JEFFERSON CITY, MO. (AP) -- Missouri senators have passed a bill designed to drum up business for the state's bingo halls.
The legislation would allow bingo parlors to open earlier and close later. It also includes a fivefold increase in the amount of money they could spend on advertising.
Senators passed the bill 23-9 Thursday. It now goes to the House.
Last year, Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed a bill that would have relaxed bingo regulations and ended a tax on bingo cards. Nixon said the state could not afford the $2.2 million hit to its education funds.
This year's version does not include the tax provisions.
Sponsoring Sen. David Pearce, of Warrensburg, said bingo halls run by nonprofit groups need more tools to compete with casinos and other forms of entertainment.
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