On Tuesday, a Senate panel approved a bill that restricts the use of electronic video bingo machines in charitable organizations. The Judiciary B Committee passed House Bill 1315 submitted by Republican Danny Martiny, R-Kenner, after making some changes.

The bill establishes that no one under age 21 can play an electronic video bingo machine. It also restricts the hours of use to licensed, six-hour bingo sessions offering no less than ten games of call bingo with a minimum of $200 in total prizes.

Sen. Julie Quinn, R-Metairie, urged the committee to require future machines to display bingo cards and balls only and avoid slot machines features. “Some video bingo machines look an awful lot like slot machines”, Sen. Quinn said.

The legislation was moved to the Senate floor for further debate.