August 2008 Archives

Woman denied $5G bingo prize because she didn't have proper identification.

A Mississauga woman claims she has been denied a $5,000 jackpot and humiliated by an airport-area bingo hall because of a long-standing grudge with management and other players.

Anna Gasiorowska, 31, wants her five grand from International Centre Bingo despite the fact she violated the house rules by not having any ID on her -- a must at the bingo hall, management said -- when she won.

She was playing the Twoonie Pot Progressive game on Aug. 19.

RULING MADE

Bingo hall boss John Summersides said yesterday that the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario ruled in favour of International Centre Bingo this week, and said it was right to deny the woman her prize.

Gasiorowska, on the other hand, said the female bingo manager on duty that night told her she could collect her money if she presented ID before 12:30 a.m.

It was only 10:15 p.m. -- and 10 minutes later, a friend brought Gasiorowska's ID to the hall, she said.

The bingo manager then reversed her stance and said Gasiorowska wouldn't be collecting the money.

"I was publicly humiliated in there," Gasiorowska said.

"I'm running around like a chicken without a head, I'm so happy I won $5,000. Everybody's hugging me, everybody's clapping. My ID is there within 10 minutes. (The manager) says, 'I will not verify, get out.'"

What's more, Gasiorowska said, a few minutes later during a smoke break outside, the bingo manager was heard speaking with other players who were "stirring the pot" and campaigning for her to be denied her winnings.

Vickie Jeoffroy, who's been playing there 30 years, said the bingo manager was whispering with other players, who told her to deny Gasiorowska the prize.

A few minutes later, the bingo manager did just that.

"She was getting fuelled by some of the other patrons who don't like this young girl because she's pretty and she's cute, that kind of thing. I heard two or three people saying, they shouldn't let it happen," Jeoffroy said.

'THAT'S UNFAIR'

"And the rest of us were thinking, that's unfair, everybody knows who this young girl is, she's going to get her ID. We didn't understand why she needed it in the first place because most bingo halls do not require it."

The hall won't be reversing its position, Summersides said.

"Those rules have always been in place and I understand that she's unhappy.

"It's not something that makes me happy either, but the rules are there for reasons -- to make sure everything is done fairly and consistently."

Written by Brett Clarkson
www.torontosun.com

In Brantford, only a fraction of the people go to the casino. A lot of people are being bused out of town to play bingo. That's a shame. The money from bingo should stay in Brantford.

These empty buildings that are getting to be eyesores should be cleaned up and fixed up. They would make nice bingo halls.

Even if they had a bingo at the casino, at least the bingo players will stay in Brantford.

I am hoping to see that someone will be able to get a permit. Brantford residents should be able to vote for a bingo hall.

Written by Eileen Mitchell Brantford

www.brantfordexpositor.ca

ITV Bingo Night Live may be benefiting from the launch of Sun Bingo since it ditched Tombola Bingo this week.

The free to play Bingo can't help but succeed with the amount of TV adverts and the fact Britain is currently going Bingo crazy.

New Bingo platforms have been launched at Bet365 Bingo, Daily Mail Bingo and Sun Bingo to feed the demand for games.

Mirror Bingo has also recently improved its game and is now offering players more ways to win than ever before, including more prize games, more guaranteed jackpots and a bigger sign up bonus! New players now receive a 200 per cent bonus when they deposit £10. So, get your eyes down at www.mirrorbingo.com.

www.mirror.co.uk

The Birmingham City Council approved a resolution at Tuesday's City Council meeting asking Birmingham's legislative delegation for a referendum on electronic bingo in Birmingham's city limits. Mayor Larry Langford proposed the resolution. Six other counties in Alabama allow electronic bingo.

"They're going to fight this," the mayor said of the other Alabama counties that have bingo, "because Birmingham is their cash cow. We got more buses leaving Birmingham going to these other [counties, where bingo is legal] than Carter's got liver pills," Langford said.

The council passed the resolution, which also directed the mayor's office report on the requirements for a referendum, with seven "yes" votes. Councilors Valerie Abbott and Roderick Royal abstained.

At the council meeting, Langford presented a video produced by his office that extolled the benefits of electronic bingo. "Returning horse racing and bingo to the city limits of Birmingham would add a minimum of $20 million to the revenues of the city of Birmingham," said the video's narrator. "Races like these would create of minimum of 2,500 jobs."

Horse racing is not currently illegal in Birmingham, although the Birmingham Race Course no longer runs horses. The Birmingham Race Course is owned by Milton McGregor, who contributed at least $25,000 to Larry Langford's 2007 mayoral campaign.

"This is not about Milton McGregor," Langford said at a city hall press conference on Tuesday. "Yeah, he is my friend. We've been friends a long time. It has nothing to do with him. It has to do with people getting on busses and leaving here."

"I personally like the guy for two reasons. One, he's just a great guy. But two, when that horse track out there was about to fold and $80 million went down the tubes, he invested in this city and kept it open," the mayor said, describing McGregor.

"All of us should have those kinds of friends."

Gambling and bingo is not heavily regulated in Alabama. In most municipalities that allow bingo, the gaming is overseen by the sheriff or police department.
Greenetrack, in Greene County, is one place in Alabama in which electronic bingo is legal. The state legislature authorized electronic bingo in Greene County in 2003, so long as the bingo operator qualifies as a non-profit organization. An Aug. 10 article in the Tuscaloosa News stated that despite these requirements, Greenetrack maintains closed financial books. Greene County has no way of knowing what percentage of the bingo hall's revenue is donated back to the county.

The resolution passed by the Birmingham City Council does not attempt to define where electronic bingo might take place or who might operate the facilities.
Langford said Tuesday that he hopes to get the referendum on the November ballot.

"If we can't, I will come back and ask this council to have a December referendum, because before February," when the Alabama legislature begins a new regular session, "I want to have a non-binding vote of the sense of the community.

"If the community says no, I won't even approach the legislature," Langford said.

www.bhamweekly.com

SACRAMENTO--The California Assembly has voted to ban charities from using electronic bingo games to raise money.

The Assembly approved a bill Wednesday by Sen. Gil Cedillo, a Los Angeles Democrat, that would prohibit the electronic games. At the same time, it would allow school groups, senior citizen organizations and certain other nonprofits to use so-called remote-caller bingo to raise money.

Remote-caller bingo involves use of audio or video equipment to conduct simultaneous bingo games at multiple locations.

Indian tribes contend that electronic bingo violates agreements with the state that give them exclusive use of slot machines.

Supporters of the Cedillo bill say failure to ban electronic bingo could cost the state millions of dollars in revenue from the Indian casinos.

The Assembly's 56-3 vote sent the bill to the Senate for consideration of Assembly amendments.

www.mercurynews.com

Proceeds from online game go to national charities

Two Denver entrepreneurs have launched a non-profit, web-based game called Obama-Bingo -- www.obama-bingo.com -- that will attempt to leverage the power of technology with nationwide interest in politics to benefit one of the 581 charities listed at www.charitywatch.org.

THE UK's No.1 online bingo site has re-launched. Sunbingo.co.uk is bigger and better than ever before.

All your favourite Bingo games have received a fresh new lease of life on our new site.

Bingo 90, Bingo 80 and Bingo 75 are there and you'll have more chances to win than ever before! Keep an eye out for our free ticket giveaways and special two-for-one offers.

We've also added some great new games for you to enjoy like WAGS Shopping spree, Whack-A-Moley and Gold Digger.

And that's not all!

To make Sun Bingo even better we're redecorating, renaming and revamping the chat rooms. There will be a host of exciting new features, including regular quizzes and fun emoticons to use when chatting.

We know you're going to love the new rooms but want to make sure that you can stay in touch with all of your existing Bingo friends. Simply click on the chat button at the top of the web pages for top tips on staying in touch!

Sun Bingo players are already winning.

Wendy Munns from Southend-on-Sea won a massive £10,000 playing on our new site yesterday morning. Wendy, from Southend-on-Sea said, "This means I can clear all my debts". Wendy, 44, went on to say "I was chatting with the other Bingo players about visiting Monkey World and now I can take my two year old grand daughter!".

You could win big like Wendy!

To celebrate the fabulous New Sun Bingo site we're giving you the chance to win a house worth £250,000.

A lucky Sun Bingo player will beat the credit crunch with this superb prize.

We'll buy the winner any house in the UK up to the value of £250,000! Every time you logon and play Sun Bingo game from today until September 30th you'll get an entry into this amazing prize draw. The more days you play the more chance you have of winning. Full terms and conditions are available at Sunbingo.co.uk.

On Sunday, lucky Nicola Sharpington scooped a cool £10,000. Nicola, 35, from Greenhithe, Kent, is now planning a family trip to Cuba for her Sister's wedding. Tina Chitty, 24, from Worcestershire won a brand new stylish Fiat 500 in another of our great prize draws. She said "I don't normally enter competitions but saw the other winners and thought I would give it a go."

Try your luck today and you could win yourself a £250,000 house. Visit sunbingo.co.uk today!

A lucky Oxford mum of three is now celebrating after winning over £61,000 whilst playing at her local Gala Bingo club and this was the second such huge national bingo game win to come out of this exact same bingo club within the last two weeks. The Gala Bingo club in Ozone Road, Oxford had only just seen one of their members win £61,900 on the national bingo game less than two weeks ago, so it seems lady luck has most certainly been doing her rounds here!

