Las Vegas: Not Your Gramma's Bingo

I played Bingo on Sunday at South Point. The Bingo room was fairly full, there was probably 200 people there. Bingo is undergoing a big renaissance in Las Vegas. There was an article on it in todays R-J, you can read about it here. If your partner wants to gamble and you hate just sitting around, Bingo is a less expensive alternative to feeding the machines.

Fern

Maybe we can play Bingo together when we come in July.

We have a friend who always plays bingo in Vegas. But I always thought it was like the old time grandma bingo, but I guess things have changed. It sure is a slower way to lose your $$$.

Bingo vs Keno

Thanks Fern for the tip about gambling at South Point. We were there last Tuesday. Still lost but had fun. The place is clean and new. They had good food also. Tried the Chinese at your suggestion. It was great.

I did notice the popularity of Bingo springing up at several LV casinos. My question is what is the house edge? A similar game like KENO is notorious for having large odds against the player. In fact, one casino employee thought the odds against the KENO player were almost like trying to win the lottery. However, I think that there are a lot of high stakes bingo players who would enjoy playing Bingo in a casino atmosphere.

Sounds like fun, Rick.

Fern

I recently went to play Bingo in Myrtle Beach with my sister in law. They handed us one of those electronic cards and my s-i-l wouldn't even try it, so we left. I would love to learn how to use one but she wouldn't stay and try. Is it difficult? Would someone there at the Casino give some instructions on playing for first time users? I love gadgets and would like to try when we come to Vegas in July.

Using the machine is really easy. They give you a receipt/playslip (not regular bingo cards) and a machine. You enter the playslip number in the machine and it loads the cards and games you purchased. The machine then keeps track of the numbers called, showing you the "best" cards, the ones with the most potential. I generally look at my best six, although you can look at more or less. When you are one away from Bingo it flashes "waiting." If you do get a Bingo, it plays "Happy Days Are Here Again." You still have to yell Bingo and raise your hand, and a runner still comes over and verifies it.

If you want to play at South Point when you are in Vegas, email me or call me when you get here, and I'll try to meet up with you. But even if I can't, it is really easy...

Fern