BSA rules?

[janssenil]

Hi,

For a couple of years we've been doing a bingo gift exchange at our pack meeting for our HOliday Party Meeting. Each child brings a gift and we play bingo until every child has "won" a gift (including siblings). Someone on another forum just told me it was prohibited by BSA rules to play bingo because it's a game of chance. Is this really true? Never heard of that before. It's certainly not gambling the way we play it.

 

And, if so, what about the PInewood Derby or almost any game?

 

 

[dsteele]

Although it is true that games of chance are not approved as fundraisers by units, that doesn't sound like that's what you're doing.

 

If every kid wins a gift by playing a game, even though chance plays a large part in the game, and they aren't being charged to play more than the value of the prize they will receive, it isn't a game of chance. It is not gambling.

 

It's okay to do.

 

What's not okay to do is to charge people for something they may never receive do to luck. That's why raffles and lotteries are not allowed as unit fundraisers.

 

That's the opinion of this professional scouter. It sounds like you're using a game to give prizes or presents to children.

 

As to the pinewood derby -- while winning can be pretty random given the length of the track and the weight limit -- it is not a game of chance. The difference between gambling and competition is money.

 

DS