The lady has been playing bingo for about 20 years since she was 18 and she normally plays bingo once or twice a week at Gala Bingo. The national gaming body spoke to her after the shock of her big bingo win settled down and this is what she had to say. "I made my Nan jump because I shouted so loud. I couldn't believe it and I went bright red." She also said that she has not yet decided what she is going to do with the money other than buying some new furniture for her home.

It was completing the full house in just 36 numbers on the national bingo game that won the lucky mum this great cash prize of a whopping £61,808! First she took home the national bingo games jackpot that was standing at 60,000 on the night, plus she won the regional of 1,658 and the in house prize of 150 at Gala Bingo.

The other lucky lady who won nearly the exact same amount of cash less than two weeks earlier at the same Gala Bingo Club is 53 years old and comes from Bicester. She called house in 44 numbers on the national bingo game to win the jackpot prize and she said to the national gaming body that she was going to take a holiday to the city of lights Las Vegas with her husband, thanks to her great bingo win.

This time next week no more will we be reporting on National Bingo Game jackpot winners at Gala Bingo as they are withdrawing from the national bingo game in just 5 days time, as the 1st September is when they will cease to hold one of the world's biggest and best linked bingo games at their land based bingo clubs.

Written by Hollie

www.unluckyforsome.co.uk

GSN is bringing Bingo America back for a second season, with a new host, new sidekick, and some new bingo game elements that seem to allow more and bigger potential wins for viewers.

Gone this season are Patrick Duffy and Crystal Wallasch. Instead, the show will be hosted by none other than Richard Karn, who played the lovable (if not brilliant) Al Borland on Home Improvement, and of course went on to host four seasons of Family Feud. His evening-gown-wearing assistant will be Diane Mizota, who you might know from Trading Spaces: Boys vs. Girls or the short-lived reality show Three Wishes.

Viewers will once again be able to download and print bingo cards to play along with at home, for the chance to win money with each and every round. In the Bingo Bonus Round that's played at the end of the show, viewers can also become instant winners. Plus you'll be able to get extra Bonus Round numbers by texting BINGO to 94949 on your mobile phone (but don't try it until October!).

Bingo America returns to GSN on October 6th at 6:30pm Eastern, and will air new episodes each weeknight. Encore presentations will air Saturdays and Sundays at 4pm Eastern. Bingo America cards will be available for download through the GSN website beginning October 4th.

gameshows.about.com

The Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Emerging Leaders of Navarre will host a fun-filled family night of games and entertainment from 6 to 9 tonight at Cocodrie's Restaurant.

Cocodrie's Restaurant is sponsoring Bingo & Beer, which will benefit the Emerald Coast Honor Flight, a program designed to send World War II Veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit their memorial.

The event will feature bingo throughout the evening with prizes awarded to the winner of each round. There will also be a coloring contest and bingo area for kids.

Food and beer will be available all evening for purchase. Bingo cards are $5 each or three for $10, and admission is free for children.

www.pnj.com

After the long wait and speculation by the entire online gaming community, today is the day Sun Bingo makes the switch from the Tambola Bingo software and begins working from the Gamesys platform that is currently running the very popular Jackpot Joy site.

Although many have wondered if this move would prove to be a successful one for the already popular online bingo operator, it is clear that under the Gamesys platform, Sun Bingo will be able to offer its players a much broader range of games than under its former platform.

For instance, Sun Bingo will now enjoy the opportunity of hosting side games in addition to its bingo game, and will gave more choice in what games it offers. Many bingo operators are growing out of the bingo only model and are continuing to make the move to a more versatile gaming provider - giving its players more choice in their gambling ventures.

However, Sun Bingo has built its loyal following on its superior community feel, offering a number of chat room options in addition to very cheap games running just about any time of the day. Many in the industry are wondering if the Gamesys platform will be able to provide such a community based atmosphere and bring in the same kind of numbers the online bingo provider saw on its previous software provider.

Either way, previous players at the Sun Bingo site will still be able to play under the same login details at the new site, which means the loyal players are expected to follow along as the operator makes this change. In the end, only time will tell if this was the right move for the bingo provider, but in the mean time: if you want to play bingo, visit onlinebingoalerts.com.

Written by Michael

www.gamingalerts.co.uk

The seniors' centre will be closed September 1 to observe the Labour Day holiday.

Do you or a friend enjoy bingo, but do not want to travel out of town to play? Then drop by the seniors' centre on Sunday evenings; the bingo games start at 7 p.m. and usually end about 9 p.m. The cost is very reasonable. The doors open at 5 p.m. and sales start at 6 p.m.

The kitchen is open to serve sandwiches, snacks and refreshments during bingo. These bingo games are hosted by the Cowichan Lake District Seniors' Association and the funds are used to help with the ongoing operating costs of the seniors' centre.

If you prefer to play bingo in the afternoon, then Wednesday is your day. Come in and enjoy a very reasonably priced lunch prepared by our cook Heidi. Sales start at noon and the bingo games start at 1 p.m. and are over about 3 p.m. These bingo games are hosted by the Golden Agers and the funds are used to help pay for some of their functions.

Youbou Old Age Pensioners will be hosting bingo on Monday evenings starting on September 8. Their early bird games start at 6:15 p.m. with the regular games starting at 7 p.m.

Everyone of legal age is welcome to drop in play bingo. The atmosphere is friendly and you are more than welcome.

The Cowichan Valley Community Radio station, based in Lake Cowichan, is hosting a talent show on September 13 at the seniors' centre. Please watch for times and admission fees. Vi Harmon is in charge of gathering the talent for this performance.

Just a reminder that all the meetings start up again this month. Please check elsewhere in the column for the times.

Every Thursday some of the ladies in the centre enjoy doing their own thing in the meeting room, including working on a quilt, crocheting, doing puzzles, knitting or making pottery. Just bring in your project to work on and enjoy the company of others.

The Seniors Goodtime Band plays during the Thursday lunch hour. The band includes  Walt Haldorson, Edith Strochen, Ed Salter, Verna Franklin, Larry Peterson, Lucille Smith and Elvin Hedden. The seniors appreciate having vocals again. If you would like to join with the band for the Thursday lunch hour please drop in.

The cribbage players get together every Friday afternoon to play cribbage in the seniors' center; play starts at noon and players pay $2 into a prize pot. Cribbage is open to everyone, so please feel free to come in and play, make new friends and maybe meet some one you have not seen for awhile.

Bridge will start up again on September 5 if enough players show an interest.

 The association hosts bingo on Sunday evenings starting a 7 p.m. with the regular games. The net proceeds from the bingo are used to assist in paying the ongoing operating costs of the seniors' centre. Everyone of legal age is welcome to come and play bingo and your support is greatly appreciated by the seniors.

The Cowichan Lake Golden Agers Society hosts bingo on Wednesdays starting at 1 p.m. The net proceeds from the bingo are used to help the kitchen provide low cost meals for seniors. The proceeds are also used to help fund day trips for seniors to enjoy an outing and with ambulance fees. Everyone of legal age is welcome to come in and play bingo and your support for the seniors is greatly appreciated.

The Youbou OAP Branch 115 bingo will start again on September 8. They would like to thank everyone for their support this past year.

The Cowichan Lake Golden Agers Society executive meeting is scheduled for September 9 at 10:30 a.m.  This will be followed by the Golden Agers membership general meeting on September 10 at 1:30 p.m.

The association executive will be meeting at 10 a.m. on September 16. This will be followed by a  general membership meeting on September 18 at 1:30 p.m.  Please attend the meeting of your choice and show your support for your executives.

Youbou OAP 115 will have its  luncheon meeting on September 04 at noon.

Written by Frank Hornbrook

www.bclocalnews.com

Lady luck has most certainly been smiling on the lucky bingo players in Glasgow, Scotland as they have just been hailed Britain's luckiest bingo hotspot for the second year in a row by the national bingo game. The Mecca Bingo club in Forge, Glasgow had a spectacular 16 national bingo game wins on their own and their very lucky players won a whopping £727,165 between them! This is the fourth year running that Scotland has topped the poll in the luckiest place to play bingo and the second year on the trot that Glasgow itself was hailed the luckiest place to play!

Back in March of this year, Club 3000 in Coatbridge saw one very Lucky Glasgow player break the world record for the world's biggest ever bingo win and they are now over £1.2 million pounds richer after hitting the jackpot on the national bingo games jackpot prize. It is not all bad news for English bingo players however as they have had their fair share of big bingo wins over the past year and the Mecca Bingo club in Stockton, Chandlers Wharf polled in second place on the national games leader board, they had 13 national bingo game wins in their club and their players won a huge prize fund of £375,432 between them.

Glasgow may have topped the leader board for the most national bingo game wins, but it was the Beacon Bingo Club in Cricklewood that amassed the largest national bingo game prize fund and their bingo players won the national jackpot prize 11 times and a prize fund that totalled a staggering £772,339! This was the second year running that the Beacon club topped the leader board for the biggest overall prize fund.

The National Bingo Game Association (NBGA) calculated the top ten luckiest towns based on the number of National Bingo Game wins in each region in the past year. Steve Baldwin who was the spokesperson for the NBGA said: "We have had 984 big winners over the past 12 months, and they pocketed over £36 million between them. Bingo has a huge following in Scotland so we're delighted to see that they have not only won the title for the fourth year in a row, but they have also delivered our biggest bingo winner yet! The National Bingo Game is now in its 22nd year. Bingo always offers good odds for a great night out and cash in your pocket."

