Deseret News (Salt Lake City): Bingo hall facing gambling charges

WEST VALLEY CITY -- West Valley City officials want to close a bingo hall that they say offers illegal gambling by charging people to play and providing cash prizes.

City prosecutor Ryan Robinson said the city has filed six misdemeanor charges related to illegal gambling against Joe Coccimiglio, owner of the bingo operation named Como, A Senior Organization, 3825 S. Redwood Road.

The city also has sent him a letter saying the club's business license is being revoked effective July 8.

Coccimiglio, who can appeal the license revocation, told the Deseret Morning News: "As far as I am concerned, I have done nothing wrong. Our premise is that people come in and buy dinner and play bingo (for free) . . . It's nothing that hasn't been going on for years. The Catholic Church plays it. Fraternal organizations play it."

Many owners of bingo halls that operate up and down the Wasatch Front say their operations are legal because of a 1979 Utah Supreme Court case involving Albertson's food stores giving customers bingo cards and prizes as a promotion. In a 3-2 decision, the court ruled Albertson's bingo wasn't gambling because the bingo cards were free.

Although most bingo halls say they sell dinners but offer bingo and prizes for free, many also acknowledge they sell a few dollars' worth of food for many times what it costs.

For example, a document that patrons must sign to join Como says: "We solicit your cooperation in helping us to uphold the law by not asking the organization to sell you bingo cards. We do not charge to play bingo; your support in purchasing dinners, refreshments, drinks, snacks, movie/show tickets and of course your donations are what we utilize to operate and maintain Como."

However, the complaint filed by West Valley City contends that Como charged extra for some bingo games beyond what came for "free" with all-you-can-eat buffets it sold for $25.

The complaint says some undercover detectives were told they must pay extra for special early and late games, one of which offered a jackpot of up to 2,300 points -- which the complaint said could be redeemed for $2,300.

The complaint says one undercover detective paid $15 to play some additional games beyond what came with the bingo cards provided with dinner -- and the detective won $300, paid to him in cash.

The city's letter to Coccimiglio says he gave false information on his business license application and that he is violating health codes by allowing smoking.

Meanwhile, Como is still operating. A recorded phone message said a bingo night is scheduled tonight.

Although prosecutors and police from many cities along the Wasatch Front pledged at an April press conference to crack down more on bingo halls and poker clubs, only West Valley City has prosecuted any for gambling recently. Utah bans all forms of gambling.

Last year, West Valley City also seized video bingo machines and other equipment from Annie's Dinner and Bingo -- essentially putting it out of business. Misdemeanor charges against its owners and the supplier of its video bingo machines are still being adjudicated.

E-mail: lee@desnews.com