Court Rejects ‘Citizens United’ Arguments in Texas Bingo Case

A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that Texas charities can’t use proceeds from bingo on certain types of political advocacy, rejecting a challenge that pivoted on the Supreme Court’s 2010 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.

In 1980, Texas voters approved an amendment to the state constitution creating an exception to the ban on gambling for charitable bingo. The following year, Texas passed a law prohibiting charities from using bingo proceeds to support or oppose political candidates and ballot measures, and from attempting to influence legislation.