Florida gaming score: Tribes, $1.6 billion; state, zero

It's noon on a recent Monday and "Glory Days" is pulsing through the speakers at the Seminole Hard Rock Resort and Casino.

The rhythm beats against the flashing lights of more than 2,000 so-called "bingo slots."

The Seminole and Miccosukee tribes are bending gaming rules to their limits with the bingo slots, which look and act a lot like regular slot machines, and making a fortune — $1.6 billion last year alone. And the state of Florida does not get a cent.

That could happen in Massachusetts if the Mashpee Wampanoag make good on a threat to open a bingo slots facility should state lawmakers fail to legalize Class III gaming, which allows for full-blown casinos.

The tribe is asserting its right to build a bingo slots casino with the same electronic machines on which Florida's Seminole, and the Miccosukee Tribe, have built their respective empires. The Wampanoag say they can do this because bingo, a Class II game, is legal in Massachusetts.

Nationally, five states offer only Class II gaming. But Class II revenue grew last year at a faster rate than revenue from casino gaming — Class III. About 90 percent of Class II revenue growth came from Florida, according to Alan Meister's Indian Gaming Industry Report.

If full casino gambling — traditional slot machines and table games — were legalized in the Bay State, Massachusetts officials would be required under federal law to negotiate a gaming compact with the its two federally recognized tribes. And it would be during those negotiations that the tribes could agree to give the state a cut of the action.

Examples abound. In Michigan, municipalities get 2 percent of tribal gaming revenue from Class III machines through a 1993 agreement between tribes and the state. Under a further agreement with other tribes in 1998, 8 percent of revenue from the machines goes to the state, in addition to the 2 percent to towns. Last year, those contributions totaled $20 million.

And while the Seminole have no revenue-sharing agreement with the state, it does compensate one of its host cities. When the tribe built a casino in Coconut Creek, it agreed to pay the city $1 million a year. That was recently increased to $1.6 million a year.

When Florida refused to let the Seminole open Class III casinos, the tribe turned to bingo slots. It now operates seven such casinos, which are largely responsible for the tribe's success.

Class II gaming was originally designed to include high-stakes bingo when the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was passed in 1988. But advances in technology have blurred the distinction between bingo and slots.

Bingo slots are rigged so players play against each other — not against the house, as with traditional slots — but the experience is still typical of a Las Vegas casino. Row upon row of tall metal machines with bright flashing lights and rolling sevens line the casino floor.

The Seminole casinos have no table games such as blackjack or roulette, but most casino revenues — more than 70 percent — come from slot machines. Had Florida officials negotiated for 25 percent of slot and table game revenue generated at Indian-run casinos, last year the state would have received almost $400 million.

No compact is required under Class II gaming, however. As all seven Seminole casinos are on reservation land, the tribe does not pay property taxes.

Now, almost 30 years after the Seminole opened their first high-stakes bingo hall, the state of Florida has finally realized it's time to negotiate.

Under Florida law, pari-mutuel facilities are allowed to offer traditional Class III slot machines, but in only one county. The Seminole, however, are asserting their right to do the same.

The tribe is arguing that the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act gives them the right to offer any level of gambling that is legal in the state of Florida.

The Class III slots are expected to give the tribe a big financial boost, because casino gaming generates much more revenue. While Florida's eight bingo slot casinos brought in $1.6 billion in gaming revenue last year, Connecticut's two full gaming casinos brought in $2.5 billion.

$218 million from bingo halls

B.C. casino revenues climbed 11 per cent last year to more than $1.2 billion.

Lower Mainland casinos raked in the bulk of that, collecting $870 million in 2006-07, according to the B.C. Lottery Corporation’s annual report.

The single biggest generator was Richmond’s River Rock Casino, where gamblers left behind a total of $233 million, up eight per cent.

It was the only casino where table game revenue of $125 million beat the slot machines, which took in $108 million there.

Burnaby’s Gateway casino took in $164.8 million (up nine per cent), with Coquitlam’s Boulevard casino close behind at $158.2 million (up 22 per cent).

Langley’s Cascades casino was fourth with nearly $115 million in its first full year of operation and Fraser Downs Racetrack and Casino in Surrey took in $51.9 million (up 11 per cent.)

Total BCLC revenues hit $2.4 billion, with nearly $1 billion coming from lotteries and $218 million from bingo halls.

The corporation’s profit margin rose to 42 per cent, with total profit after expenses passing $1 billion for the first time.

More than $140 million in grants went to community and charitable groups.

Revenue gains are credited in part to ongoing efforts to upgrade older slot machines, the introduction of new games like Pacific Hold’Em Poker, and the addition of slot machines in new community gaming centres.

However, the report notes there have been delays in opening those new centres, which are often updated bingo halls and are central to the BCLC’s strategy to offset the decline of paper bingo.

The BCLC projects net profits will rise $124 million or 12 per cent over the next three years.

