Gaming: bingo and charitable gaming; millionaire parties; modify. Amends sec. 41 of 1972 PA 382 (MCL 432.141).

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Mueller

Increases the daily imitation-money/chip exchange limit for millionaire party licenses from $20,000 to $40,000, with higher caps in specific setups, boosting event spending.

placed on third reading

#gaming:bingoandcharitablegaming

Summary — HB 5116 (Traxler‑McCauley‑Law‑Bowman bingo act amendment)

Status / Timeline
- Introduced: March 13, 2025 (filed by Rep. Mike Mueller). Reproduced as House Bill No. 5116 on October 23, 2025 and referred to the Committee on Regulatory Reform.
- Committee activity in spring 2025 includes hearings and a committee substitute reported favorably (formal meeting 05/01/2025). Latest official reproduction date: 10/23/2025.

Purpose
- HB 5116 amends section 41 of the Traxler‑McCauley‑Law‑Bowman bingo act (1972 PA 382; MCL 432.141) to modify operational, age‑access, enforcement, and monetary limits for "millionaire party" licensees (charitable gaming events).

Key provisions / changes
1. General duties and operations
- Requires a millionaire party licensee to ensure events comply with the act and its rules.
- License must be posted conspicuously at the event location during the event.
- Gaming must occur only within the demarcated area approved by the executive director; access to that area must be controlled.

Age restrictions and alcohol

Prohibits persons under 18 from entering the demarcated gaming area while gaming is conducted.
If alcoholic beverages are served, persons aged 18–20 must wear a mark indicating their age/ID has been verified by the licensee (or agent/member).

Increases on imitation money/chip exchange limits

Raises the per‑day limit a licensee may receive in exchange for imitation money or chips from $20,000.00 to $40,000.00.
For licensees that (a) conduct the party without using dealers supplied by a supplier, (b) own the event location, and (c) have a license for fewer than 4 days of gaming, the alternate cap is changed from dividing $80,000.00 by the number of licensed gaming days to dividing $160,000.00 by the number of licensed gaming days.

Charity and numeral games; enforcement

Confirms that a millionaire party licensee may conduct charity games (sec. 7b) and numeral games (sec. 7c).
If such games are conducted at a millionaire party, the executive director has sole enforcement and supervision authority over their conduct.

Who is affected
- Millionaire party licensees (typically charitable organizations and entities operating licensed "millionaire party" gaming events).
- Event attendees (particularly persons under 21 and those aged 18–20 when alcohol is served).
- Suppliers and dealers (may affect use of supplier dealers when licensees seek higher aggregate daily limits).
- Regulatory authority (executive director) — clarified supervisory/enforcement roles.

Potential impacts
- Allows larger daily exchange volumes for imitation money/chips, enabling higher‑value events or larger participant spending under licensed millionaire parties.
- Strengthens onsite compliance requirements (visible licensing, controlled access, age verification marking when alcohol is served).
- Centralizes enforcement authority for specific games with the executive director, potentially affecting oversight practices.

Legislative context
- Amends an existing statutory section added by 2019 PA 159. The bill is procedural and regulatory in focus, adjusting operational limits and clarifying enforcement and access controls rather than creating new types of gaming.