Peterhead, Wavertree Park, Fishponds, Walsall and Bracknell, polled the lowest overall number of National Bingo Game wins and prize funds in the past year, but who's to say their lucky won't change this year as you just never know what bingo club will land the national bingo games jackpot prize on the night!

Written by Hollie

www.unluckyforsome.co.uk

Wink Bingo is offering to new members  £5 bonus when they register for the first time.  Also Wink Bingo gives a 200% on the first deposit between £5 and £100 and a 50% bonus on each of the subsequent deposits between £10 - £100.

 

Want more?  Wink bingo offers more.

 

The 10th of every month at 10pm GMT, Wink Bingo presents the exclusive £10,000 guaranteed monthly jackpot. All you have to do is go to the 10K Club 75-ball room, buy cards for £1 each and you can be the winner of this amazing prize.  Also you can pre-buy cards in the same 10K Club 75-ball room.

Wink Bingo also has the 10% chashback for life.  That means every week they give back 10% of any losses you may have had the previous week.  Cashback will be credited in your Wink Bingo account and can be used anywhere on the site.

 

But that's not it.  During each week, at Wink Bingo, you can win many bonus points.  For example, on mondays, whoever bingos on patterns 3, 6 and the Letter B in 75 Ball, will be crowned as the 36B Winners (and you'll be sharing 36,000 Bonus Points)

 

On Wednesdays at the Naughty 40, patterns 4 and 0 in 75 Ball Bingo wins some bonuses points.

 

Finally in the Six-Pack, get as many bingos as possible on any of the Six-Pack patterns on Fridays as they're dishing out a whopping 60,000 Bonus Points! (Bonus is split equally amongst all players who bingo on any of the qualifying patterns.)

 

Register to Wink Bingo and have the opportunity of win some of these amazing prizes.  Click here!

Written by Phixel

In the UK, the Telegraph daily newspaper is reporting that online bingo has never been more competitive with the number of players doubling over the past year.

As the British land-based bingo industry struggles with closures caused by a smoking ban, restrictions on $1,000 slot machines and having to pay both a gross profits tax and a value-added tax, the $1.1 billion online sector has never been so competitive. The newspaper quoted figures from the Gambling Commission showing that the number of online bingo players went from 250,000 to 500,000 in the past twelve months across the nation's 243 registered websites.

The newspaper revealed that revenues from 888's 'ladies' bingo' rose fourfold on the previous quarter following television advertising featuring comedian Vic Reeves.

'Online bingo is booming everywhere,' said Gigi Levy, Chief Executive Officer for 888.

'But it's a mistake to link it to traditional bingo because that's a completely different proposition. Our women are young, above average income and typical Internet consumers. Land-based bingo is about elderly people, smoking and aggressive slot machines.

'People are cutting back on leisure but they are staying home and spending only in the low tens of pounds a month with the chance of winning some extra cash. The beauty of it is there are very low costs and a huge number of players. So, despite low margins, it is very profitable.'

Reporter Rowena Mason wrote that online bingo is now a 'guilty pleasure among thousands of middle-class, well-off women once the children are packed off to school and the chores are done'.

"One of the attractions of online bingo is that no one need know these players are taking part in a game traditionally reserved for the chain-smoking, wing-wobbling hordes of blue-rinsers that once packed halls across the country," wrote Mason.

www.igamingbusiness.com

IT'S "house!" once again at a Coatbridge bingo club.

Just a few months after a lucky bingo player scooped a world record £1.2m at Club 3000, another member has won £36,000.

The most recent winner, who has asked to remain anonymous, is a man from Airdrie who has been a member of Club 3000 since it opened.

He plays bingo there four times a week with friends and it was on August 10 that good fortune struck for him.

The man won the National Bingo Game prize of £32,720. plus the Regional prize of £3265 and the house prize of £480.

The national prize that evening was £65,440 but he had to share with a player in Boston, Lincs, who also completed a full house in 44 numbers, the lowest call in any of the 470 clubs playing nationwide.

The winner said: "Everyone cheered when I won but I just sat there and didn't even twitch. I'm going to use the money to take my daughter on holiday, either somewhere in England near a bingo hall, or maybe to Ireland as I've always wanted to go there."

The man works as a driver and plays at Club 3000 because he says "it is one of the cheapest clubs about".

As well as taking a holiday he intends to use some of the money to buy a new car.

The National Bingo Game is the second largest computer-controlled game in the UK behind the National Lottery.

Total prize money since the game started in June 1986 currently stands at £987,000,000.

Written by Wendy Scott

www.acadvertiser.co.uk

Auburn has refused a request to include bingo parlors in the city's commercial zones.

The denial on a 5-0 vote by the Auburn Planning Commission means that only local charitable organizations can continue to conduct bingo activities by applying for one-year licenses through the city manager and with Police Department approval.

The request to consider bingo parlors came from a Bay Area theater company with interest in setting up a charitable bingo hall at 220 Palm Ave. that would operate 11 a.m.-11 p.m. seven days a week.

Gregory Brennan, executive director of the Network Theatre Company, said proceeds from the games would be used to create and maintain a professional theater group in Auburn. The company would offer a three-play production package in its first season, Brennan said in a May 12 letter to the city of Auburn.

Planning Commissioner Alan Young voiced the strongest concerns about a daily bingo operation, saying it might oust occasional bingo games at churches or meeting halls that raise money for local organizations.

"I don't want to see a bingo parlor in my community," Young said. "(People) can go to Thunder Valley. I look at bingo parlors as another venue for gaming."

Brennan told commissioners the bingo parlor would assist other local groups in raising money for their causes.

On Tuesday, California Indian tribes and the state reached accord on the extent to which charities can expand their bingo operations.

Written by Art Campos

www.sacbee.com

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- A University of Kentucky study shows local smoking bans don't pose a financial threat to charitable bingo halls.

Groups such as public school sports and band boosters depend on bingo revenue to fund programs.

The study was commissioned by UK's College of Public Health. It was released on Monday.

It compared bingo revenues in 13 Kentucky counties in which there was at least one local anti-smoking ordinance before and after the ordinances took effect.

While the report acknowledges a decline in bingo gambling, the authors point to a number of factors, including gasoline prices and unemployment, as having an impact.

The study's release comes as Lexington officials consider redefining private organizations to bring bingo parlors under the city's 2003 smoke-free ordinance.

www.wztv.com

MANITOWOC -- When thinking about fair royalty, the fairest of the fair usually comes to mind. At the Manitowoc County Fair, there is a different kind of royalty, and her name is Joan Drumm, a bingo volunteer.

"When I get to the county fair, I don't even have to show my lifetime pass," Drumm said. "The people that are running the fair, they say 'oh there comes the bingo queen.' It is fun."

Drumm has volunteered with the fair by working with the bingo games for more than 30 years, she said. Drumm also can be seen at the fair while she serves food from the concessions at the flea market.

Her work at the fair led her to be named the volunteer of the year in 2007, she said.

All it took to stir Drumm's interest in volunteering was a phone call.

"They called me and said 'how would you like to work bingo at the fair?'" she said. "I said I know how to play it, but to work it, I don't know anything about it. They said we will show you what to do."

Since that phone call, she has volunteered with bingo at the fair, a local nursing home and church.

Drumm collects the cards after bingo has been called. Bingo will be played at the fair from noon to 4 p.m. on Thursday and Sunday in the Manitowoc County Ice Center.

The first time Drumm helped collect cards for bingo, it started raining at the fair and they had to move the game indoors.

"We held it outside in a tent and then it started raining so hard that we had to go in the building," she said. "They moved the band that was playing there for the afternoon and moved that in the building. Here the band is playing and the people are trying to play bingo at the same time."

The fair begins today and concludes Sunday.

Written by Sarah Millard

www.htrnews.com

There are three things that make Harry's Bingo stand out among the rest, all of which are due to its being a young player among the more veteran bingo business around. Well, as a fledgling company in online bingo, it has of things to catch up on other rivals and it has to compete the competition with something that they don't have, which is experience. However, owing to the fact that they are new and want to prove themselves as equal or better than their bitterest competitor, it also has one advantage - creativity. This is this creativity that powers harrysbingo.co.uk to attract a cult of followers day in and day out.

First, they are most active in the recruitment of potential bingo members. Thus, they offer the best rewards, the most affordable ticket prices, and the most active promos that can entice bingo players to join. More importantly, it also prepares activities and bonuses that will continue to interest and intrigue people. Activities like adding new mini games in the side, and bonuses like loyalty schemes and points, are where this new company will concentrate on in improving.

Second, it gives the most incentives to new bingo members. These incentives often reach to levels that members would not think twice in availing. It wants to keep the members intact and to never think of cancelling the membership and moving to other online bingo sites. In return, the bingo players who are the first few members of the site can take advantage of these promotions and can receive so much freebies when they stay out to be loyal and become regulars.

Bingo Hideout

Bingo! The call goes out and everyone turns their attention to the winner. The sound of paper tearing fills the bingo hall as runners go to the floor to sell sheets for the next game. Have you ever played bingo?

Bingo players are the Good Samaritans of today. Their desire to hear the caller say their number benefits the families in our community through charitable gaming in Mississippi. The bingo staff strives to make sure everything and everyone works for a good time at Plaza Bingo seven nights a week and twice on Fridays. Bingo players make the local hall one of the largest bingo halls in Mississippi and the proceeds benefit the Good Samaritan Center.

