Brigadiers lose their gaming licenses for a year
The New York State Racing and Wagering Board on Thursday revoked the charitable gaming licenses of the Syracuse Brigadiers for a year, shutting down the multimillion-dollar bingo operation that supports a drum and bugle corps with five national championships over the past eight years.
The two members of the board said during their ruling in Albany they concurred with a hearing officer who concluded the Brigadiers were guilty of all 28 charges of charitable gaming rules violations brought against them.
The charges include paying people to conduct bingo sessions, improperly spending bingo earnings and organizing the bingo operation in violation of state regulations.
The board also ruled that all members of the Brigadiers who were involved in those bingo violations will be prohibited from participating in charitable gaming in the future. The board would not immediately identify those people.
Brigadiers officials expressed disbelief and anger about the ruling and vowed to pursue a court challenge, if possible.
LINK: Brigadiers
