Seniors wait for gambling license from state Groups to stop weekly bingo games until receipt of proper state permits BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer PHOTOSBY SCOTT PILLING staff Marta Afonso, Isidro Carro and Mary Carro play bingo at the Edison Senior Center on July 13. The winner of these games usually gets $2 but seniors in Edison have had to forgo games of chance until their permits are issued from the state. EDISON - Senior centers throughout the township are silent. The clack-clack of bingo balls, a staple of the Senior Center soundscape, has been replaced with the shuffling of paperwork. The township's many senior citizen groups have been forced to cease their weekly $2 bingo games due to the lack of a state permit, according to John Grun, an Edison official. The groups had been operating bingo and 50/50 raffles to pay for their functions and philanthropic work throughout the township but have been required to stop until they receive a permit from the state. Grun said that the order to cease these games came because the township was "trying to keep them out of trouble." "We're trying to help them out," Grun said. "But it's the law, and you can't make the law go away." The state requires a permit for groups running games of chance where money is won. Grun said that he first realized the issue after speaking to some law enforcement officials. "I didn't realize how serious it was," Grun said. The various senior citizen groups have been scrambling to have their paperwork into the state, reviewed and licensed in order to keep from losing the funds for their functions. Marta Afonso, president of the Bonhamtown Senior Citizen Club said that it's been months since they filled out their paperwork, and the state keeps giving them more to fill out. She is concerned that seniors who enjoy playing bingo will not want to come out to the senior center any longer. "We go there for enjoyment," Afonso said. "And they have to take it away. I don't want to be bothered with regulations and permits. I don't want to be bothered with any of that." Afonso said that every week the Senior Center goes without the 50/50 raffles, the more they stand to lose in fundraising for future events. The groups raise money to hold parties for various members or send gift baskets to troops serving overseas. Many of them look forward to the functions these groups provide, and Afonso fears there won't be enough money left to conduct the last half of the year's functions. Eileen Davis of the Stelton Senior Citizens Club said she understands that the groups have to have these licenses, but the amount of time it is taking to get them has been a detriment to the groups. "The attendance has dropped off because bingo was a big part of their weekly entertainment," Davis said of the seniors. "It's not just to gamble, we have a higher purpose." Davis said that the weekly bingo games and the functions the senior clubs provide offer a chance for the members to socialize and get out of their houses for a little while. "It's for the good of the people," she said, "it keeps them active." Some clubs are still playing bingo, for fun of course, though Afonso said it isn't the same as for money. The 50/50s are still out. "We've been playing for nothing - big deal," Afonso said. "What do you do but say, 'I won?' " Grun said the township has been helping the senior groups fill out the necessary paperwork and that while it is unfortunate, it is better to be safe than sorry. "This is a state law that is taken very seriously," Grun said. "We'll help them with anything they need, with the paperwork." But for many, it is not the paperwork that is the problem as the time it takes to go through the system. "The end result is we're going to have to wait," said Afonso, "and who wants to wait six months."