The Good Samaritan Center is a non-profit organization assisting families in emergency situations. Family illness can make someone miss a few days of work or having to repair a car can destroy the family budget. Living from payday to payday is a reality families face and saving for a rainy day is just not an option. Paying a light bill for one month or giving a family food for the week can ease the strain. Emergencies happen and the Good Samaritan Center staff helps families come out of the situation and move forward.

The consistency of the bingo players at Plaza Bingo makes the Good Samaritan Center a success. They spend their money to buy bingo sheets, computers and also put their dollars into the machines. The sound of the cha-ching is like the silver coins the Samaritan paid the innkeeper to feed and care for a stranger. To some families these coins mean having electricity to heat a cold home on a winter's night or cooking a meal. Other families may be able to buy medicine. Fire victims and women staying at the domestic abuse shelter can visit the clothes closet. Hot meals are served every day at the Soup Kitchen for anyone that's hungry. Meals are delivered to the elderly and disabled around town. Bingo players afford all these families the opportunity to reach the helping hands of the Good Samaritan Center staff.

"What kind of help do you need?" starts the process. "Have you ever been here before?" The follow up question, "Do you have your social security cards?" Two filing cabinets full of paperwork are then searched through for previous visits. Over 10 years of records allow the caseworker to make informed decisions about each case. Relationships with other agencies enable the local non-profit to verify that every dollar they spend makes a difference in each situation. Staff would love to fill every request, but handouts do not empower a family.

Not only do Plaza Bingo players finance the operation in Laurel and Jackson, they support special community events and participate in drives. Canned food, dry food, paper products and personal care items fill the bingo hall every other month. The school supply drive at the beginning of every school year sends pencils, pens and paper to the students around Jones County. At Christmas, they fill the wish list for the children in the caseload and the homebound on the meal route. At Easter, staff members hide eggs and play games with the children on Good Friday. Donations and dollars from bingo make it all possible.

Bingo players and staff members of the Good Samaritan Center are in the business of helping families make it through tough times. Seeing a ray of hope on the horizon is sometimes the best motivation for a family to pick up the pieces and move forward. The Good Samaritan Center staff takes the needy hand of a stranger and places it into the helping hands of the bingo player. Helping hands, not a hand out makes for a life built on self-sufficiency, not dependency.

"Bingo has been called," the caller says. "Hold your sheets." He waits for the number on the card to be called out. "We have a good bingo!"

Take a chance, have some fun, check out the new colors and try out the new snack bar. There are sandwiches, chips, salads, cold drinks and hot coffee during every bingo session. Plaza Bingo is right off 16th Avenue in the Parkside Plaza shopping center with CVS and Roses.

Written by Sherry Soelman

www.leadercall.com

The County Commission approved rules and regulations in July for operation of charitable machine bingo in Etowah County. In that resolution, the County Commission was named to authorize permits.

The recent action gives that authority back to the sheriff, who was originally named in the law as the person who should authorize permits.

Two developers, CBS Supply of Mount Pleasant, S.C., and Coosa Entertainment Group of the Gadsden area, have presented proposals for video bingo developments to the County Commission and are expected to make those proposals public at 8 a.m. Aug. 25.

"We have told them it's up to them what they present," County Chief Executive Officer Patrick Simms said. "Before we make any decisions on proposals, we want it to be put before the public."

There will be a public comment period at the meeting, but there will not be a question and answer period, Simms said.

Simms said the County Commission asked District Attorney Jimmie Harp about the legalities of who should issue the permits, and it was Harp's opinion that the sheriff should.

"I didn't really feel that it was a big issue of who had the authority, but one sure way to clean it up was to have it like it was written in the original law," Harp said Saturday.

Harp said the issue of bingo was voted on in 1989 and late Rep. Joe Ford, the father of Rep. Craig Ford, D-Gadsden, asked for an amendment in 1994 that established more specific guidelines of how to play the game.

"Whether or not its legal to play bingo has already been voted on," Harp said. "The question now is how to regulate it."

Craig Ford said last week he believes the people should be allowed to vote on electronic bingo.

In the 1989 constitutional amendment voted on by Etowah County residents, it was worded to say that charity bingo is allowed and does not refer specifically to bingo cards, Harp said. In the 1994 amendment adopted by the Legislature, it specifically refers to bingo cards, Harp said.

Previously Attorney General Troy King compared bingo cards and video bingo to traditional mail through the postal service and e-mail. He said the comparison represents the "technological evolution."

But Harp said he wants the matter cleared through a court and if a permit is granted, he or Sheriff Todd Entrekin would file suit, asking for a judge to make that determination.

Harp said the act in 1994 was not voted on and those guidelines were much looser than the resolution recently approved by the County Commission.

Harp said there also is a conflict of whether the local act or the constitutional amendment takes precedence. He said the action in 1994 gave authority to the County Commission to regulate bingo.

"We need guidance to make this the best possible situation for the county," he said. "The County Commission already has taken steps to make this a $200 million facility instead of a $25,000 facility."

Under the recent resolution, video bingo is to be operated by charitable services, with 100 percent of the net proceeds from operation to go to the charitable, education or social services within the county.

Machine bingo games can be operated only on property owned or leased by the qualifying agency. The rate of the lease would be based on a percentage of receipts or profits from the operation of the games.

Paper bingo games at a bingo hall off North 12th Street already benefit several nonprofit organizations in Etowah County.

Etowah County is one of 19 counties throughout the state that has an Alabama constitutional amendment that allows bingo within the county.

Simms previously said Etowah County officials do no want a widespread epidemic of bingo parlors and set the bar high for developers interested in a bingo development.

The video bingo machines must be operated in a multi-use facility such as a branded hotel, or any unbranded restaurant, dinner theater, entertainment facility, retail or amusement outlet or an entertainment venue with the capacity for at least 3,000 people to view live entertainment such as music.

Each facility must have a $2 million in liability insurance and $500,000 in liquor liability insurance. The facility must have a minimum of $200 million in investments and assets within the county and for every million dollars of assets and investments it must provide 10 jobs, which is equal to 2,000 jobs per facility with 70 percent of the employees living in Etowah County, according to the resolution.

Entrekin said following Saturday's meeting, he did not have a problem with issuing permits but also had no problem with the County Commission having that authority.

"But the district attorney said the law is clear and that I should issue a permit," Entrekin said. "The public needs to know that a lot of time has been spent with lawyers making sure everything is done correctly and according to the law."

Entrekin said he will only issue a permit after the County Commission gives him a name of a developer they have approved and meets their strict guidelines, with an economic development plan.

Entrekin said his investigators then would do thorough background checks on the developers and all charities they pose as eligible to participate in the bingo operation.

Written by Lisa Rogers

www.gadsdentimes.com

Murphysboro Bingo players are quickly running out of places to play! The Murphysboro American Legion hosted their last game of Bingo last Friday night, according to Legion Commander Tom Lawless. "It is just not what it used to be," said Lawless. "We have not been getting the people that we used to."

Lawless said a combination of economics and fuel prices may have played a big part in the reason the number of
Bingo players is so far down. Lawless said the Legion may try to bring Bingo back in the future sometime if it is possible. The American Legion has been hosting Bingo for more than 30 years.

The American Legion is not the first place to stop hosting Bingo games in Murphysboro. The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) stopped hosting regular weekly games a long time ago and, more recently, the Knights of Columbus closed the doors to their Bingo Hall more than two months ago, according to KofC member Richard Will.  Will said the KofC has been hosting Bingo in Murphysboro for more than 15 years and may try to start up again sometime in the fall. Will also cited low player turnout as a reason for shutting the games down.

Merle Evans, speaking for the Murphysboro Elks Club, which has been hosting Bingo for about 12 years, has a bit of good news to pass on to Murphysboro Bingo players. "We have been pretty steady," Evans said, "not nearly what we would like it to be, but still very steady." The Elks club, located on Shomaker Drive in south Murphysboro, hosts Bingo every Monday night except for any Mondays that fall on major holidays, said Evens.

"We have no intention of going anywhere and anyone that wants to play Bingo should come see us," said Evans. "It is a lot of fun and a very friendly atmosphere.

Bingo at the Elks is held every Monday from about 7 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.

Written by John Gojkovich
www.murphysboroamerican.com

All developers want to do is bring electronic bingo halls to different cities. They are not asking for full fledged casinos, just halls where they can open shop with electronic bingo machines. Yet they are being denied that opportunity in some areas of the nation.

While casino gambling projects are becoming increasingly popular with politicians to help save their state budgets, bingo halls are having a tough time getting these same politicians on board.

Electronic bingo halls do not have the same revenue promise as casinos, so politicians are less apt to stand behind the bingo form of gambling. If it can't help balance the budget and get them re-elected, then the politicians see no reason to approve these business propositions.

In Pearl River, Lousiana, the Board of Aldermen voted 3-1 not to allow electronic bingo halls within their town limits. "I believe in this time and place it's (electronic bingo halls) not apropriate for the town of Pearl River," said Alderman Virgil Phillips.

Indeed, the time and place would have been much better had the bingo halls guaranteed the town upwards of $100 million a year. "I think a slot machine with the word 'Bingo' on top of it is still a slot machine," said Alderman Jay Scroggins.

Written by April Gardner
www.casinogamblingweb.com

Germania Hose Co. said competition from Mohegan Sun casino was final blow.

