JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Dust off the rabbits’ feet and fuzzy-haired troll dolls: Lawmakers are trying to bring back the once-prevalent bingo scene in Missouri.

The legislature on Friday passed an expansion of the state’s bingo rules from Rep. Mike Lair, R-Chillicothe.

“Various groups ... will be able to do it more often, advertise it and give bigger prizes,” Mr. Lair said. “We look for a significant amount of revenue and it all goes back to the community.”

The bill, which now goes to the governor’s desk, expands the number of days that halls can run bingo games, as well as the number of hours. Halls with abbreviated bingo licenses now can only host games four times a year. That would change to 15. Those with full licenses that now can conduct games at least once a week would be able to conduct games twice a week.

Also, the state prohibits bingo games between midnight and 10 a.m. Under the bill, halls gain four hours of play, with it being prohibited between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m.

Lawmakers also eliminated a two-tenths-cent tax on game cards.

Mr. Lair said veterans and church group bingo games have dwindled in recent years, but lifting some of the restrictions should make it easier for them to use the games of chance as fundraisers. Rep. Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City, opposed the bill, calling it a “huge expansion of gambling.”

Alyson E. Raletz can be reached

at alysonraletz@npgco.com.