Despite the “strong performance” of the casinos, not enough people overall are either betting or playing various lotteries or bingos, according to the BCLC.

The report estimates 61 per cent of B.C. adults participated in some form of gaming last year, but that was below the corporation’s target of 65 per cent, a goal that is rising to 68 per cent by 2009.

“It is our objective to achieve a high level of participation while emphasizing responsible play,” the report said.

The annual report puts current public support of gaming at 56 per cent, above the BCLC’s target of at least 52 per cent backing.

The report acknowledges the Ombudsman’s damning findings in May that customers have been inadequately protected from potential fraud by lottery retailers, who sometimes have won with disturbing frequency.

Corporation president and CEO Vic Poleschuk was fired last month.

“We take the report seriously,” his replacement, Dana Hayden, said in the BCLC annual report. “The industry knows that it must now meet a higher standard of player protection.”

Mail blocks bingo site

The UK's Daily Mail newspaper has blocked access to its online bingo site following calls from gaming firms and church leaders last week, which accused the paper of failing to adhere to guidelines set out by Gamcare and Responsibility in Gambling Trust.

A source from the Mail's publisher Associated Newspapers told the Observer that Cashcade, the company that runs the site, had introduced games they felt should not be included on the site after finding that its contract had been terminated.

Production will now be taken in-house and the site revamped according to the report.

Seniors again yell "Bingo!"

After a three-month scramble to obtain permits from the state, the township's five senior citizens clubs have received permission to resume their weekly bingo games and 50/50 raffles.

"It was a long time coming and everybody was elated," said Marta Afonso, president of the Bonhamtown senior club. "They were so elated — it was unbelievable."

The Bonhamtown club was holding its weekly meeting Friday when a representative from the state Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission visited to tie up loose ends and hand-deliver official state identification cards for each of the senior clubs.

The Bonhamtown seniors didn't waste any time. They immediately started exchanging quarters for bingo cards, playing again for $2 prizes.

"Today was a very happy day for everyone," Afonso said. "They really enjoyed themselves and so did I.

There was a big burden lifted off my shoulders."

Paid bingo and 50/50 raffles were banned in the township three months ago, when township officials discovered that state law requires senior clubs to obtain special permits.

In a letter dated April 13, the township's director of health and human services instructed the senior clubs to "cease and desist immediately."

"Apparently it is blatantly illegal to engage in any raffle, 50/50, or bingo for money or prizes without the organization having a valid state registration and a license issued through the Township Clerk's office," John Grun wrote in the letter.

Some clubs continued playing bingo without charging for cards, but others found their members didn't want to play without the prospect of a $2 prize and halted their games altogether.

State law mandates that the clubs must now obtain permits from the township, but township officials have allowed the seniors to resume their games in the interim, said Judi Gillingham, the township's assistant director for aging.

"As of 11:30 this morning the clubs were given permission to begin playing bingo again," said Gillingham, who worked with each of the senior clubs to help complete the paperwork for the state. "They're thrilled, we're thrilled for them — I'm so thrilled for them."

Senior club presidents and treasurers spent hours trying to sort through the information requested by the state. They needed to provide proof of net proceeds from the last year of 50/50 raffles and how that money was spent and figures for the bingo-card sales and payout amounts.

Alice Sporer, president of the Lindeneau club, spent four or five hours going over the paperwork with her club's treasurer.

"To me, its like, why do they have to know?" Sporer asked. "It would just make more paperwork for the state. We hand out maybe $30 in $5 increments for our 50/50, so what are we taking in? Maybe $30 a week?

Eileen Davis, president of the Stelton club, also had a hard time with the paperwork.

"It was a confusing procedure for ordinary people like us," Davis said. "But we got a lot of help from Judi Gillingham, and we appreciate all the help we got from her."

She already called all her club's table captains to tell them that bingo would be returning next week. Since attendance dropped off after bingo was banned, she expects more seniors to be on the buses to next week's meeting.

"We're just glad to have it back," she said.

But Bob Curtis, president of the Clara Barton senior club, is peeved with everyone involved in the bingo situation — from the township to the state.

"What aggravates me is when this initially started it was like pulling teeth to get the township officials to help you," said Curtis, whose club received its state license on Wednesday — two days before the others. "When there's a problem, some people dive head-first into the pool, and some people put their toe in water — and they put their toe in the water."

He plans to write letters to the attorney general and the governor to complain.

"It seems to be an awful waste of resources," he said, referring to the state office that regulates bingo and raffles. "They're wasting their resources with a couple senior-citizen centers playing bingo? What — are you out of your mind?"

The Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission oversees bingo and raffle licensing laws for nonprofit organizations throughout the state. Penalties for violating the laws are up to $7,500 for a first offense and $15,000 for repeat offenders.

Since some of the senior clubs have been playing bingo for free since April, getting the OK to resume their 50/50 raffles is an even bigger deal. The proceeds, while small, go toward luncheons for the seniors, charities, scholarship programs, care packages for grandkids in Iraq and a slew of senior-citizen activities.

