A group calling itself the Committee to Save Charity Bingos wants to add up to 200 slot machines in each of Hamilton 's four bingo halls. The Hamilton-centred organization plans to present their proposals to city council.

The group says that Hamilton bingo revenues assist 200 local charities, but that competition from casinos is driving them out of business. They say the addition of 3500 more slots to the Niagara casino this summer has cut bingo patrons and revenues in the Hamilton Halton and Niagara area by 28,000 patrons and $1.5 million per month.

While the group has been campaigning for slot-machines in bingo halls for some time, they see the recent talk about a casino in Hamilton as particularly threatening. "While we are enthused that council has an open mind to gaming expansion within the City of Hamilton", writes Andrew Norwich, secretary-treasurer of the group, "the establishment of such a casino in Hamilton would destroy the Charity Bingo efforts within our City."

The group is expected to speak to council's Corporate Administration committee on October 27. Their letter can be viewed at
http://www.city.hamilton.on.ca/Clerk/
agendas-minutes-reports/corporate-administration/
2004/Oct20/Item%204.2.pdf.