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THV Extra: Big Money Bingo In Arkansas
"Here we go with the first game of the first set of row games."
"You could go to bingo every night of the week if you wanted to."
"Getting out, socializing and winning the game."
Forms of bingo can be traced back to 16th century Italy. In 1929 the game "Beano" used dried beans to cover numbers on a cardboard sheet.
Bingo has come a long way since then. And it's come a long nicely in the six months since Arkansas allowed the return of charitable bingo.
Robert Douglas, Administrator of the Moose Lodge says, "We pay out up to $7,500 per night."
Games at the Moose Lodge in Sherwood pack the house. Players spend around $50 to participate in every game during the Tuesday and Thursday night sessions.
"I really do enjoy coming out and just having something other to do than just go to work and go home." Terri Branson says the games provide an almost addictive excitement.
Branson says, "Yeah, your heart pumps. Yeah, you kind of get excited when you get down to one number and you really think, oh my gosh, will it be the next one out. And then it's there."
Winning games can pay $50, $200, even as much as $1000, good reason to get excited.
John Theis says, "We have approximately 250 licensed organizations that are playing bingo. We've had relatively few complaints."
Theis is the Assistant Revenue Commissioner for the state of Arkansas. The state receives 1 penny for each card played in each game of bingo.
The tax is paid when organizations buy the approved card with the Arkansas stamp in the middle.
Theis says, "To date, the 1 cent fee is bringing in a little more than had originally been expected. The original estimates were on the 6 to 700 thousand range. And in the first six months, we've collected about $550,000 through the tax on bingo faces.
That's money that will be used strictly to enforce the charitable bingo laws and regulations. The state hired three auditors, and there are administrative costs to register and license the games.
The big winner appears to be the recipients of a measurable increase in charitable donations.
Lodge Administrator Robert Douglas says, "And it's not just certain charities. We gave a certain amount to moose charities, but a lot of it went back into the community. Children's Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, just different charities through the city. People ask us and we take it to the board of officers. And if it looks like it's do-able, we try to do it."
Through December, the first four months of bingo games at the Moose Lodge netted $40,000 for various charities. January's games have picked up here and already they've given another $28,000 to needy causes.
More than 50 of the state's licensed games are at churches and schools. Many feel the tax is too high, and would like it to be cut in half.
Revenue Commissioner Theis says, "Certainly there have been some complaints about the tax and about the level of the tax. And that will be an issue for the general assembly to consider when they come into session in 2009, whether any adjustment is necessary."
The state says problems have been minor. And for a few lucky bingo playing folks, the games have been more profitable than charitable.
Written by Mike Duncan, Reporter, Weekend Anchor
www.todaysthv.com
"You could go to bingo every night of the week if you wanted to."
"Getting out, socializing and winning the game."
Forms of bingo can be traced back to 16th century Italy. In 1929 the game "Beano" used dried beans to cover numbers on a cardboard sheet.
Bingo has come a long way since then. And it's come a long nicely in the six months since Arkansas allowed the return of charitable bingo.
Robert Douglas, Administrator of the Moose Lodge says, "We pay out up to $7,500 per night."
Games at the Moose Lodge in Sherwood pack the house. Players spend around $50 to participate in every game during the Tuesday and Thursday night sessions.
"I really do enjoy coming out and just having something other to do than just go to work and go home." Terri Branson says the games provide an almost addictive excitement.
Branson says, "Yeah, your heart pumps. Yeah, you kind of get excited when you get down to one number and you really think, oh my gosh, will it be the next one out. And then it's there."
Winning games can pay $50, $200, even as much as $1000, good reason to get excited.
John Theis says, "We have approximately 250 licensed organizations that are playing bingo. We've had relatively few complaints."
Theis is the Assistant Revenue Commissioner for the state of Arkansas. The state receives 1 penny for each card played in each game of bingo.
The tax is paid when organizations buy the approved card with the Arkansas stamp in the middle.
Theis says, "To date, the 1 cent fee is bringing in a little more than had originally been expected. The original estimates were on the 6 to 700 thousand range. And in the first six months, we've collected about $550,000 through the tax on bingo faces.
That's money that will be used strictly to enforce the charitable bingo laws and regulations. The state hired three auditors, and there are administrative costs to register and license the games.
The big winner appears to be the recipients of a measurable increase in charitable donations.
Lodge Administrator Robert Douglas says, "And it's not just certain charities. We gave a certain amount to moose charities, but a lot of it went back into the community. Children's Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, just different charities through the city. People ask us and we take it to the board of officers. And if it looks like it's do-able, we try to do it."
Through December, the first four months of bingo games at the Moose Lodge netted $40,000 for various charities. January's games have picked up here and already they've given another $28,000 to needy causes.
More than 50 of the state's licensed games are at churches and schools. Many feel the tax is too high, and would like it to be cut in half.
Revenue Commissioner Theis says, "Certainly there have been some complaints about the tax and about the level of the tax. And that will be an issue for the general assembly to consider when they come into session in 2009, whether any adjustment is necessary."
The state says problems have been minor. And for a few lucky bingo playing folks, the games have been more profitable than charitable.
Written by Mike Duncan, Reporter, Weekend Anchor
www.todaysthv.com