The senior clubs will have to apply for a renewal of their state licenses every two years.

GameTech Names Nick Greenwood as Vice-President Sales

GameTech International, Inc. , a leading designer, developer and marketer of electronic bingo equipment and bingo systems, today announced that Nick Greenwood has been named as Vice-President of Sales and Product Marketing. The appointment is effective Monday, July 30, 2007. Greenwood is a knowledgeable gaming executive with over 30 years of gaming industry experience.

Previously, Mr. Greenwood served as Vice President and General Manager for Bally Distributing were he introduced the Black Gold game, a high denominational game. As co-founder of Global Gaming, Greenwood successfully marketed and deployed the Silver Strike game. Greenwood also was Vice President of U.S. Sales and Product Development for Innovative Gaming Corporation of America (IGCA).

The announcement was made by GameTech President and CEO, Jay Meilstrup, who stated, "We are pleased to welcome Nick to our executive staff. His wealth of gaming experience will be important as we expand our markets and business. Nick will be focusing on growing revenue and satisfying the needs of GameTech as we grow our product line."

GameTech International, Inc. is in the business of designing, manufacturing, and marketing computerized bingo and gaming equipment, systems, and services. Under the GameTech(R) brand the company provides electronic bingo systems and equipment. Under the Summit Gaming(TM) brand the company provides video lottery terminals and slot machine gaming devices. The company also provides other gaming related equipment and services. GameTech International, Inc. is an innovator in advanced wireless gaming applications and devices as well as software and content for traditional slot machine games. GameTech International, Inc. serves customers in 41 U.S. States, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Philippines, and the United Kingdom, and Mexico. The company was incorporated in 1994 and is headquartered in Reno, Nevada. GameTech International, Inc.

'Green Machine' bingo comes back this Saturday

Sometimes something small can gravitate into something big.

Three years ago Colfax High hired Jerry Sinkey as the new wrestling coach. Sinkey came to Colfax with 35 years of coaching experience under his belt. He started coaching at Casa Roble for nine years, then Folsom for eight years, Corning for nine years and finally Colfax for three and still counting.

From his first year, Sinkey has brought Colfax's wrestling team from 4th place to 1st in three years. Sinkey's goal, as a coach, wants to help "make Colfax's wrestling team one of the best wrestling schools and to also win a Section Title this coming year."

For his 39 wrestlers at Colfax High, Sinkey is looking for chances to improve his boys. So in order to be ready for the upcoming season of 2007, Sinkey recently sent 15 of his boys to Del Oro for a wrestlers camp and scholarship opportunities.

In the first few years of his coaching, parents saw the passion in him and the improvement of wrestling team. Although he was appealing to the parents and team, he seemed to not do so well with the school. So the parents stepped up and went through extremes to help the wrestling team and the school.

This "stepping up to the plate", caused the bonding of the parents and community. The parents formed a booster club that helped to raise money for the wrestling team and to also give back to the school; which would help with the costs for the many sports and enhancement programs at Colfax High School. This booster program has been given the name the Colfax Green Machine.
To get where the Colfax Green Machine is now today, Renee Large, one of the founders of the booster club and Bingo Chairmen, lets in on one of the main stages that the booster club had to do to support the school and athletics. This Saturday at the Colfax Veterans Memorial Hall, the doors for the bingo night will open at 5:30 p.m.

"The state does not have the money to fund all that is needed for our kids to play sports or other academics," said Large. "There are ways to raise money, but they require a nonprofit tax ID number, such as bingo. In order to get this number, you must file with the state (Secretary Office) and become a non-profit corporation."

From there the Green Machine's efforts seemed to be opening a can of worms. However, the club went through the many steps they needed to do to to file with the federal government and the State Attorney General's Office .

So how does the program help Colfax and the kids?
Besides providing for the school and other programs such as music or the golf team and bringing the community together, the Colfax Green Machine's main focus is on the wrestling team and their needs. "Right now, we are looking for a wrestling mat and the Green Machine is helping to raise money for us," said Sinkey.

Large also noted that, "having a new wrestling mat for our gym at Colfax High would be a big bonus for our coaches and wrestlers."

Large and the members of the Colfax Green Machine wish to extend their thanks out to the community and the parents who have helped and supported them to get this far in three years. "The big thing for me," states Sinkey "is the small town feeling. The people are friendly, generous, and caring. Everyone knows everyone. This town is a very family-oriented town." Large also hopes that the young people, with the role-modeling of their elders, will also "learn to give back to the community". And that role modeling has paid off.

Online Bingo Boom takes Gaming industry by storm… and it’s not slowing down!

Online Bingo Boom takes Gaming industry by storm… and it’s not slowing down!

