B-I-N-G-O

By Michele Blandino

Many of us associate bingo with grandmothers and smoke-filled church halls. And while this description may still be accurate in some cases, bingo is actually enjoying a surge in popularity among 20 and 30 year-olds.

Part of the appeal of today's bingo game is, thanks to 1988's Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, many games have moved out of the church hall and into the more comfortable and attractive confines of casinos. While there are some halls in operation along the eastern seaboard, Native American bingo is found primarily in the Midwest and far western states. Here is a look at two successful Native American bingo halls:

Oneida Bingo

Oneida Bingo is located in the Irene Moore Activity Center (IMAC) - a tribal owned facility - in Oneida, Wisconsin. Named for a tireless volunteer who became the first woman to be named Chief of the Oneida Nation (in 1963), the IMAC opened its doors in 1983. Prior to the opening of the IMAC, Oneida Bingo operated in the downtown Oneida Community Center, where, according to the hall's website, the first games, hosted by Sandra Ninham and Alma Webster - two Oneida women - were played on scarred, wooden tables surrounded by metal folding chairs.

Oneida Bingo offers frequent promotions and tries to target as many different groups as possible. In addition to the tried and true Ladies and Men's Nights in which the ladies and gentlemen receive $10 off the package price on their respective nights, there has been a "Teen Night" for 18 and 19 year-olds, and a "Tattoo Night" and other similar events in which players need to meet a certain requirement (such as age or body art) to receive the discount. While Powless said he tried to target as many different groups as possible, he also admitted to reserving some of the more unusual promotions (such as "Tattoo Night") for the Night Owl sessions.

Black Bear Casino

Black Bear Casino & Hotel is owned and operated by the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, a federally recognized Indian tribe. Located approximately 20 minutes south of Duluth and about 2 hours north of the twin cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul, the bingo hall at Black Bear draws most of it players from the local area.

And, interestingly enough, nearly 30% of the players at Black Bear are in the 18-25 age group, a demographic usually not known for frequenting bingo halls in large numbers.

One of the reasons so many young people come to Black Bear is that there is a community college in the area, and many students come to the hall to pass time between classes. Second, the younger players are fascinated with electronics, and so, most of them play some combination of electronics and paper.

There are also a number of promotions designed to keep the excitement level high. To be sure, the monthly bingo calendar at Black Bear is loaded with regular promotions and specials. But in addition to tried and true events like Senior Night, and 2 for 1 Specials, Black Bear's calendar features events such as Double PowerBall and King & Queen, which are designed to create even more opportunities for players to become winners.