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Charity bingo is also suffer from weak economy

Posted on July 19th, 2010

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Charity gambling facilities like charity bingo venues are not spared from the effects of the economic recession from the past year. Benefactors of these facilities like non-profit organizations, churches and veterans groups are also experiencing the effect. “We’re in the slumps right now. The economy is killing everybody”. This is according to John C. Peterson American Legion Post 49 post adjutant Mike Davis. “We have to wait it out or close our doors. We’re hoping that doesn’t happen either. This is about as serious as it gets” said Davis. The post largely depends on paper pull tabs and bingo play to keep it in business. A large number of organizations rely on these charity gambling entities as well, however a downward trend on the economic performance of these organizations has been observed for the past decade.

Indiana Gaming Commission assistant director Larry Delaney said that as a result of the slump, qualified organizations that rely on charity gaming institutions are also dropping in numbers, and revenues are at an all time low. “The clubs tell us routinely that attendance is down and income is down,” Delaney said. “Most of it is tied to a lack of discretionary spending.” Davis shares that Post 49 holds bingo nights twice a week and every first Sunday of the month. However bingo games are not what keeps the money in, it is the pull tabs, which are paper versions of a slot machine. In playing paper tabs, much like slot machines, a player aims to get the perfect combination of symbols to make a win. $599 is the maximum win per pull tab game.

“The bingo is the lure to get people to the establishment and pull-tabs are extra,” Davis said. “For the most part, the American Legions I know break even or lose money on bingo but it gets people in the building to play pull-tabs and eat and drink.”Other charity bingo entities are also trying to come up with other ways to generate more business. Time Corners Lions Club bingo volunteer Tom Shriner said the group is trying on giving out discounts and giveaways to attract more players. “But people are struggling and have less money for fun things,” Shriner said. Time Corners Lions Club’s bingo is the Elegant Occasions Bingo on Lima Road. Bingo nights are done three times a week. “It brings in a lot more money than selling light bulbs and other fundraisers we used to do,” according to Shriner. The Lion’s Club in 2009 was able to rake in $4 million in gross receipts $389,000 of this amount went to expenses and prizes and $5,200 was given to other charities while the rest was retained as funds of the club.

There are other charity gaming entities that are doing better than others. Speedway Bingo in Speedway Drive, sponsored by New Word Church is one of those entities that are able to keep business afloat. “Attendance is pretty good, but the spending is down,” Don Newman said, operator of the charity bingo. “We realize they aren’t spending as much, so we are putting together package deals and prices.” Speedway Bingo has been operational for over 20 years and was able to make $3.5 million in gross receipts for the fiscal year 2009. Of this amount, $23,000 was given to other charities and $106,000 was kept by New World Church. Newman added that the funding is used to help the church’s projects like outreach programs. In Steuben County, one charity bingo facility was doing very poorly that led to its closure. Assistant Manager Torey Brennenman of the Streuben County Humane Society simply said “It was bringing in no money.”

Recently, the group was able to go back in business and people are responding more positively this time, they are taking this as an indication of better things to come. “We have some hard-core bingoers. It really helps us out financially because we are a non-profit, and this pays for operational expenses and spaying and neutering.” said Brennenman.