Last week the St. Charles Parish Council on New Orleans approved a ban on video bingo. Monday, St. Charles Parish President Albert Laque vetoed the ban.

It was Nov. 5th when neighbors complained about Luling Bingo Palace opening up in their neighborhood. Surrounding business owners who lease video poker machines also was against it claiming the video bingo machines looked a lot like slot machines and would hurt their business.
President Albert Laque said when he vetoed the ban that the council should have considered these complaints and acted before the bingo hall opened for business. The bingo hall is properly zoned and was granted a permit back in March.

The veto message said, "If this ordinance is allowed to stand, this business, which opened only after it complied with every rule, law, and regulation in place, would be forced to close its doors."
The first ban passed with a vote of 8-0 with one council member not present. The council will consider the veto Dec. 3 in its next meeting. The veto can be over turned if six of the councils nine members vote in favor of it.


- 2007-11-13