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Couple Settle Bingo Suit

11 September 2002

Anchorage, Alaska -- As reported by the Anchorage Daily News: ``An Anchorage couple running one of the state's biggest bingo operations have paid the state $400,000 to settle civil fraud charges that they were bilking charities out of profits.

``Mark and Sue Griffin were accused by the state in 1998 of squeezing excessive rents and management fees from nonprofit groups, which by law are supposed to benefit from bingo and pull-tab games in Alaska. A trial was finally scheduled to begin next month after preliminary jousting that worked its way to the Alaska Supreme Court.

``Under the settlement, the Griffins admitted no wrongdoing. Sue Griffin continues to run Northern Lights Bingo in Anchorage.

``...The $400,000 settlement is going to the state attorney general's office, which will decide how to distribute the money to charities, said assistant attorney general Randy Olsen.

``...The Griffins have changed their way of doing business since the state went to court, both sides say. Mark Griffin has gotten out of gaming, and Sue Griffin now runs Northern Lights Bingo as a licensed operator..."

``...State law sets minimum percentages of gaming revenues that should go to charities. In 1997, the state said, Griffin's Alaska Sports Bingo grossed nearly $1 million after winnings but paid less than $5,000 to each of its charities. Expenses to the Griffins for rents, fees and supplies were nearly $500,000, the state said..."

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