Bingo is a serious business

Working at a bingo hall is not easy. Inga Rinne from the Globe & Mail gives her explanation of a night volunteering at a Bingo charity event.  Being her first trip to the bingo hall she wasn't expecting much, just for the night to be over. It was quite an educational experience and she quickly learned the game has a lingo and culture all its own.

She explains the hall as "bright but spartan, decorated only with grinning portraits of recent big-money winners. Six video monitors were mounted around the room for those who wanted visual cues rather than just listening to the numbers being called out in a serious, efficient monotone: B5 … N37 …".

As soon as the numbers started everyone was quiet. The players picked up their favorite bingo dabbers and listened intently for the next call … B2 … G46. When players raised their hands she had to go over and sell them more cards.  Everyone was eager to hear the next call and hoping they were able to get a bingo before the others.

She expected the night at the bingo hall to be fun and not so serious.  She described "calling bingo just a game is like calling hockey just a sport. This is serious business with a lingo and culture all its own." Bingo players sure are passionate people.

The charity earned some money as did many of the players that evening. But after it all Inge was shocked that she "was immeasurably richer". She'd learned a whole lot more than how to "mismanage a bingo". With the evening behind her she has "replenished faith in human nature." To her this experience was Priceless.

For the full story read it at The Globe & Mail.