CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – New Hampshire officials want to know why a bingo operation shows $2 million in receipts but only $685 dollars in profit over 28 months.

The New England Association of the Amateur Athletic Union sponsors the bingo games run by volunteers. The games are run on Wednesdays and Fridays in Hudson.

Between July 2003 and last month, the organization filed reports with the state showing $685 in profit after paying prizes and expenses. The New Hampshire region has about 23,000 amateur athletes who compete in a variety of sports.

Ed Skovron, the organization’s president, said the money is essential to support New Hampshire’s operations. He said the money is used to run the office and pay expenses.

Richard Bouley, a lobbyist for commercial bingo operators, said bingo doesn’t bring in as much money as Lucky 7 sales at the games. Bouley said the reports for the athletic union showed the organization’s Lucky 7 income balanced bingo losses. But Bouley said showing a loss on bingo for 28 months shouldn’t happen.

“The vast majority of bingos are making money, not only on bingo, but certainly on Lucky 7,” said Bouley.

Paul Kelley, the state’s Pari-Mutuel Commission’s executive director, said the review is not focusing on how much profit the organization made, but on its operation and whether regulations were violated.

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Information from: New Hampshire Union Leader, http://www.theunionleader.com

AP-ES-11-27-05 1212EST