Bingo Brings In Big Bucks For Charities
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Charitable organizations need money to support themselves. It's not easy to run nonprofit organizations without the cash. Local area clubs and membership organizations help many local charities financially through a game that's familiar to many people.
B-I-N-G-O!
The Indiana Department of Revenue reported Oct. 1 that the gross receipts for bingo in Kosciusko County were $3,643,474.17, with total expenses at $3,077,273.85. An estimated $95,401.61 was given to other organizations, and $322,497.82 was retained for use by the organizations that sponsor bingo.
American Legion Post 49 is one local club licensed for bingo in Indiana. They have bingo once a week, every Friday, and the first Sunday of every month.
"I've been here for 17 years and they were playing long before I got here," said Mike Davis, manager.
Several charities the Legion donates to include Combined Community Services, the United Way, the Boys' Club and Little League, among others.
The Loyal Order of Moose Lodge No. 1423 donates proceeds of their bingo games to organizations such as St. Jude's Children Hospital, local fire stations and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Moose member Dan McClone said bingo games aren't what they used to be. Two years ago, the lodge was able to donate about $12,000 to the MDA, he said. Last year, they donated $8,000 and this year they were down to $5,000.
Another thing that has changed is the licensing fee, McClone said.
"Our license used to cost us $75. Now, it's $9,000 for our bingo license. It's based on our gross," he said.
The Indiana Department of Revenue enforces charity gaming laws in Indiana. Those who can legally conduct charity gaming are qualified not-for-profit organizations and are limited to bingo, charity game nights, door prizes, festival events, raffles and the sale of pull tabs, punchboards and tip boards.
Any organization that wants to participate in charity gaming must be licensed and registered for each type of game.
Organizations that qualify include bona fide educational, religious, senior citizen, veteran, civic, fraternal or charitable organizations that operate in Indiana. They also must be tax-exempt, active and in continuous existence for at least five years or affiliated with a parent organization that has been around for at least five years.
There are 13 local organizations licensed to hold bingo games: six in Warsaw, two in Syracuse, two in North Webster, one in Pierceton and two in Silver Lake.
No matter where the bingo games are held, many of the players are older.
"The average is probably 45 to 55," McClone said.
Davis said many of the players the American Legion are 60 and over, but there are some young players.
Still, at any hall where bingo is going on, people of all ages are playing. Some have played for just a couple of years while others have been playing for decades. The reasons they play are vast. The players at American Legion Post 253, North Webster, are an example of the various types of people who play bingo locally.
Virginia VanCuren, North Webster, has been playing bingo for at least the last 10 years. She said she plays because of her friendships and the fun.
"We have a lot of fun. I play because I like it. It's better than sitting at home and watching television," she said.
Another veteran of the game is Maxine Gall, Leesburg. She has been playing for 40 to 45 years, she said.
"I'm a senior citizen and it's relaxing," she said.
As far as winning goes, many of the bingo players said they don't win much, but that's not why they go.
"Every once in a while, you win some money," Lucy Jack, Syracuse, said.
Jesse Wainscott, Tippecanoe Lake, said, "We like to play. We've been playing for three years. We win quite a bit."
Gall said she wins about four times a month.
North Webster's American Legion has the highest gross receipts in the county, with $1,023,684.02, and gives $43,773.01 to other organizations, according to the Indiana Department of Revenue. Barbee Lakes Conservation Association, North Webster, has the lowest gross receipts, with $1,901.33, but has the highest percentage of profit at 54 percent. BLCA gives $375.14 to other organizations. [[In-content Ad]]
Charitable organizations need money to support themselves. It's not easy to run nonprofit organizations without the cash. Local area clubs and membership organizations help many local charities financially through a game that's familiar to many people.
B-I-N-G-O!
The Indiana Department of Revenue reported Oct. 1 that the gross receipts for bingo in Kosciusko County were $3,643,474.17, with total expenses at $3,077,273.85. An estimated $95,401.61 was given to other organizations, and $322,497.82 was retained for use by the organizations that sponsor bingo.
American Legion Post 49 is one local club licensed for bingo in Indiana. They have bingo once a week, every Friday, and the first Sunday of every month.
"I've been here for 17 years and they were playing long before I got here," said Mike Davis, manager.
Several charities the Legion donates to include Combined Community Services, the United Way, the Boys' Club and Little League, among others.
The Loyal Order of Moose Lodge No. 1423 donates proceeds of their bingo games to organizations such as St. Jude's Children Hospital, local fire stations and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Moose member Dan McClone said bingo games aren't what they used to be. Two years ago, the lodge was able to donate about $12,000 to the MDA, he said. Last year, they donated $8,000 and this year they were down to $5,000.
Another thing that has changed is the licensing fee, McClone said.
"Our license used to cost us $75. Now, it's $9,000 for our bingo license. It's based on our gross," he said.
The Indiana Department of Revenue enforces charity gaming laws in Indiana. Those who can legally conduct charity gaming are qualified not-for-profit organizations and are limited to bingo, charity game nights, door prizes, festival events, raffles and the sale of pull tabs, punchboards and tip boards.
Any organization that wants to participate in charity gaming must be licensed and registered for each type of game.
Organizations that qualify include bona fide educational, religious, senior citizen, veteran, civic, fraternal or charitable organizations that operate in Indiana. They also must be tax-exempt, active and in continuous existence for at least five years or affiliated with a parent organization that has been around for at least five years.
There are 13 local organizations licensed to hold bingo games: six in Warsaw, two in Syracuse, two in North Webster, one in Pierceton and two in Silver Lake.
No matter where the bingo games are held, many of the players are older.
"The average is probably 45 to 55," McClone said.
Davis said many of the players the American Legion are 60 and over, but there are some young players.
Still, at any hall where bingo is going on, people of all ages are playing. Some have played for just a couple of years while others have been playing for decades. The reasons they play are vast. The players at American Legion Post 253, North Webster, are an example of the various types of people who play bingo locally.
Virginia VanCuren, North Webster, has been playing bingo for at least the last 10 years. She said she plays because of her friendships and the fun.
"We have a lot of fun. I play because I like it. It's better than sitting at home and watching television," she said.
Another veteran of the game is Maxine Gall, Leesburg. She has been playing for 40 to 45 years, she said.
"I'm a senior citizen and it's relaxing," she said.
As far as winning goes, many of the bingo players said they don't win much, but that's not why they go.
"Every once in a while, you win some money," Lucy Jack, Syracuse, said.
Jesse Wainscott, Tippecanoe Lake, said, "We like to play. We've been playing for three years. We win quite a bit."
Gall said she wins about four times a month.
North Webster's American Legion has the highest gross receipts in the county, with $1,023,684.02, and gives $43,773.01 to other organizations, according to the Indiana Department of Revenue. Barbee Lakes Conservation Association, North Webster, has the lowest gross receipts, with $1,901.33, but has the highest percentage of profit at 54 percent. BLCA gives $375.14 to other organizations. [[In-content Ad]]