do For You? – We have helped members with accounting, compliance, and other issues.  If you have a question, concern, or you just want to tell us what you think, call us at (502) 554-2749.  We want to help you.

We recently helped several charities with compliance and licensing issues.  One example is St. Catharine’s, who had lost their license to operate through an honest mistake.  The KCGA interceded on their behalf, and they have since regained their eligibility to participate in Bingo if they have the desire and need.

Our role as advocates includes taking our members’ suggestions, complaints and concerns to the Office of Charitable Gaming.  Is there something that’s bothering you?  Do you have an idea that our colleagues in Frankfort may not have considered?  Maybe you have a specific issue that you feel isn’t being dealt with properly.  Give us a chance at addressing the issue.  As a large organization that maintains weekly contact with the Office of Charitable Gaming, we might have the ability to help you.

Website – Stay informed.  When something happens in Frankfort, don’t be the last to find out – Get the news at www.kentuckycharitablegaming.org.