WESTBROOK – Westbrook Housing has again said “no” to bingo.

A group of approximately 15 women were told last month by Westbrook Housing officials that they could no longer play the game in the common room of their retirement complex, even after the women consulted the state police on the matter.

“We were told [by Westbrook Housing officials] we could play if we don’t exchange money or gifts,” said Donna McNamara, one of the players.

The women were meeting once a week on Saturday nights at the Spring Crossing common room to play for 15 cents per game, with a final round costing 25 cents per card.

But at the end of January, a representative from Westbrook Housing came in and told the the women they could no longer play without having a council. Since that time, the group has questioned law enforcement and Westbrook Housing representatives on the bingo laws.

On Wednesday, McNamara said, during a meet and greet with Chris LaRoche, new executive director of Westbrook Housing, the women were told again they couldn’t play the game without a governing council in place.

Susan Eldridge, deputy director at Westbrook Housing, said the housing rules state the women need to have a governing council. A year ago, when the group began to play bingo, a council was formed, but it became too much of a hassle when other residents in the complex came to council members to complain about housing problems, like broken radiators, players said.

According to the state gaming laws on Bingo section 313-A, groups of “individuals at least 90 percent of whom are 62 years of age or older, that operate ‘beano’ or ‘bingo’ games for their own entertainment and recreation and not for profit, are exempt from application and licensing provisions of this chapter.”

All the women involved in the Spring Crossing group are over the age of 65, although the complex is a 55-and-older facility.

McNamara said the women did play a few games of bingo this weekend.