Amendment C – Ease Regulations on Nonprofits Engaging in Charitable Gaming

Amendment C would change the time requirement that a charitable organization must have been in existence before obtaining a charitable gaming license – think bingo and raffles – from 5 years to 3 years and allow the legislature to make further time period adjustments beginning in 2024.

Amendment C would also allow the charitable organization to begin paying people, but no more than “the applicable” minimum wage, to run charitable games. When an employee is subject to both of Colorado’s minimum wage ($12/hour but adjusted annually) and the federal minimum wage ($7.25/hour), the employee is entitled to the higher wage.

Recommendation: Yes/For

What does enshrining regulations on gaming in the constitution say about how much Colorado cares, or at one time cared, about gaming? If gaming were not in the constitution, we would not be voting on Amendments C and 77 nor have voted on 2014’s Amendment 68.

Fortunately, the trend seems to be toward taking gaming out of the constitution. Amendment 77 proposes repealing some constitutional language, Amendment C gives state legislatures more power beginning in 2024, and 2019's Prop DD on sports betting is in statute instead of the constitution.

In 2010 Amendment P asked voters to change the constitution to allow the legislature to specify an authority to regulate games of chance. The voters resoundingly rejected Amendment P with 62.3% against. I hope this year’s more limited attempt to take gaming out of the constitution will pass.

Website for the Yes side – Colorado Charitable Bingo Association
https://cobingoassn.com/amendment-c/

Website for the No side
No known website – Info on an opponents’ website appreciated.


Approved Ballot Language

Amendment C (CONSTITUTIONAL)

Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning the conduct of charitable gaming activities, and, in connection therewith, allowing bingo-raffle licensees to hire managers and operators of games and reducing the required period of a charitable organization's continuous existence before obtaining a charitable gaming license?

YES/FOR ____
NO/AGAINST ____
HCR20-1001 to refer Amendment C to the voters
https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2020A/bills/2020a_hcr1001_rr2.pdf