Bingo has entered the 21st century and is moving the online gaming market to a whole new level. The proliferation of internet sites, the rise in broadband penetration, effective online marketing, the push to go online from the smoking ban and the millions of eager online players are all reasons for the bingo boom but more telling are current online market statistics.

According to the Global Betting and Gaming Consultants (GBGC) Online Bingo games generated wins of £72 million last year – a figure that is set to soar by 2008. Within the next five years industry analysts predict that the Online Bingo market will be worth an estimated £164 million.

Commenting on the recent boom Phil Fraser, Founder, Which Bingo and Chairman at this years 2nd Annual Online Bingo Summit, taking place September 25th – 26th in London said “increased awareness of online bingo in the mass market, driven by the big land-based bingo brands and media owners’ bingo sites, means that there is indeed still much room for growth. Continuing increases in broadband into people’s homes and the increase in variety and quality of product also contributes to this opportunity.”

Dominic Mansour, CEO, Bingos.com & Bingos.co.uk (confirmed speaker at the Online Bingo Summit) also gave his thoughts on the boom. “It comes as no surprise that online bingo is yet again identified as being ripe for growth over the next 12 months. There are many factors supporting this feeling in the industry, from the imminent introduction of the smoking ban in England to the developing profile of internet users. It has long been the case that a form of gambling that attracts nearly 2m visits per week in the UK alone, yet reflects only a single digit percentage of online gaming would be the next big thing.[Online Bingo] is undoubtedly a rapidly growing industry currently in its infancy.”

Predicting future trends for Bingo, Dylan Schlosberg, CEO at ThinkBingo.com (confirmed speaker at the Online Bingo Summit) says: “Bingo is a mass market, mainstream leisure activity. As the UK’s first standalone bingo site, we saw three years ago the inevitable online migration of the bingo female demographic. Growth has been driven mainly by broadband penetration, TV advertising and the launch of Gala Bingo online in February 2006. The future will see consolidation of the medium sized sites as they compete with the larger ones, new entrants hoping to make a dent and other land based halls taking their business online.”

The success of the 2nd Annual Online Bingo Summit goes a long way to support the amazing growth in Online Bingo. Ravi Virpal, Director at Bullet Business said “The response we have had to the summit this year is simply unprecedented. We have 70+ companies already confirmed including Mecca, Jackpot Joy, The Sun Online, St Minver, PartyBingo, Parlay and have allocated over half of the exhibition floor space before our marketing push has even begun! If you have an interest in the space – you must attend”

For more information about this summit please visit the website [www.bulletbusiness.com/bingo] where you can download all the information you need.

Woman hits £100,000 bingo jackpot

A woman has won £100,000 at a bingo club that has had three big wins in three years.

The big win happened at the Flutters Bingo Hall, in College Street, Rushden, last Sunday when a regular customer claimed a full house on the national game.

The winner, aged 61 and from Rushden, who asked not to be identified, said: "At first I couldn't believe it had happened to me – it was a shock but I'm absolutely delighted."

Flutters acting manager Paul Norman said: "It was such a delight to see a regular customer, whose been coming here for 15 years, win such a huge amount.

"I was calling the game so it was extra-special for me when she called out 'House'.

"It's great that a small, friendly club like Rushden can have such a winning streak – we had a £100,000 winner last year and a £200,000 jackpot three years ago, so we're quite a lucky club."

Cow Patty Bingo is Sunday fair event

Gage County United Way has added Cow Patty Bingo to the Sunday afternoon activities planned at the fairgrounds during the Gage County Fair and Expo.

Tickets are $10 per square with a chance of winning $250 if you own the square where the cow drops a patty.

United Way, with support of the Gage County Agricultural Society, will hold the event at 5 p.m. Sunday, July 22, in the main livestock building on the fairgrounds.

To buy a ticket, contact United Way Board chairman Matt Bauman at 520-1948 or one of the board members, Diane Vicars, Karey Lovitt, Krista Clark, Jill Huls, Chris Jones, Denise Kraus, Zita Lomax, Andy Maschmann, Andrea Schafer and Joyce Zimmerman.

Other fair activities on the fairgrounds Sunday afternoon include the 4-H/FFA awards presentations at the 4-H Building, the demolition derby at the grandstand and a reduced armband night for the carnival on the midway.

New bills may help clubs with bingo to survive slots

Local clubs, fraternal organizations and fire departments that stage bingo, raffles and other small games of chance may soon be able to stave off some of the competition from slots under a set of bills pending in the state Legislature.

House Bill 169 was approved by state representatives June 30 by a vote of 173-27. Introduced by state Rep. Timothy Solobay, D-Canonsburg, the bill, which now awaits Senate approval, would increase prize payouts for clubs and would allow for multiple daily, weekly and monthly drawings.

Also up for consideration is House Bill 1467, currently parked in the House Gaming Oversight Committee. It would raise bingo jackpots, although it requires stringent reporting and licensing guidelines. Other proposed legislation calls for allowing and regulating poker tournaments and video poker games in clubs.