DURYEA -- The curtain closed on a 49-year-old tradition in Duryea Tuesday night when the last weekly game of bingo was played at the Germania Hose Co. on Foote Avenue.

Organizers point to the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs as the grim reaper. Duryea resident Jim Steer, bingo chairman and a 50-year firefighter, remembers when the games started in 1959.

"It was the idea of a good friend of mine from Hamburg, Jim Gilmartin," Steer said.

In the beginning the bingo game went through some "hard knocks," Steer said. "We didn't have enough money to buy tables and chairs so we borrowed them," he said.

He remembered driving to churches and funeral homes to borrow tables and chairs and then returning them after when bingo was over.

The people from the neighborhood kept the games alive in the beginning, Steer said.

As it grew in popularity, people from all over the Wyoming Valley began to attend, and grand prizes rose to up to $2,000.

In its heyday, the bingo games would draw 130 people each week and could raise up to $30,000 a year for the hose company for firefighting equipment, Steer said.

Unfortunately, about five years ago attendance dropped to about 80 people. Then the bottom fell out and attendance dropped again when the casino in Plains Township opened, Steer said.

"You can't operate with less than 80 people. It costs more to run than it makes," he said.

Steer said he will miss the weekly gatherings of friends and neighbors. There may be a resurrection though, he added.

The hose company is interviewing three unnamed private bingo operators who are showing interest in reopening. The hose company is holding a meeting today on the issue, he said.

Written by Ralph Nardone

www.timesleader.com

Who knew bingo was so controversial?

In recent months, Sacramento has seen a legal and media battle over charity bingo halls. The California Tribal Business Alliance (CTBA) and the Attorney General have been trying to shut down several charity bingo halls they say aren't complying with the rules set out for the game in state law. These so-called bingo parlors, they say, resemble Vegas casinos, with electronic "bingo" machines that look and play like slot machines or video poker.

The California Charity Bingo Association has fought back with an ad campaign accusing "powerful special interest groups" wanting to cut off money for disabled veterans and sick children.

Charity bingo was legalized by a voter initiative in 1976. Over the last 30-plus years, it has provided millions of dollars for charities, according to Bingo Association lobbyist Ravi Mehta.

"People felt that charities should have a source of revenue so they're not always out there with their hand out," Mehta said.
In the 1980s, Mehta said, California Indian tribes decided they wanted to get in on the act. The state tried to block them, he said, but won the right to conduct bingo games in court. Many of the big tribal casinos also use bingo gaming machines, that don't count against their slot machine total.

"It's absolutely hypocritical," Mehta said. "These are the same arguments made against the tribes, and the tribes prevailed. Now the tribes are making the same arguments. These are not slot machines. These are legal bingo machines, just like the tribes have."

But there's one huge problem with this argument, according to Alison Harvey, executive director of the CTBA.
"We're not operating under the same laws. You can't compare them."

The tribes operate under federal law she said, while the bingo halls must comply with state law-which she said they are regularly breaking. State law allows them to play bingo on a paper card, she said, but not on machines. Except for paid security guards, all people working at bingo halls must be volunteers.

The legal maneuvering began one year ago, when the AG's office sent letters to 15 bingo parlors-about half of them in the Sacramento area-warning them they may be out of compliance with state law. The letter said that "electronic aid" in filling out a card was not illegal, but that systems that "substitute computers with stored bingo matrices...do not qualify as the game of bingo."

This was followed with actual cease and desist letters this May. The Bingo Association countered in early June by successfully seeking an injunction that would allow the parlors to stay open while the legal issues are resolved.

The CTBA took a group of reporters on a tour of bingo halls two weeks ago. Like many bingo halls, the Bingo Palace on Fulton and Marconi uses machines made by Video Gaming Technologies (VGT) of Brentwood, Tennessee. The machines offer five games-most people were playing a type of video poker-that gets translated into a bingo game on a smaller screen atop the machine. When asked, multiple players said they never paid any attention to the small top screen.

But this doesn't matter, Mehta said. The machines comply with state laws-multiple people play at the same time, the house has no direct stake in the game, and no one wins unless their bingo card on the top screen shows a winner. Mehta said the real issue is tribal casinos trying to get rid of competition.

According to a report put out on August 7 by Karen Walsh, bingo compliance manager at the Sacramento County Sheriff's Dept., charity bingo halls in Sacramento County took in $55 million from July 1, 2007, to July 1, 2008. Of this, 76 percent was paid out in prizes, 16 percent went to cover bingo hall expenses, and a little over 8 percent-just under $4.6 million-went to charities.

The CTBA's Harvey said she wanted to know how much of the "overhead" portion was going to VGT to pay for leases on machines. Meanwhile, as the market gets saturated with more and more machines, the percentage going to charities is slipping, she said. She characterized the bingo halls as an attempt to create unregulated urban gambling in California.

"If you say this is okay, you'll have these in all the card clubs," Harvey said. "You'll have casinos on every corner."

Written by Malcolm Maclachlan

www.capitolweekly.net

Electronic gambling doesn't belong in Pearl River, the town's leaders have decided.

The Board of Aldermen voted 3-1 Tuesday night against allowing electronic bingo parlors to set up shop within the town.

The vote was sparked by two proposals for such halls that have been floated this year.

"I believe in this time and place it's not appropriate for the town of Pearl River," Alderman Virgil Phillips said.

Discussion about electronic bingo resurfaced last month, when Bernie Brennan of Bogalusa, who runs a video bingo parlor in Sun, floated the idea of putting up a hall in the town, possibly near Louisiana 41. The machines are similar to those used in video poker, allowing customers to bet on bingo hands that are generated electronically.

However, members of the Board of Aldermen said they worried about opening the door to electronic gambling.

"I think a slot machine with the word 'Bingo' on top of it is still a slot machine," Alderman Jay Scroggins said.

An informal survey of town residents at a public meeting last month seemed to support the board's decision. At that meeting, 15 of 27 residents said they would oppose an electronic bingo establishment.

The proposal put before the board argued the bingo hall would bring in money for the town and help nonprofits, which would receive a portion of the proceeds. A security guard would be present while the bingo hall was in operation, though aldermen expressed concern about whether the hall would be open on Sundays or allow minors inside.

"I gamble a little bit," Mayor James Lavigne said Tuesday night. "But kids these days learn too much from television and the Internet. I don't want to teach a kid to gamble."

Alderman David McQueen, who voted in favor of the proposal allowing electronic bingo, said he did so because it would benefit nonprofits. However, he said significant details would have to be ironed out before he could have gotten behind the hall under discussion.

Alderwoman Marie Crowe abstained from voting on the proposal.

Earlier this year, another company discussed putting an electronic bingo parlor in Pearl River, but the proposal never got off the ground because of the board's opposition, Lavigne said.

"A lot of people are against gambling and stuff," Lavigne said Wednesday. "All those churches, they just don't believe in it, and I respect that belief."

Traditional bingo is still allowed in the city, though Lavigne said he doesn't know of any group currently running a game.

Written by Jeff Adelson

www.nola.com

Tombola power is out, and Gamesys is in
 
UK bingo players will see new websites and a fresh software when The Sun and News of the World newspapers relaunch the Sun Bingo and NotW Bingo operations on August 26, 2008.
 
Owners the News Group Newspapers announced this week that the new sites will be powered by Gamesys, displacing former software provider Tombola. Gamesys is the software developer behind the successful and high profile Jackpot Joy brand.
 
Barry Sage, Head of Gambling at News Group Digital commented, "We're excited to be re-launching our Sun Bingo and NotW Bingo products with such an established online gaming partner in Gamesys.
 
"Working with Gamesys will give us complete control over our bingo product. We will continue to improve and develop the product with our bingo players in mind.
 
"We think it is important to point out that we are not running Sun Bingo or NotW Bingo on the Jackpot Joy software. Gamesys have built a bespoke bingo platform that considers the needs of our players. They will be able to enjoy all their current favourite bingo games - Bingo 90, Bingo 80 and Bingo 75 and we also have some fantastic new games that will be exclusive to our players.
 
"We'd also like to reassure our bingo players that we will be keeping the price of our bingo cards at the same level as the existing site".

www.online-casinos.com

Fans of online bingo may want to check out 32RedBingo.com this month after the site announced that it would launch a series of new promotions allowing players to try out its 90-ball bingo software and games free of charge.

The promotions are part of a new advertising campaign that will also see the site, which is owned by Gibraltar-licensed online gambling firm 32Red, launch its first set of television commercials in the UK.

32RedBingo.com is the latest in a long line of offerings from 32Red, which also operates successful poker, casino and mobile gaming companies, and the television advertisements mark the company's first use of television.

Mark Quayle, Marketing Manager for 32Red, stated that 32RedBingo.com's network has attracted many players, allowing it to grow rapidly.

"Generous sign-up bonuses and player rewards have always been a feature of 32Red and our bingo is no different," said Quayle.

"Not only do we give ten free on joining but also a 100 percent match on first deposits and 25 percent on all subsequent deposits for life."

32RedBingo.com also features live chat, around the clock moderation and technical support alongside a full range of casino games.

"We can't believe how quickly our network of players has grown with a real sense of community developed in just a few months," said Quayle.

"You need only look at the chat and the responses to our newsletters to see it."

www.onlinecasinonews.com

With the added popularity of online bingo, there was a need for a site to review and suggest top bingo sites for players

Wink Bingo's latest promotion offers a chance to win free housecleaning services for a year.

