Bingo, that old standby game of chance, has gone high tech.
It has also moved into the realm of high dollar gaming. More than $9.6 million changed hands at Gregg County bingo parlors in 2008 with nearly $30 million spent locally by bingo players in the 2005-2008 period, according to the Texas Lottery Commission.
Les Hassel/News-Journal Photo |
JoAnn Watley, right, plays Bingo with her daughter Betty Burns at the Longview Bingo Center.
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At Longview Bingo Center, 4208 W. Loop 281, computer play of the game both on hand held and stationary computers is combined with big screen televisions, FM radio channels and a high tech sound system. David Daniels, who owns and operates the gaming center under a state license, said the investment he made in 2008 in constructing the new 450-seat location is paying off for the five charities that conduct games at the location, the players who win and enjoy coming back and state and local government.
Daniels' Longview Bingo Center serves as an operating unit under state bingo laws.
"We pool expenses and split profits and that makes the hall stronger," he said. "Even with the bad economy this year, each of those charities should clear between $30,000 and $50,000."
Last year about $200,000 was redistributed back to the community to the charities from the operation. Those charities include the Judson Lions Club, American Business Clubs of Longview, AMBUCS TOO; Sabine Volunteer Fire Department; ARC of Gregg County; and the Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge 4125.
Each of those charities are required to have a representative on the premises at specific times to help monitor operations, Daniels said.
Longview Bingo Center hosts two sessions a day, seven days a week with sessions offering jackpots of $2,500 starting at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Daniels said Friday and Saturday nights are normally the busiest times at the hall.
"We offer lots of action in an hour-and-a-half," he said. For as little as $4, bingo players have a chance for a share of up to $2,500 in prize money each session, Daniels said.
"We have lots of regulars," he said. "For many people it's more of a social thing \— they're tired of the movies or of staying home."
His location offers smoking and non-smoking area and while beer if offered at the concession stand, Daniels said alcohol sales are not a big contributor to revenues.
"Most players aren't drinkers \u2013 if they get drunk they lose money playing," he said. About 10 years ago, Daniels said the average age of bingo players was probably 50 and older.
"Now, I'd say about 35 to 40 years old is the average," Daniels said.
Traditional bingo has been joined by pull tab games that allow players to win up to $600 and which now account for more of the operation's revenue than the traditional bingo game.
"We sell around $8,000 a day in pull tabs and they account for about 55 percent of our sales," he said. While the maximum payout for a bingo session has remained the same at $2,000 since 1980, the pull tab games offer operators and charities the opportunity to enhance their profits while adding to the thrill of a possible win, he said.
"In the 28 years since bingo has been allowed in Texas the maximum payouts per session haven't changed — they've stayed at $2,500," Daniels said. To increase the chances of winning for participants, he has added pull tab games — often called instant bingo \— and a raffle.
"It's all highly regulated," he said. That fact — maneuvering through all the rules and regulations — makes an operation like his where several charities ban together with management taking care of the state requirements easier on the charities.
Across town, at the American Legion Hall on American Legion Boulevard, the veterans organization is set up in a similar fashion for bingo play. Proceeds from games played there go to American Legion Unit 140 Auxiliary; VFW Post 1183; La Societe Des Hommes No. 1123; and Le Petit Salon 8 40.
Rhonda Currin, one of the managers for bingo at the American Legion Hall, said afternoon games there routinely draw between 75 and 100 players.
"We're busier on weekends and our crowds are growing," she said. The American Legion offers sessions at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. On weekends, bingo sessions start at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., Currin said.
"Our bingo staff is dedicated to making your visit fun and exciting," she said. "Our hall features a full service cafe, big screen tv's, state-of-the-art bingo equipment and bingo electronics."
Gregg County Bingo receipts
2008 $9.7 million
2007 $8.6 million
2006 $6.1 million
2005 $6.9 million
Source: Texas Lottery Commission Cities and counties receive quarterly payments of 2.5 percent of the prizes won by bingo players in their jurisdictions. In the fourth quarter of 2008, the Texas Lottery Commission reported that Gregg County and the city of Longview each received more than $21,000 from bingo payments.
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Bingo by the numbers
6.1: the percentage increase in Texas bingo revenues in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to the prior year.
2.5: the percentage share of bingo prize fees that go to the state with another 2.5 percent coming back to local cities and counties where the games are played.
$3.04 million: the sum paid to Texas cities and counties in the fourth quarter of 2008 from charitable bingo.
1,144: the total number of non-profits that conducted charitable bingo games in Texas in the fourth quarter of 2008.
$229.5 million: statewide revenues from pull tab - or instant bingo games - in the first three quarters of 2008.
Source: Texas Lottery Commission
