The president of the Carp Fair outside of Kanata, Weldon Johnston has held a drive-in bingo each year since 1954. The charity bingo event attracts the masses and has become a Carp tradition over the past 58 years.
A child was seen playing bingo and was reported to the Alcohol and Gambling Commission. The City of Ottawa was told to remind the organizers of the laws surrounding such an event.
“This isn't new,” said AGCO spokeswoman Lisa Murray. “All forms of gambling in Ontario have had age restrictions associated with them. This includes charitable gaming.”
After learning of the complaint, Organizer Joyce Trafford expressed her disappointment with reporting something as harmless as this.
“I don't think we're breeding a whole crop of gamblers, it was just a fun night in Carp,” she said. “Some nights you would see huge groups of teens out with their parents. They could be doing a lot worse than playing bingo under the lights.”
The Carp charity bingo event is special as a social gathering as well as a fundraiser for the Carp Agricultural Society according to Regulator Murray.
“We appreciate that these are for charity and that people are trying to raise money for good works in the community,” Murray said. “It's very important that charities and not-for-profits are able to do this kind of gaming. But the terms and conditions are the same for everybody across the province.”
A child was seen playing bingo and was reported to the Alcohol and Gambling Commission. The City of Ottawa was told to remind the organizers of the laws surrounding such an event.
“This isn't new,” said AGCO spokeswoman Lisa Murray. “All forms of gambling in Ontario have had age restrictions associated with them. This includes charitable gaming.”
After learning of the complaint, Organizer Joyce Trafford expressed her disappointment with reporting something as harmless as this.
“I don't think we're breeding a whole crop of gamblers, it was just a fun night in Carp,” she said. “Some nights you would see huge groups of teens out with their parents. They could be doing a lot worse than playing bingo under the lights.”
The Carp charity bingo event is special as a social gathering as well as a fundraiser for the Carp Agricultural Society according to Regulator Murray.
“We appreciate that these are for charity and that people are trying to raise money for good works in the community,” Murray said. “It's very important that charities and not-for-profits are able to do this kind of gaming. But the terms and conditions are the same for everybody across the province.”
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