Apollo Beach resident Beverly Singleton enjoys volunteering for Bingo night at the Ruskin VFW. lisa stark photos / www.lisastark.com
Marge Bonnano prepares for an exciting night of Bingo, lining up her personal good-luck figurines to enhance her chances of winning.
By LISA STARK
Photojournalist
If you drop into Ruskin VFW Post 6287 on any given Tuesday night, you will find it packed with locals engaged in their favorite pastime: Bingo.
“I just love it” said Marge Bonnano, a resident of Apollo Beach, “I love to see my friends, have a night out, and enjoy a mental diversion.” Originally from Long Island, N.Y., Marge began playing Bingo when her husband became terminally ill. “When you play Bingo,” she said, “all you have to think about is having fun.”
Southshore Falls residents Peggy Sassor and Patti Queen, who attend regularly and have each won as much as $250 on a given night, agree. They’ll tell you: “It’s really like a family here. If you miss a week, people will call, concerned about you.”
Although it may appear that Bingo players are primarily hooked on the camaraderie surrounding the game rather than the winnings, make no mistake: Bingo is big business in Florida. The lure of winning is compelling. With a current Fireball jackpot of $5,000, the Ruskin VFW Bingo Night, run by Pam Zilba, draws as many as 80 to 100 players a week. “A few months ago, the Fireball was up to $12,000,” said Beverly Singleton, who volunteers her time every week to the Bingo Night. “With stakes like that, we get some pretty large crowds,” she said.
Bingo is everywhere these days — in your local town, on the Internet; even celebrities are playing. In the U.S., Bingo is played in churches, charity organizations, private clubs and commercial Bingo halls. The stakes and legal restrictions vary from state to state. Bingo was first authorized in 1967 by the Florida Legislature, allowing charitable, nonprofit and veterans’ organizations to raise funds for their charitable causes. Commercial Bingo games in the U.S. have their roots in Native American casinos and Bingo halls. Until the early 1970s, Bingo was the single most popular form of gambling in the United States, but, as in many states, it was illegal to play it in Florida except at church fundraisers and charity Bingo halls.
The Seminole Tribe of Florida became the first to defy the state limit on Bingo in 1979, opening a 1,200-seat Bingo hall on its Hollywood reservation with nightly prizes totaling as much as $60,000. It was empowering that the Indian tribe that once faced extinction and had to depend on handouts from the government was now transformed into a powerful commercial force. The tribe expanded its strength by buying nine acres in Hillsborough County for a sacred shrine and cultural center. What they built was a 1,400-seat Bingo hall that is now home to the state’s largest casino, the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. When Florida voters authorized slot machines in 2004, the Seminole tribe agreed to share at least $150 million a year of its annual earnings with the state. Florida residents have alternately debated the evils of gambling while vigorously embracing the revenues it produces.
Marie Carr, left, with her Bingo partner, Anna Pittman.
In the U.S. today, Bingo is played everywhere, in one form or another, and Bingo players are continually evolving as well. Although the stereotype is that Bingo enthusiasts are mostly senior women, statistics show that more men and younger age groups are steadily joining those ranks. With the popularity of online Bingo playing, it’s estimated that nearly 100 million people of all ages are playing Bingo in some form. Celebrities like Catherine Zeta Jones, Sharon Osbourne and Russell Crowe have helped popularize the game on a global scale.
For many older players, Bingo is a social avenue where they can enjoy one-on-one time with others. “It’s my night out to have fun and see all my friends,” said Marie Carr, a vivacious local senior who turned 90 in December. “My grandma took me to play Bingo on my 18th birthday, and I’ve been playing ever since, all through my marriage and raising kids. I had a very tolerant sweetie for a husband.” Her friend, Anna Pittman, a snowbird from Pennsylvania, concurred. “It’s my favorite activity. Bingo people are like family,” Pittman said. The pair go to Bingo at least twice a week, rotating their evenings between the Ruskin VFW, Saint Anne Catholic Church, and Holy Cross Catholic Church in Palmetto.
In order to compete in a growing marketplace, many Bingo halls have turned to technology, giving players the option of playing Bingo on a computer at their own pace. Sun City Center Bingo offers customers electronic and traditional options alike, and draws in crowds seven nights a week. To sweeten the pot and enhance the experience, they also offer free dinner and dessert packages to participants.
There are too many Bingo venues in the area to list here; however, here are a few that you may want to visit: Sun City Center Bingo, 3828 Sun City Center Blvd. 813-633-6200; Plant City Bingo, run by John Zilba, at 105 East J. Arden Mays Blvd., 813-719-6568; Saint Anne Catholic Church, 106 11th Ave. NE, Ruskin, 813-645-1714; Holy Cross Catholic Church, 501 26th Street W., Palmetto, 941-729-3891; Ruskin VFW Memorial Post 6287, 5120 U.S. 41 N. Ruskin, 813-645-2935.
For a complete list of Bingo halls nationwide, visit www.bingohallsusa.org. or www.bingolocator.com.
