By Gary Bennett
This article appears in the September 20204 issue of the Frederick News-Post’s Prime Time magazine.
So you think baseball is America’s national past time? Think again.
Go to any of the many Frederick institutions that offer bingo, and you’ll soon be convinced otherwise.
On any given day or night in Frederick, there is sure to be a bingo caller belting out letter/number combinations to rapt, lively crowds — in fire stations, civic clubs, veteran’s clubs, senior centers and nursing homes.
HISTORY
According to the National Bingo Game Association, bingo originated in Italy in the early 1500s. It was part of their national lottery.
It was popularized in New York in the 1930s as a good distraction for economic troubles brought on by the Great Depression. A toy manufacturer soon produced a boxed game called “Beano” because, originally, the numbers on a card were covered by beans. Legend has it the name changed to bingo when a friend of the manufacturer got so excited that she shouted “bingo!” when she won.
Today, it is estimated that over 60 million people in the U.S. play bingo regularly. About 10% play daily, 32% weekly, 53% monthly and 6% at least once a year. About the same number attended a Major League baseball game in 2023.
BENEFITS
Bingo is a sedentary activity, and that is one reason why so many seniors play it. But the biggest reasons? It’s a lot of fun, it offers the chance to socialize while playing and, in many cases, big money is at stake.
Scientists weigh in that bingo can help anyone, not just seniors, sharpen memory, think more quickly, improve mood, promote healing and hone hand-eye coordination.
WHO PLAYS?
We may have to change our perception of who the typical bingo players are. Greatest Generation? Nope. Baby boomers? No, again.
When you include casinos that offer it and online bingo games, Millennials lead the way. They are followed by Gen X-ers and Gen Z-ers. Baby boomers trail well behind.
It should be no surprise. The younger generations have embraced gambling apps (where bingo is now prevalent) and had more time than most to kill during the pandemic — and so turned to bingo, poker and other “old-time” games.
BINGO IN FREDERICK
Local establishments that offer bingo say it’s a wonderful draw and is often used as a fundraiser. People have time to eat and drink while playing and are not shy about spending their disposable income.
Bingo is mostly a game of chance, which puts all players on an equal footing. Many players like that.
But serious players think strategically to increase their odds of winning. The most basic rule is the more cards you play, the higher your chance of yelling “bingo!”
A serious player may also want to look for games where the winning pattern is more complicated than a typical straight line. The more complicated the pattern, say a Z pattern or blackout (where you must cover your entire card), the more likely that recreational players may fall behind or get confused. Serious payers also gauge the room for distracted and otherwise occupied players who may miss the chance to call bingo but still have their money at stake.
Bingo games often have progressive jackpots, which increase in value if more people buy into the game, so players need to find a balance between the number of players and the amount of money to be won.
A BABE IN THE WOODS (WITH ELKS)
An afternoon or evening of bingo may not be what you think.
I can attest as I recently attended my first cash bingo game. This was a great accomplishment for me. Heck, I’ve never even played the lottery!
I can advise you’d better be thinking clearly, as there are many decisions to be made, even before you settle into your chair for the first game. And once the games begin, your concentration and dexterity better be at its peak. Every second counts when playing bingo, and hand-eye coordination is paramount.
On a Tuesday afternoon at the Elks Lodge on Willowdale Drive, about 75 other folks and me packed into their grand ballroom to play a little bingo.
“A little bingo” is probably not the right phrase.
During a three-hour session, we played 22 games and even took time out for an occasional 50-50 raffle and several lotto (aka “pull tab”) drawings. We even had an intermission, which was great for mingling. Truth is, bingo begins to get a little tedious, but with money at stake, you tend to want to power through it.
Most of the players seemed to be regulars, their joking and kidding at odds with their clear thirst to win. Some of these friendly rivals were even passing around homemade cookies. Being new, I was afraid to try any.
Of the 75 players, about 90% were woman. The other men and I clearly stood out. When a man won, he got roundly booed. The in-person crowd, as opposed to online bingo games, was decidedly of the Greatest Generation cohort, followed not far behind by us boomers.
There was no shortage of help offered when I mentioned this was my first time. The sharks may have smelled fresh blood, but I was, nevertheless, happy to receive it.
First, I had to decide how many cards to purchase. For the 22 games, most featured a minimum card level of nine cards. Other games featured three cards and sometimes just one special card. I opted to spend just $20 for the minimum set of cards. Even then, I had more than 100 cards to juggle for the 22 games. Others had many more cards than I did and obviously spent much more money. The more players and the more money spent means larger jackpots and payouts.
I was handed a colorful stack of cards. Each game is played on a different colored card to keep things straight. I also purchased a handy “dabber,” which is how you mark the numbers called on your card.
Most games have a 50% payout, meaning the winners get 50% of the pot and the “house” gets 50%. A few special games featured a 75% payout.
Like most large bingo halls, the Elks’ grand ballroom features a high-end tumbling and floating ball machine that ensures random balls are selected, a video monitor trained on the drawn ball, and a large electronic board that displays all numbers that are called. It was indeed a professional setup.
Of the 22 games, each had a different payout. The winner of game one got $44; game 2, $60. The winner of the final “jackpot” walked away with $300. All other game winnings were in between these figures.
The room had a friendly but competitive vibe. However, you got the feeling that a lot of these sweet, little old ladies were out for blood.
I came away with no winnings but pledged to come back and try again.
Gary Bennett is a longtime Frederick resident who spends his time hiking, biking, volunteering and providing childcare for grandchildren. He is married and retired from his career as a nonprofit marketing executive.