Mr. Solobay introduced his bill after a crackdown last year by the state Liquor Control Board over multiple games of chance being played at clubs and organizations. At issue were monthly prize drawings being held in conjunction with daily and weekly drawings, which is prohibited by law.

"It put a real damper on these small clubs," Mr. Solobay said. "Their proceeds benefit the community."

Fearing repercussions, clubs ended many prize drawings to the chagrin of members, especially seniors, some of whom came to the clubs to socialize and participate in the monthly drawings.

Another provision of the bill would allow clubs to use gaming proceeds for general operating expenses, such as utilities, taxes and insurance. Under current law, clubs can use gaming proceeds only for charitable purposes, or to operate the game. Other organizations, such as volunteer fire departments and churches, can use proceeds as they wish.

Some clubs, such as the Eagles Lodge in Washington, pay out all of the gaming revenue that's taken in while turning profits on food and liquor sales. In such cases, gaming is simply the draw that pulls in the customer.

But fewer customers are being pulled in since dozens of clubs in the Washington area are competing for the same players, along with bingo operators and now slots.

Keith "Giz" Baumgardner of the Eagles Club said the competition has been eating away at gaming sales in recent years.

"This town is too overloaded with clubs," he said.

The evidence has been a dearth of bingo games, with all but a handful of local churches, fire departments and clubs closing their bingo operations in recent years, including the weekly bingo game at the Eagles Club which ended last year after more than 50 years of continuous operation.

The Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Washington still sponsors bingo twice a week, and the Miraculous Medal Catholic Church in Chartiers has a weekly game, but they are two examples of what's become a rapidly dwindling pastime.

Some, such as the North Strabane Volunteer Fire Department which cancelled its bingo several years ago, blamed gaming in West Virginia for low attendance rates, while others say they just don't see much interest in bingo among baby boomers and younger generations.

"It may be a generational thing that's going on here, not just gaming and slots," said Mr. Solobay, who is first assistant chief at the Canonsburg Volunteer Fire Department and chairman of the House Firefighter's Caucus.

Mr. Solobay said he thought electronic bingo might catch on as a more exciting alternative to paper bingo with daubers, but it never really did.

It involves the use of an electronic device to track multiple bingo numbers rather than paper cards, but most groups said they did away with the machines several years ago because users didn't like them, and because they had to be rented from vendors for about $7 apiece. For a typical bingo game with 150 participants, $1,000 and up is a serious cut into the already slim profit margin.

"It about buried us," said Lt. Jim Bowden of the South Franklin Volunteer Fire Department, who said his department's game dropped by more than half with the electronic machines.

Although bingo operators are limited to two games per week and a maximum daily payout of $4,000, many have found ways to increase the jackpots by use of "midnight bingo" or "super bingo" games, and by combining licenses under one roof.

Midnight bingo games usually start about 10 p.m. on Saturdays, and run into the early morning hours of the next day, allowing operators to offer $8,000 jackpots.

Likewise, volunteer fire department with attached support clubs, such as a ladies' auxiliary, can combine their licenses for double jackpots during the same event.

The proposed bingo legislation would bump prizes up to $6,500 a day and would offer regulations aimed at eliminating fraud and embezzlement, which has plagued some area bingo games over the years.

Although The Meadows opened its casino about a month ago, local bingo operators say it's too soon to assess the effects of slots.

South Franklin hosts one of the largest bingo games in the area with an average attendance of about 180 players on Wednesday nights and even more during Sunday games.

The game was off by about 50 players during the opening week of slots, but has slowly rebuilt to an attendance of 172 by last Sunday. The key, Lt. Bowden said, is to keep playing fees low and prizes high.

"They have definitely taken a chunk out of our profit," Lt. Bowden said of slots. "But, we decided to ride the storm out."

Bingo revenue accounts for about 25 percent of the department's annual budget, he said.

Legislation allowing higher payouts would only help fire departments like South Franklin and other nonprofits compete with slots, Lt. Bowden said.

Chartiers Township Volunteer Fire Department has also felt the pinch of slots, especially since its fire hall is just down the road from The Meadows.

Its average bingo attendance of about 115 regulars dipped to 95 during the first two weeks of slots, then shot to 135 last week, even pulling in some slots players who saw the bingo sign outside the building at Racetrack Road and Pike Street.

"We noticed a lot of new people coming from the casino," said fire department President Mike Altieri. "We counted some West Virginia license plates."

In preparation for the slots, Chartiers began basing its prize payout on the number of players, and it too relies on profits from the weekly game for about 25 percent of its annual budget, which has steadily increased in recent years.

The department bought a $500,000 fire engine, and it's seen significant hikes in utility costs, with average monthly electric bills of $400 and gas bills of up to $2,000 in the winter, Mr. Altieri said.

Turnout in general has been decreasing as devotees get older and fewer volunteers step forward, he said.

"It's hurting us," Mr. Altieri said. "It's a difficulty right now."