Wink Bingo recently announced their latest offer in a series of ongoing promotions: to provide two lucky winners with four hours of weekly housecleaning services for one full year. The Super Cleaner promotion, made available by the popular online bingo site, is designed to help players free up valuable time from cumbersome housework. This way they'll have more time to do the things they enjoy -like playing online bingo.

The Super Cleaner promotion has already begun and runs until midnight (GMT) on August 28th, 2008. In order to qualify players must rack up points while playing at Wink, the popular UK bingo site. The top five players who earn the highest number of points will then be entered into the final draw from which two finalists will be randomly selected. The two winners will receive a four-hour weekly visit from a professional cleaning service for the duration of 12 months.

Players can collect 50 points right off the bat by sending an email to the UK online bingo site explaining what they would do with the free time if they won the Super Cleaner promotion. Players who send in a picture of themselves multi-tasking (which means winking and cleaning at the same time) will receive an additional 50 points. Players can only send one email and one picture each in order to receive the reward points.

Additional points can be earned by playing the instant and bingo games. Players who wager £1 on bingo will earn 2 points while £10 on instant games will earn them 1 point. Bingo on the special promotion patterns like the broom, washing machine and water and receive another 10 points.

Wink Bingo is a popular online bingo site offering bingo, instant games, monthly jackpots and more. The Super Cleaner promotion and other special offers are only available to registered players. For more information about how to register please visit http://www.winkbingo.com.

www.prweb.com

MASARYKTOWN - Personal differences were what led to the split.

That's all either side would say when asked why Sheila Hart was no longer with the Masaryktown bingo.

She wasted no time joining forces with the local Fraternal Order of Police to start a new bingo - just seven miles away.

"We expect to lose some of our clientele," admitted Masaryktown Community Center President Gene Richards.

He, his wife, Carolyn, and assistant secretary Linda Lovelady would not discuss Hart's departure. They spoke for several minutes without mentioning her name.

Hart also was mostly mum about leaving Masaryktown, where she had volunteered for eight years. She spent the last six of those years serving as bingo director.

The second week of the FOP bingo at the Hernando County Fairgrounds took place Saturday. The room filled with people who have gambled with bingo cards for years - mostly in Masaryktown.

"I'm so much more comfortable here," Hart said. "There's no stress. I'm happy. If you volunteer, you've got to be happy."

Since 2001, the Masaryktown bingo raised more than $90,000 for Hernando-Pasco Hospice and another $16,000 for local scholarships.

Volunteers there will continue to raise money for hospice, as will Hart's bingo group - only they will add St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, FOP Lodge 164 and the Law Enforcement Memorial to their list of charities.

"(Hospice) is my pet charity," said Hart.

Meanwhile, Richards wanted to put an end to rumors that the Masaryktown bingo was coming to a close due to the recent changes. Both he and his wife assured residents they will continue to manage it effectively, they said.

"The bingo here is running strong," said Richards.

As of last month, while Hart was still weeks away from starting her own tournaments, more than 120 people were attending the games each Saturday in Masaryktown.

Both halls are hosting bingos Saturday and Wednesday nights.

Richards admitted many of the players from Masaryktown are loyal to Hart and had plans to follow her to Brooksville.

"We'll have some drop off, but over time, we'll get it all back," hesaid.

Since Hart left, the Masaryktown Community Center has a new phone number and installed a video camera. Richards said the phone number had to be changed because they switched services.

Steve Klapka, who heads the local FOP Lodge, said he contacted Hart two years ago about starting a bingo. He checked online and discovered several FOP chapters were raising money that way.

"If they can do it, why can't we?" he said.

Hart, who lives in Dade City, knew for a while she wanted to leave the Masaryktown bingo. A few months ago, she told Richards and his wife she would depart after 30 days. They didn't want her to wait. She was terminated, she said.

Hart was asked more than once to elaborate on why the relationship soured, but she would not go into detail.

"I would ask questions and wouldn't get answers," she said.

When asked to be more specific, she shrugged.

"I would just say it was personal differences."

Klapka said they chose the Hernando County Fairgrounds because the hall was hardly used during the year and the Hernando County Fair Committee offered them a good deal.

When the lease was signed, Hart was available.

Several of Saturday's cigarette-wielding bingo players walked up to Hart as if they had known her for years. Most of them did.

"They're all my friends," she said as she punched the numbers on the register in front of her. "They're not just players. They're my friends."

Written by Tony Holt

www2.hernandotoday.com

Everyone feels the pinch. The poor bemoan the price of rice, beans and grits, and the rich suffer the difference between filet minion and T-bone. Charities are hurting for donations. Churches may be forced to trim millions from construction budgets and suffer the embarrassment of facilities less opulent than those of the competition.

Sounds bleak, but there's no need to fear. Ricky T. is here.

It's a miracle. Of all the people The Good Lord could have chosen, He gifted me with the solution to everyone's financial woes. It came out of the blue. One minute I was in a stumbling stupor, then BINGO, the answer hit me.

I must thank Deputy Sheriff R.W. Fielding, gaming compliance officer of the Walker County Sheriff's Office, and clarify something from last week's column. He did not hold any bingo hall doors open, he is plain-clothed, and deputies are not allowed to work security inside bingo halls in uniform. The uniformed man we saw was outside the hall.

Compliance Officer Fielding answered my charity bingo questions and directed me to their Web site (www.walkercountybingo.info) to view copies of amendment 549 and the resolution issued by the Walker County Commission authorizing electronic bingo in Walker County in 2007.

There's been an Alabama constitutional amendment since 1992 that allows nonprofit charities to have bingo games to raise funds.

There was no need to define "bingo" in 1992. Everyone knew it was a herd of blue-haired geezerettes gathered about a nun-cranked, tumbling wire cage of Ping-Pong balls embossed with both letters and numbers. The balls were spit into the hands of (we now know) a possibly, altar-boy-besotted priest who yelled things like "B-13!" then, "O-69!" If those letter-number combos were on the players' paper cards, shaky, nicotine-stained hands covered them with translucent, multi-colored Tiddly Winks until the pre-designated configuration of numbers was satisfied. At that point, one old lady screamed "BINGO!" and the rest screamed "G.D. it!"

No one foresaw bingo played electronically. It is now, but the new definition and rules declare bingo machines must be connected to a "single server" computer. Unconnected, "stand alone" machines are deemed slot machines and highly illegal. The reels and wheels on the inter-connected machines just pass a little time between bingo games.

That's probably where Triana screwed up: stand-alone machines. That, and the lack of a simple resolution by the Madison County Commission.

According to Compliance Officer Fielding, some 327 charities now participate/benefit from Walker County charity bingo and receive all bingo proceeds minus operation costs.

Walker County has yet to levee a tax - other than a $500 per machine annual permit - but a simple 2 percent of the profit would generate enough money to build schools, repair roads and other things people don't want to pay taxes for now. At $500 per 2,000 machines equals $1 million annually.

Of "increased crime," Officer Fielding said police calls have been very few, mainly stolen purses. Me? I'd guess more money is stolen on the day the halls are closed - Sunday.

Of charity bingo funding, Tracey Wright Thie, executive director of HEALS Inc., said, "Sign us up! I wouldn't have to do any more begging for money, writing grants and throwing fundraisers to keep our doors open, providing medical and dental care for the less fortunate children in this county."

The Madison County Commission should adopt a resolution similar to Walker County's. Give them a call about it - after the election. Church charities, all charities, local governments, schools and taxpayers win.

Can anyone oppose charity that keeps taxes from rising?

Written by Ricky Thomason

www.al.com

Eyes are down on the bottom line for internet gaming operators as a new breed of gamblers stays in to play, reports Rowena Mason

It is a guilty pleasure among thousands of middle-class, well-off women, once the children are packed off to school and the chores are done. They take their place in front of the computer, top up their account balance and wait for the bingo host to call the first number.

One of the attractions of online bingo is that no one need know these players are taking part in a game traditionally reserved for the chain-smoking, wing-wobbling hordes of blue-rinsers that once packed halls across the country.

In the past year, the bingo club industry has been beset with closures caused by the smoking ban, restrictions on £500 bingo slot machines and the double whammy of having to pay both gross profits tax and VAT.

But the £600m online bingo sector has never been so competitive - nor so lucrative.

The lucky bingo club in Aylsham Road.

A city bingo club has kept up its winning streak after a lucky grandmother won more than £34,000.

The 61-year-old woman from Norwich, who does not want to be named, was playing bingo at the Mecca club in Aylsham Road, which was last year proclaimed the luckiest bingo hall in the country, when she won the National Bingo game prize after completing a full house. And, sticking to an agreement she made, the retired mother-of-three, will share the money with her friend with whom she plays.

The woman, who has three grandchildren, won the National Bingo Game prize of £32,245, plus the regional prize of £2,000 and the house prize of £92, after completing the full house in 44 numbers, the lowest call in any of the 470 clubs playing nationwide.

Written by Kate Scotter
www.eveningnews24.co.uk

32Red Bingo is the latest in a long line of offerings from 32Red Plc, who also boast successful poker, casino and mobile gaming companies. The 32Red Bingo campaign is the company's first TV spot and marks the beginning of a series of advertisements for the company.

The bingo product is being offered with a promotion offering all new players 10 free online bingo bonus, allowing them to try out the software and games free of charge.

32Red Bingo Marketing Manager, Mark Quayle said: 'Generous sign-up bonuses and player rewards have always been a feature of 32Red, and our bingo is no different. Not only do we give 10 free on joining but also a 100% match on first deposits and 25% on all subsequent deposits for life.'

