Bingo is a game of chance and as such is strictly controlled under Ripon and state statutes.

It is why the Ripon Chamber of Commerce’s fundraising bingo games set for Tuesday at Ripon’s Community Center have been canceled. A city ordinance bans bingo from being held in a city-owned building.

Chamber executive director Tamra Spade said her office was contacted by city officials this week noting that the fundraiser had to be called off. The city does grant permits for bingo for non-profits such as clubs and organizations at non-city owned locations.

The ordinance notes that it is the intent of the City Council to limit the authorizing of bingo games in the city pursuant to Section 19 of Article N of the Constitution of the State of California and Section 326.5 of the California Penal Code.

The frequency of bingo games is also limited by the state and the city to no more than once a week or more than six hours in length.  Those approved non-profits are required to pay a fee of $50 to the Ripon City Clerk.

The chamber has held bingo games in past years as well as in the city’s community center for National Night Out. The ordinance was brought forward to better control those events this year and in the future.

City Attorney Tom Terpstra confirmed the illegality of holding bingo games on city property or inside city-owned buildings such as the Ripon Community Center.