In its heyday, the department, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, included a ladies auxiliary and catering service, along with supporters who would spend the day gambling at slots in Wheeling then the evening at bingo.

"It was like a club," Mr. Altieri said. "You are helping somebody, but there's a lot of pride in it too."

The proposed legislation would provide beneficial jackpot increases, Mr. Altieri said, but it also would force fire departments to jump through more hoops and red tape. Already, applying for government grants is a hassle that seems to require an advanced degree at times, Mr. Altieri said.

"You've got to fill out papers the size of the Sears, Roebuck catalog," he said. "It's discouraging."

Bingo drive to go hi-tech

The devices also aim to lure tech-savvy young players to the game, which is fighting for survival in the gambling market.

An overhaul of bingo is planned in Victoria, with the Bracks Government reviewing the rules governing how it is played.

Hand-held electronic tickets, removal of prize money limits and permission to install poker machines are among the industry's demands to expand its gross annual revenue by 250 per cent.

The bingo industry wants the ban on "paperless" bingo tickets removed so it can roll out hand-held devices that let punters buy and download unlimited tickets in any one game.

In a submission to the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation review, paperless ticket supplier BSG Australia boasts that its Programmable Electronic Ticket is popular because it is simple to use.

"The PET hand-held unit is a lot easier to play for beginners, people who are sight-challenged, arthritis suffers, mentally disabled people and other people with disabilities," it says.

BSG says the device's unlimited download feature lets punters play "a lot more games than they currently can due to physical restrictions".

They say it promotes responsible gaming by recording data on use.

The device is used overseas and in other states including Queensland where ticket downloads are limited to 48 a game.

Industry figures say poker machines are killing the game, with operators tipping more cash into prize pools to keep bored punters from straying.

That means there is less cash left over for charity.

"Players have won more at the expense of the charities and that's a concern to us," said gaming commissioner Peter Cohen.

After-prize takings from bingo games are divided between charity and bingo operators.

Victoria's 22 bingo operators raked in $88 million last year, with $71 million paid out as prizes and $5 million given to charity.

San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino Named Certified Responsible Gaming Establishment by California Council on Problem Gambling

San Manuel Indian Nation — The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and California Council on Problem Gambling (CCPG) today jointly announced the designation of the San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino as a "Certified Responsible Gambling Establishment."

Certification conferred by the CCPG follows months of employee training and policy implementation to meet or exceed CCPG criteria for educating, identifying and reaching out to problem gamblers. As a requirement of certification, all casino team members and management underwent extensive training in order to gain an understanding of problem gambling, identify symptomatic behaviors and offer helpline referrals when appropriate.

As part of certification, the casino has taken an aggressive approach to responsible gambling, posting signage and placing brochures in highly visible locations throughout the property and directing patrons to the 24-hour confidential Problem Gambling Helpline: 800-GAMBLER.

"We commend the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, only the second tribal casino to receive this certification in the entire State, as leaders in recognizing and proactively addressing the issue of problem gambling," said Bruce Roberts, CCPG executive director. "We believe that all horse tracks, card rooms, the California State Lottery and tribal government gaming facilities should implement similar programs."

This recognition of the San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino as a responsible gaming facility is an outgrowth of several years of effort by casino management to increase awareness of problem gambling. Certification assures the public that San Manuel has taken all the steps necessary to mitigate negative consequences that affect a small percentage of the population.

"In order to obtain certification from the CCPG, facilities need to establish and maintain certain criteria such as making problem gambling information available to patrons, barring anyone under 21 years from entering the casino, and establishing a self exclusion policy. Fortunately, San Manuel already had these policies and practices in place." said Roberts. "Our goal was to enhance existing programs and help create the most complete responsible gambling program possible."

"Long ago, San Manuel recognized the need to have policies in place to assist problem gamblers and this certification validates our efforts," said Ron Mastandrea, casino general manager. "Through this partnership we are able to be even more responsive to problem gamblers who need help."

San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino is a gaming establishment in Southern California that is located 70 miles from downtown Los Angeles. The Casino draws 2.2 million visitors a year and employs some 3000 people.

Charitable bingo legal on July 31

Charitable bingo becomes legal July 31, but plans to tax bingo cards may swallow most of the charity groups’ income in the area.

State rules call for an excise tax of one penny on every bingo face, which is one standard game grid, which could eat into a group’s profits. Most bingo cards contain a number of bingo faces. A box of bingo cards with 9,000 bingo faces, normally cost about $25, but the tax on that box will be $90, increasing the box price to $115. There’s also an additional 10 percent tax on the sale of all other bingo related items. Non-profit organizations can sponsor bingo and raffle events only if the organization has applied for a license from the state.

Of the 92 statewide applicants to date, seven are from the local area. They are the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge in Sherwood, the Amvets Post in El Paso, Jacksonville Knights in Cabot, the King’s Outreach of Arkansas in Cabot, the American Legion Post in Lonoke and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post.