32Red operates the popular 90-ball format, featuring live chat, 24/7 moderation and technical support and a full range of casino games.

Quayle added: 'We can't believe how quickly our network of players has grown, with a real sense of community developed in just a few months. You need only look at the chat and the responses to our newsletters to see it'.

www.onlinecasinonews.com

Online bingo products Sun Bingo and Not W Bingo will now be re-launched with the online gaming company Gamesys, according to News Group Newspapers, the owners of the two bingo sites as well as The Sun and News of the World.

Currently Sun Bingo and Not W Bingo are under the Tombla supplier, but on the 26th August 2008 they will make the switch to the bespoke bingo platform, developed by Gamesys, and will be available immediately on the same day.

"We're excited to be re-launching our Sun Bingo and NotW Bingo products with such an established online gaming partner in Gamesys," said Barry Sage, head of gambling at News Group Digital. "Working with Gamsys will give us complete control over our bingo product. We will continue to improve and develop the product with our bingo players in mind."

Gamesys is the company behind the success of Jackpot Joy brand and will continue to operate its online bingo along with the new additions of Sun Bingo and Not W Bingo, but it will not be the same software.

"We think it is important to point out that we are not running Sun Bingo or Not W Bingo on the Jackpot Joy software," Sage said. "Gamesys have built a bespoke bingo platform that considers the needs of our players. They will be able to enjoy all their current favourite bingo games - Bingo 90, Bingo 80 and Bingo 75 and we also have some fantastic new games that will be exclusive to our players."

Sage went on to assure that bingo players at both bingo products will get the same bonus offers such as the 100% match up to £100 on deposits.

Written by Michael

www.gamingalerts.co.uk

A LUCKY grandmother scooped a bingo jackpot of more than £168,000 at a Coatbridge bingo club.

The 62-year-old member of the Gala Bingo club at Faraday Retail Park triumphed in the national bingo game, involving bingo players from 470 other bingo clubs all over Britain.

Her winnings consisted of the platinum bingo jackpot prize of £160,250, topped up by the Sunday afternoon national game prize, zone prize, and club/house prize - reaching a total of £168.844.

The anonymous Bellshill woman plans to use her winnings to treat her husband, three daughters and six grandchildren.

Her success is the second major Coatbridge bingo success in just four months.

Lady Luck shone on mum-of-four Soraya Lowell when she won a world-record sum of almost £1.2m at Club 3000 in Locks Street.

Written by Judith Tonner

www.acadvertiser.co.uk

Following the successful launch of their new bingo offering a few weeks ago, bet365 have just announced a fantastic competition for a Caribbean Bingo Cruise Holiday. The lucky winners of the competition and their guest will be avoiding the winter blues this November and instead will be cruising around the stunning Caribbean Islands in style.

There are two sets of winning tickets to give away for this fabulous prize which include round trip flights from selected airports to Miami and a deluxe outer cabin onboard Carnival Cruise Line's MIRACLE for 8 days. This tropical cruise stops at some marvelous Caribbean Islands including St. Maarten, St. Kitts and St. Lucia.

Also included in the winner's packages are all shipboard meals and complimentary 24 hour in-room dining and room service. To top it off, there is also the chance to win a share of $80,000 and a free cruise in the World Championship Bingo Tournament on board.

To enter the competition players simply need to stake £100 on bingo tickets at "Bingo at bet365" For every £100 staked the player will receive one ticket for the Caribbean Bingo Cruise Game in either September or October. All they need to do is win one of these games and they will be jetting away into the sun for their holiday of a lifetime.

Kate Laverick, Bingo Marketing Manager at bet365, sees this prize as great value for money:-

"By staking just £100 and then winning one bingo game, two lucky people and their guest will be soaking up the sun this winter, cruising around the Caribbean and taking part in some fantastic bingo games. This has to be one of the biggest and best value bingo competitions out there."

bet365 are also giving away £10 free to each new player, a 200% bonus on their first deposit and 50% bonuses on subsequent deposits. This, in addition to the BOGOF deals, penny bingo and free bingo hours, chat games and bonus Jackpot games, is guaranteed to provide unbeatable value and entertainment even if you do not win those fantastic cruise tickets!

www.prweb.com

A lucky 64 year old grandmother from Coventry has just received a spectacular early birthday present after winning over half a million pounds on the National Bingo games Platinum Jackpot. The lady will be 65 this month and she will certainly be celebrating her birthday in style thanks to this massive jackpot bingo win. She will also be sharing her £578,000 cash prize with her younger sister, who she plays bingo with each week at their local Gala Savoy Bingo Club, in Radford Road, Coventry.

The national gaming body spoke to the lady, who asked not to be named, about her spectacular win and this is what she had to say. "This will make such a difference to us, we will have no money worries for the rest of our lives.  I thought I had just won the National Bingo Game, I didn't know it was the Platinum jackpot. I said to one of the managers that is £28,000 each for me and my sister. He looked at me in surprise and told me how much it actually was and then I went to pieces. He offered me a brandy but I don't drink so I had a glass of water!"

"I am still very much in shock and my husband and I didn't sleep at all last night and we still can't grasp it. But at least the shakes have stopped! It has come completely out of the blue; a once in a lifetime opportunity and we shall use it wisely.  We will look after our two girls and two granddaughters, have a holiday and invest the rest.  My sister, who lives close by and has three children, is planning to pay off her mortgage."

The lady has been playing at the same bingo club since she was 20 years old and in her time she has seen several different takeovers, but she has never played anywhere else. It was completing the national jackpot game in just 42 numbers which bagged the lady her big bingo win and this was the lowest calls throughout all participating bingo clubs. This won her the platinum jackpot prize of a whopping £578,861, the national jackpot prize of £66,640, plus the regional prize of £3,076 and Gala Bingos own in house prize of £120, this gave the lady total winnings of a massive £578,861 for a night out at the bingo.

Gayle Morgan, general manager at Gala Bingo had this to say about the super platinum jackpot bingo win at their bingo club, "The winner was completely shocked by the win, particularly after everyone started clapping and cheering her. Customers kept coming up and congratulating her but I don't think it had sunk in."

Written by Hollie

www.unluckyforsome.co.uk

A BRIDGWATER bingo hall is joining forces with 101 fellow clubs throughout the UK on Friday (August 8) to stage its biggest ever fundraising event in support of a children's charity.

The Mecca Bingo chain has pledged to raise a minimum of £250,000 for the Whizz-Kidz charity in 2008 through its bingo clubs and online bingo businesses.

Each bingo club has set itself a target amount and, so far, £80,000 has been raised nationally. The Bridgwater bingo club will be playing Shea's Spaceship, a heart-warming DVD produced by the charity featuring the story of Shea, whose world has been changed for good since he received specialist mobility equipment.

There will be special events held throughout the day and the bingo club will announce how much it has raised so far.

Jenny Witcombe, general manager for Mecca in Bridgwater, said: "Our customers and staff have already responded magnificently to the challenge of raising money for this fantastic bingo charity and we are all committed to smashing our target by the end of the year.

"This special day will really set us up for the next five months and we are really looking forward to it."

Written by Rory McKeown

www.burnhamandhighbridgeweeklynews.co.uk

32Red Bingo was launched in March and joined the growing suite of e-gaming offerings from 32Red Plc, which now include casino, poker, mobile casino and bingo. Since its launch 32Red report their bingo player base has grown exponentially, proving very popular with players attracted to the Microgaming powered software, player bonuses, support and chat.

32Red Plc also operate the award-winning online casino 32Red, which has been voted Best Casino for an unprecedented five consecutive years, as well as 32Red Poker and 32Red Mobile. The 32Red Bingo TV advert is the Plc's first TV campaign and marks the start of a series of adverts for the different products on offer at 32Red.

32Red's online bingo product is being advertised alongside a promotion offering all new players a £10 free online bingo bonus, allowing them to try the software, games and chat at no cost to the player. 32Red Bingo Marketing Manager, Mark Quayle said, "Generous sign-up bonuses and player rewards have always been a feature of 32Red, and our bingo is no different. Not only do we give £10 free on joining but also a 100% match on first deposits and 25% on all subsequent deposits for life."

32Red Bingo operates the popular 90 ball bingo favoured in UK bingo halls. It features live chat, chat games, 24/7 moderator and technical support and a full range of casino games too. 32Red bill it as the full bingo experience, with the same fun interaction in off line bingo halls brought to the online environment. Quayle added, "We can't believe how quickly our network of players has grown, with a real sense of community developed in just a few months. You need only look at the chat and the responses to our newsletters to see it".

The 32Red Bingo television adverts will be aired on the British terrestrial station Channel 5.

www.webwire.com

Sheriff Todd Entrekin said he wants to make sure a resolution that supports charitable machine bingo approved recently by the Etowah County Commission is legal.

That's why he requested a meeting with Attorney General Troy King.

Entrekin, some members of his staff and his attorney, Don Rhea, met with King on Tuesday.

After the meeting, Entrekin said he has more confidence in the wording of the resolution, but attorneys still are talking and another meeting is planned with King next week.

Entrekin said the bingo issue first surfaced with his department when a local group, Coosa Entertainment Group, applied for a license.

Entrekin said he and the County Commission met and talked about strict regulations that needed to be set.

"I told the commission that we didn't want what is happening in Walker County to happen here," Entrekin said.

