Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Gross revenues from charity gaming events decreased for the first time in the 1999 fiscal year, according to the Indiana Department of Revenue Charity Gaming Annual Report.
The total number of annual bingo licenses in the state was down by approximately 137.
However, in Kosciusko County, organizations with annual bingo licenses had at least 8 percent profit.
IDR reports that in Kosciusko County in fiscal '99, American Legion Post No. 253, North Webster, had the highest gross receipts in the county with $1,269,727. With total expenses estimated at $1,022,880.91, the Post was able to end up with 19 percent profit and give away $45,939.
On the other side, Barbee Lakes Conservation Association, North Webster, grossed only $1,716.66 in receipts and had total expenses of $915.37, according to the IDR. They had the highest profit percentage in the county, though, with 47 percent.
In total, Kosciusko County organizations had gross receipts of $3,981,181.12 with their annual bingo licenses. Total expenses were $3,354,161.18, with net proceeds totaling $627,019.94.
All 12 county organizations with annual bingo licenses gave a total of $101,731.51 to other organizations from their net proceeds.
Only five organizations in the county had charity game night licenses in fiscal '99.
American Legion Post No. 253 had the most charity game night gross receipts with $3,200 and the highest net proceeds with $2,162.52. American Legion Unit No. 253 Auxiliary gave away the most money away ($1,642.56) from their net proceeds.
Organizations with raffle licenses did not do as well. Lions Club, North Webster, had raffle gross receipts of $18,583, according to IDR, but with total expenses of $19,869, the Lions Club lost $1,286. They also gave away $2,400 to other organizations, resulting in an undistributed income of $3,686 in the red.
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Kosciusko County was able to make $506.50 and $217.75 in net proceeds with raffles.
According to IDR, only qualified not-for-profit organizations can legally conduct charity gaming events in Indiana. Gaming events are limited to bingo, charity game nights, door prizes, festival events, raffles and the sale of pull tabs, punchboards and tip boards. Organizations must be licensed and registered for each type of charity gaming event they want to conduct.
An organization may conduct legal charity gaming events if it is a bona fide educational, religious, senior citizen, veteran or civic/fraternal/charitable organization operating in Indiana and is exempt from taxation.
Statewide, gross revenues from charity gaming events were $512,958,370.64 in fiscal '99, down from $521,970,657.10 in '98. From 1994 to 1998, the gross revenue had climbed from $311,247,513.81.
But IDR also reports that numerous charity gaming returns were filed late and are not included in the annual report. Those late files may total as much as $17,627,109 in gross revenues from 160 organizations.
