SC Bill to Boost Veterans Bingo Raises Concerns Among Nonprofits

The bill passed the House last year and is now awaiting committee action in the Senate.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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South Carolina lawmakers have a bill before them that creates a higher-stakes version of bingo to benefit veterans, but the bill is raising concerns among existing nonprofits. The 'American Heroes Bingo' Bill provides a more direct way for bingo profits to benefit various veterans organizations, but it also creates a new 'Class G' license that allows for higher payouts, which could draw players away from existing bingo halls that rely on the revenue to fund their community programs.

Why it matters

Bingo is an important fundraising activity for many local nonprofits in South Carolina, including the Greenville Elks Lodge, which uses the proceeds to support youth sports, drug-prevention programs, food drives, and other community initiatives. The new 'Class G' license could negatively impact the profits of these existing bingo halls, potentially reducing the funds available for their charitable work.

The details

House Bill 4137, known as the 'American Heroes Bingo' Bill, passed the House last year and is now awaiting committee action in the Senate. The bill creates a new 'Class G' license required to operate bingo halls, which requires a higher license fee but also allows for a higher amount of money to be won per session. The fear is that the opportunity to win more could drive bingo players to the newer 'Class G' license bingo halls and negatively impact the profits of the existing bingo halls that rely on the revenue to fund their community programs.

  • The bill passed the House last year.
  • The bill is now awaiting committee action in the Senate.

The players

House Bill 4137

Also known as the 'American Heroes Bingo' Bill, this legislation creates a new 'Class G' license required to operate bingo halls in South Carolina.

Greenville Elks Lodge #858

A local nonprofit organization in Greenville, South Carolina that sponsors a bingo hall and uses the proceeds to support various community initiatives, including youth sports, drug-prevention programs, food drives, and fundraisers to help families dealing with Alzheimer's.

Mae Crooks

A leader at the Greenville Elks Lodge #858 who says the lodge relies heavily on bingo to carry out its mission to help others, including veterans.

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What they’re saying

“The fear is that the opportunity to win more could drive bingo players to the newer Class G license bingo halls and negatively impact the profits of the existing bingo halls.”

— Mae Crooks, Lodge leader (FOX Carolina)

What’s next

The bill is now awaiting committee action in the South Carolina Senate.

The takeaway

This bill highlights the delicate balance between supporting veterans' organizations and ensuring the financial viability of existing nonprofits that rely on bingo revenue to fund their important community programs. As the bill moves forward, lawmakers will need to carefully consider the potential unintended consequences on local charities.