In Walker County, there are at least 18 charity bingo halls, and more are expected. Some have called the widespread video bingo parlors an "epidemic."

"We just don't want a bingo parlor on every corner," Entrekin said.

Entrekin said that after the meeting with King, he talked with District Attorney Jimmie Harp about what was learned.

Harp and Rhea are expected to meet with King and his staff again.

"We're just trying to make absolutely sure everything is completely legal," Entrekin said.

The new regulations were set to prevent widespread machine bingo throughout the county by requiring at least a $200 million investment by a developer.

A state law passed in the 1980s allows the operation of bingo games for prizes or money by nonprofit organizations for charitable or educational purposes in Etowah County.

However, the law gives the County Commission the authority to set the rules and regulations.

Paper bingo games at a bingo hall off North 12th Street already benefit several nonprofit organizations in Etowah County.

King addressed the issue in 2004 when someone questioned if bingo machines were legal because the law referred to paper bingo.

"It cannot be concluded, as some have, that just because the game is being played on video consoles, it is not 'bingo,"' King wrote. "Just as no one would contend that e-mails are any less a form of correspondence than are letters written with a quill pen, but instead represent a technological evolution in correspondence, similarly, bingo games that are depicted on a video console can still be bingo."

However, King's statement was not an official opinion, which prompted Entrekin to seek more information about the legalities of the resolution.

The sheriff's office is named in the law as the agency that can permit a machine bingo game.

Written by Lisa Rogers
www.gadsdentimes.com

The pastor of one of Etowah County's largest Baptist churches said he hopes a meeting this week of local churches will help mobilize a fight against electronic bingo in the county.

The Rev. Bruce Word, senior pastor of CrossPoint Community Church, said he would like for the County Commission to call for an advisory, non-binding election on the question of electronic bingo because at least three developers are considering bingo-related developments in the county.

He said the people could vote on the issue of electronic bingo to give the commission "a feel" as to the public sentiment on the issue. He said the commission then could set high standards to block electronic bingo from coming in.

Word said the Legislature then could pass a constitutional amendment calling for a vote to restrict bingo to bingo cards and to not allow electronic bingo.

"It's the scale of it," Word said of his concern about electronic bingo, which has been allowed in the county for almost 20 years.

He said the proposed facility would help some people but is not on the smaller scale of bingo, which currently benefits five local nonprofits that operate the games at a rented facility off North 12th Street.

Sixteen Alabama counties allow bingo for nonprofit organizations.

Attorney General Troy King has ruled that electronic bingo, which uses machines that resemble slot machines, is legal.

Word said electronic bingo would open "a Pandora's Box."

"We're going to mobilize churches to come against it and either to do away with it or raise the bar so high that no one will want to come in and do it," Word said.

He said he would like the regulations and taxes on bingo machines set so high as to discourage investment in a bingo facility.

Under the rules set by the Etowah County Commission last month, there is a $1,000 license fee on electronic bingo machines.

He said the fees on bingo machines should be set much higher.

Word said he has asked the Etowah Baptist Association to contact other Baptist churches and churches of other denominations for a meeting to discuss the issue.

He has asked a representative of the Alabama Citizens Action Program, a Baptist lobbying group, to attend.

Word said he understands the commission wants to help the county, but electronic bingo is not like an industry expansion.

"Gambling does nothing to benefit; it only does stuff to destroy," Word said. "Is this something we want to be known for, or does the county want to set standards so high that no one will want to come in?

"Sure we're providing jobs, but look at the people we're going to hurt by providing the jobs," Word said. "The money's got to come from somewhere."

He said the regulations passed by the commission took away the sheriff's authority from regulating bingo and that should not be done. The regulations give the commission the authority for two years to issue interim machine permits.

He said the percentage of profits that would go to local charities could be reduced by high salaries.

"Video gambling (bingo) will not do any more for Etowah County than alcohol did in the '70s," Word said. "Alcohol was supposed to eliminate our school woes. Yet the only thing that has prospered since alcohol became a reality in Etowah County is Celebrate Recovery at CrossPoint and other churches, Alcoholics Anonymous and other such programs," he said.

Written by Andy Powell
www.gadsdentimes.com

HAMPSHIRE -- Temperatures may have felt like in the mid-80s on the midway, but the Coon Creek Country Days Bingo tent hosted by the St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church was the coolest place to be. Under the shade of the tent, and with breezes blowing from four box fans, the only thing hot was the winning bingo card.

Bingo is the newest offering at the 25th Annual Coon Creek Country Days, where dozens enjoyed passing the time during the various sessions. Organizers of the bingo event said the church has been looking into offering bingo to the community on a weekly or monthly basis and saw the opportunity to run a few games at the festival to gauge interest.

"We are surveying the people to see if they would be interested in it on a more regular basis," said Deb Ward, who chaired the bingo committee with her husband, Jim.

"Most of the people say they'd like to see it monthly."

The committee opted this year to go with an automated, computerized bingo program that projected the winning bingo pattern and all of the called numbers on the wall of the tent. Guest announcers called the numbers, and others handed out cash prizes and other donated items to winners. Ward said the program offered more than 40 different games for the participants to choose from.

Debra Pease of Hampshire said she was enjoying the opportunity to play bingo at the festival. She had won several rounds on Saturday afternoon, including a gift basket from Alana's Beauty Boutique and free video rentals at Video Express, both located in the village.

"I like it. I'm a bingo nut anyway," she said.

Written by Jeanie Mayer

www.suburbanchicagonews.com

BINGO staff who lost their jobs when the Deluxe Club in Southend closed say they were left in the dark over their future.

Staff were told not to come to work Thursday last week and had to wait a week before they were allowed in the building to pick up personal items.

About 17 workers, many with families and mortgages, say they were left in the lurch, with no information from the bingo hall's owners about their future.

They have been told to expect more news following a management meeting later this month and are still waiting to hear if they will be paid their wages for the last month they worked.

A cleaner found the hall, on the ground floor of the Palace Hotel on Pier Hill padlocked shut by bailiffs, on Thursday, July 24.

Bingo hall boss Peter Hargreaves was at the building yesterday as alcohol was taken awa from the bar. Workers were also allowed in to pick up possessions they had left behind.

Mr Hargreaves refused to comment to the Echo about the closure.

One worker, who asked not to be named, said staff left work on Wednesday last week with no idea they would never return.

The worker said: "It was just sickening. We were phoned by the manager and told not to come in the next day. Some of the workers there have mortgages and young children.

"We didn't know it was going to happen at all. It is not the workers' fault or the managers - it is the company."

Another worker added: "It was like a family working there. But this has left a sour taste in our mouths. We have to play the waiting game when it comes to our wages."

A note on the door from Stylus Sports, the firm which runs the Deluxe bingo chain, warns any attempt to enter the building will lead to prosecution.

The firm's other clubs in Folkestone, Eastbourne and Hastings all remain open.

l A window on the main entrance to the bingo hall was smashed on Wednesday night.

It set off the alarms and the vandals ran away.

Written by Michelle Archard

www.echo-news.co.uk

The jackpot on Clover Rollover, one of Crown Bingo's most popular slot games, has now reached the staggering figure of £1 million.

Newcastle upon Tyne -- The jackpot on Clover Rollover, one of Crown Bingo's most popular slot games, has now reached the staggering figure of £1 million.

All it will take is one lucky £1 spin for a player to win the life changing sum on Crown Bingo's Irish themed slot machine. Last night the jackpot stood at £1,026,989 and it is growing at an estimated £10,000 per day.

It's fantastic to be able to offer our members the opportunity to become a millionaire by playing just one of the games on our site. We're constantly looking to provide the best slots and mini games for our members to enhance their enjoyment and experience of Crown Bingo.

The £1,000,000 progressive jackpot is the largest to be offered at Crown Bingo and can be won from as little as a £1 stake by matching five Lucky Shamrocks on selected paylines. The jackpot, which increases every day until someone wins it, has been accumulating at Crown Bingo for five months and sits alongside a number of other successful mini-games, most notably Chickeno and Cleopatra's Chest, both of which boast a £250,000 jackpot.

The total jackpots that can now be won by players across the Crown Bingo site are £1,900,144.

Managing Director Dan Smyth said: "It's fantastic to be able to offer our members the opportunity to become a millionaire by playing just one of the games on our site. We're constantly looking to provide the best slots and mini games for our members to enhance their enjoyment and experience of Crown Bingo."

Crown Bingo currently offer three bingo rooms, including one speed bingo room, with a variety of bingo jackpots. The £1000 Piggy Bank jackpot has seen dozens of winners since its launch ten months ago, while the progressive bingo jackpot, The Cash Cow, is currently worth £10,000. With the launch of two new bingo rooms on the horizon and a strong selection of side games Crown Bingo is one of the most varied and feature-rich online bingo websites.

Crown Bingo also operates a busy promotional calendar, giving away thousands of pounds worth of prizes and bonuses every month. August's promotional focus will be on the Olympic Games, with a number of prizes available to be won by any Crown Bingo member during the Olympic period of 8th - 24th of August.

'Gold', 'Silver' or 'Bronze' prizes will be awarded to winners of selected 9.30pm bingo games throughout this period, with prizes including a Family Safari Day Out, a Shopping Spree and a European Holiday Break. Olympic themed chat games and a prize draw offering entrants the chance to win a Nintendo Wii with Wii Fit will also be on offer at Crown Bingo throughout August.

www.prweb.com