Children Not Allowed to Play Bingo Ontario Regulators Warn

Since 1954, president of the Carp Fair outside of Kanata, Weldon Johnston has held a drive-in bingo that has taken place every year since. The charity bingo draws a summer crowd and has been a tradition in Carp for 55 years now.

But after the Alcohol and Gambling Commission received a complaint about a child playing bingo, the province asked the issuers of licenses, City of Ottawa, to remind the organizers of the laws.

“This isn’t new,” said AGCO spokeswoman Lisa Murray. “All forms of gambling in Ontario have had age restrictions associated with them. This includes charitable gaming.”

Organizer Joyce Trafford was saddened when she learned of the complaint and is something she views as harmless.

“I don’t think we’re breeding a whole crop of gamblers, it was just a fun night in Carp,” she said. “Some nights you would see huge groups of teens out with their parents. They could be doing a lot worse than playing bingo under the lights.”

The importance of the Carp charity bingo is of great importance as a social gathering and a fundraiser for the Carp Agricultural Society according to Regulator Murray.

“We appreciate that these are for charity and that people are trying to raise money for good works in the community,” Murray said. “It’s very important that charities and not-for-profits are able to do this kind of gaming. But the terms and conditions are the same for everybody across the province.”