The state started accepting applicants after voters in November 2006 approved, by 69 percent, a constitutional amendment to allow charitable bingo games and raffles. Between November and now, the state has been fine-tuning the rules, regulations and taxing of the games.

The Moose Lodge in Sherwood has also been getting ready since November, adding a 100-vehicle parking lot in back of their facility at a cost of $250,000, and redoing the bingo room.

“We’re not here to run bingo,” said Bob Douglas, the lodge’s administrator. “It’s just a sideline, but it will generate money for us to do things in the community.”

How much money?
“That’s a crap shoot,” Douglas said. “It depends how many other groups are offering bingo on the same nights we are.”

By law, nonprofit organizations may only offer bingo two nights a week and only five hours a night. “That was done to help keep the commercial people out,” Douglas said, adding that the Moose Lodge will offer bingo on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. We’ll play 30 to 35 sessions a night,” he said.

The Michael Ray VFW Post in Jacksonville plans to have their bingo games on Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons.

“We are getting calls every day from people wanting to know when we are starting,” said Don Reynolds, the post commander. “Bingo used to be a big to-do, but we don’t know for sure what it’ll do now.” Many years ago the VFW Post sponsored bingo when it was illegal, and most people looked the other way when nonprofit groups held the bingo games.

“We got busted and officials confiscated and destroyed all of our bingo equipment,” Reynolds said. “It was not one of our finer moments.” Arkansas Bingo Supplies in Sherwood, one of four licensed distributors in the state, is already close to selling a million bingo faces. “We haven’t sold that many yet,” said John Watson, who owns the company along with his father and brother-in-law, “but we’ve had to dip into our reserves, so we’ve had to re-order to make sure we have enough on hand at all times.”

Watson said bingo players don’t usually play just one card or face. “They play five to 50 at a time. Charities will be going through a lot of paper,” he said. “That means that tax will cut into the charities’ profit line,” Watson said, adding that he hopes the state will lessen the tax.

“It’s a learning process for everyone right now,” he said.

Watson and his family have sold cars, operated a pawnshop and developed subdivisions in central Arkansas since the early 60s. His company not only sells cards, markers and other bingo items, but also leases bingo machines. “Some of these charitable organizations are small outfits and can’t afford to put out $1,500 or more for the machines. This helps them and us,” he said.

Douglas may not know how much money the Moose Lodge will generate, but he knows how the fraternal lodge plans to spend it.

Fifty percent will be on local charities and groups like Keep Sherwood Beautiful, police and fire department charitable activities, and the Sylvan Hills High School dance team and golf team; 25 percent will go to larger state charities like Arkansas Children’s Hospital; and 25 percent will be split between three lodge projects including the Boy Scouts, a children’s facility at Yellowstone and a Moose retired center in Florida.

The VFW has no set formula. “We are always getting requests and we help who we can,” Reynolds said. The post does help the Boy Scouts, Fishnet Mission, the VA Hospital, sheriff’s department and the state police.

Woman wins £100k on bingo

It was the win of a lifetime for an Orford woman who won more than £100,000 playing Bingo.

"I just couldn't believe it," said the 50-year-old, who does not want to be named.

"Never in a month of Sundays do you expect something like that to happen," she said.
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Her four children and two grandchildren have given her a list a mile long since her win, she said.

The woman won at the Gala Club in the Cockhedge Centre where she is a member.

She also bagged the house prize of £100 after completing a full house in just 40 minutes - the lowest time in all 500 nationwide clubs.

She and her husband will celebrate the win with cruises around the Mediterranean and Caribbean, she said.

Second reading for Catawba Bingo Hall in Marion County set

Marion County residents could get one step closer to having an Indian Bingo facility Tuesday morning. The Marion County Council is scheduled to give second reading to an ordinance that would allow the Catawba Indian Tribe to set up a bingo hall at the former Carolina Amphitheater grounds.

Council approved the first reading last month. In the proposed ordinance, only real bingo would be allowed. The ordinance aslo states that no electronic bongo, no video poker, and no fee to enter the facility would be allowed.

The Catawba's also plan to develop lodging, and waterpark, and an equestrian center near the bingo hall.

Bingo chiefs seek support over tax

MSPs have been urged to back a call for a change in the tax paid by bingo companies.

Industry leaders warned that the combination of unfair tax, the rise in online gaming and the smoking ban are threatening the future of the industry.

Sir Peter Fry, chairman of the Bingo Association, warned Holyrood's Public Petitions that mass closures could have far-reaching social consequences.

Gay Bingo's regular return to Christchurch

Due to the huge success of the 'Gay Bingo' night hosted by Miss Hollywood at Heavens Above during Christchurch Pride Week in May, organisers say it will now become a regular fundraiser.

$500 was raised at the Pride Week event, and now the aim is to run it as a charity fundraiser from now on once a month on a Sunday night.

