Thursday, June 22, 2006

As reported by the Buffalo News: "Bingo isn't dead yet. "The smoking ban was
bad for bingo's health. And competition from high-stakes games and casinos
was the death blow for many games. However, the traditional form of the
game - for decades, a popular means of fund raising among churches,
volunteer fire companies and other nonprofit groups - continues to limp
along and sometimes do quite well. Recently, bingo received a transfusion,
allowing larger payouts. 'Progressive' and 'share the wealth' games can add
thousands of dollars to the payout beyond the $3,000 limit. ".St. Andrew
Catholic Church in the Town of Tonawanda operates a bingo game four nights a
week that brings in $180,000 a year for the school, according to chairwoman
Diane Kirchberger."