A different charity will benefit from the proceeds each time,� says Miss Hollywood.

The next Gay Bingo night will be held on Sunday 8th July at Heavens Above (Cnr Tuam & Colombo Streets) from 7pm. All proceeds will go to St Johns Ambulance.

"$5 will get you a bingo book and ten games will be played with more great prizes up for grabs,� explains Hollywood. �It�s going to be another camp night," she promises.

Couple's double bingo jackpot - and mum won too!

Bingo fan Keith Clare and his girlfriend Julie Midgley are celebrating a double jackpot . . . they each won £1,000 on the same afternoon.

Keith, aged 42, and Julie, aged 40, got lucky when they sat down at the Mecca Bingo in Ashburner Street, Bolton, last Saturday.

It was not long before Keith, a welder from Deane, got a full house and shouted out.

He was still counting his winnings when girlfriend Julie struck gold with a full house of her own.

An ecstatic Keith said: "I couldn't believe it . . . I was celebrating, then in the next game I realised Julie needed just one number. It was 24 - and it came up. She shouted out and we had won again!

"The bingo caller came over to congratulate us and told us it had never happened before. Everyone around us was really nice."

Then to top it all Keith's mother, Marie, from Hindley, scooped a £300 prize.

Keith and Julie, who works in a sandwich shop in Tonge Moor Road, only started playing Bingo a few weeks ago.

It was the first time they had played the game on a Saturday, with their usual bingo trips taking place during the week.

The happy couple have spent their winnings by paying for a week's holiday in Portugal.

Cow pie bingo makes a return on the Fourth of July

The Radford High School Band is hoping to cash in for some new equipment with the help of some mighty big cow pies.

The RHS Band Boosters are hosting a game of Cow Pie Bingo at Bisset Park this Fourth of July and tickets are on sale now for a substantial top prize of $2,500. Band Booster Susan Lesko said the boosters’ goal is to sell 1000 tickets. The cost of the ticket is $25 and they can be purchased from any band booster or band student, by contacting Lesko at 639-2807 or at Lamour’s boutique in downtown Radford.

“We hope to raise enough money with this fund raiser and our fruit sale in December to support the band in the coming year,” Lesko said. “Some of the projects we are funding are replacement of some of our large instruments, funding to support students seeking private lessons, but who cannot afford to pay for a private lesson, new concert uniforms and maintenance and up keep on our band bus, trailers, and golf cart. We would also like to paint the bus, and the band is planning a trip to Boston in the spring. These costs are over and above the usual expenses of operating an award-winning marching band.”

Here’s how cow pie bingo works.

Each $25 ticket is randomly assigned to a three-by-three foot square on the field. At 2 p.m. on Wed. July 4, organizers will turn out two cows onto the field. The square where the cow leaves its first “pie” will win the grand prize of $2500 cash. The square containing the second “pie” will win $1000 and there will be a random drawing of all ticket stubs for a $500 prize. In addition to the bingo game, the boosters will have hamburgers, drinks, chips, and cow pie cookies for sale in Bisset Park on the day of the event.

“We would like to thank the community at large for their support in the past and in the future,” Lesko said. “We are very fortunate to live in a community such as Radford. Thanks to [Radford City Schools Band Director] Daniel Frankenberger for his leadership and talent in working with our students.”

Bingo hall appoints ‘mentor’ to help staff and players to give up smoking

Meet Smoke-buster Maureen Smith - a York bingo worker who is giving up smoking and is also set to help others kick the habit.

Maureen, who works at Mecca Bingo in Fishergate, wants to quit before the ban on smoking in public places comes in on July 1.

But she revealed today that she also wants to offer support to colleagues and customers who also want to give it up.

Maureen, who has smoked 20 cigarettes a day for the last 23 years, was nominated by fellow co-workers as a "Smoke Buster", and says she is delighted by her new role.

"I want to quit because of the smoking ban and with the money I save I will go on holiday," she said.

A Mecca spokeswoman said that as approximately 50 per cent of bingo players nationwide smoked, Maureen would face quite a challenge if everyone at the York club became involved.

To spur Maureen on in quitting and give her an incentive, colleagues and customers will be donating money to the NSPCC in recognition of her efforts.

The spokeswoman said NiQuitin, which provides a range of nicotine replacement products to help people quit smoking, was also helping Maureen, by giving her and other Mecca Smoke Busters a tailored personal plan to help them kick the habit.

Tim Stobart, general manager at Mecca Bingo York, said he was proud to be hosting the quit smoking programme, saying: "We're thrilled Maureen has decided to become our Smoke Buster and she will be able to offer support to others who choose to do the same.

"We know it's hard to quit smoking at the best of times but now our Smoke Buster can be a pillar of support for those wanting to quit when the national ban comes into place this July."

Sandra Romanic, of NiQuitin, said: "With the Smoke-Free Legislation coming into place on July 1, there has never been a better time to stop."