My Nite at Bingo

My Nite at Bingo…

I am excited as I head out the door to the bingo hall. First stop is the ATM to get our bingo cash. As we pull up to the drive thru we all look at one another as it dawns on us…how much is this going to cost? Like 3 fools we all take a wild guess. My mom says $25 is probably enough while sis and I say I take out $40.

We have our choice between the computers and papercards. Paper cards are $23 for 48 cards or the computer for $25 with 144 cards.  We opt for the computer because it was a much better deal.That didn’t include the specials which were 3 for $1. I slip mom a few bucks since she has now gone bust.

It is not too crowded tonite but it was important to get just the right seats so I had a panoramic view of everyone. After all i had a story to write! As we sit down i search for the most animated players there. As my I eyes pan the bingo hall my sis pokes me in the ribs and says “right there”! Where where where I ask her as right before my eyes is a woman sitting right in front of us! Jackpot baby!!

She is beyond adoreable! I watch as she drapes two stuffed animals over her computer. They had to be placed just so! She had a bountiful of dabbers. As I look around I notice practically everyone had a dabber but us. I whisper to my mom…”why does everyone have dabbers”? She doesn’t know either. Hmmmm now I feel like the outcast. The shame of it all. Would we be looked at in equal astonishment for NOT having a dabber?

As the game starts I see everyone start to grab their dabber. Are they going to dab the screen?? Oh no we have messed up big time here! Then it comes to light. These are not just your average bingo players. These are hardcore bingo lovers. In addition to computer bingo they have all bought a pack of paper cards too! Ahhh I love it. This is bingo played with passion. Why play bingo if you can’t dab? That would be ludricrous!

The pull tabs…the pull tabs were selling like hot cakes! One dollar per pull tab. These players were buying fistfulls. Some players were spending more money on pull tabs than we spend on our side slots online. These were Bingo highrollers with computers, paper cards and enough pulled cards to fill the back of a dumpster. Know wonder some people had two garbage bags. It all makes sense now, one for the pull tabs and the other for paper cards and consession stand leftovers.

I learned one thing that night. The importance of the dabber. To be a true blue bingo player, it’s a must to have your dabber!!

LOl Lips, as i was reading, my thoughts were like.. "oh they pretend dabber" for the real feel, they don't dab anything at all actually they just do the movement, like pouring tea and a childs teaparty..

They are really experienced Bingo players, imagine that.. they watch a computer screen AND have paper card bingo.. hmm.. Lips in these games do you still yell Bingo, and is there a certain professional and unique type of bingo call from experienced players like when it's hit...

like BEEE IINNN GOOO.. or BINGO!

I was thinking perhaps there is a special game and you need a dabber for it.  Just one card with a huge prize but you have to get your dabbers out.  These are definitely professional bingo players if they can do the computer thing and mark another 48 cards on top of that and keep on top of it all, its just amazing.

What are pull tabs?  Scratchcards or something similar? 

blue

Hi,Blue...here is an example of one of pull tab games.

                How To Play:

If three consecutive symbols printed vertically or diagonally under the tabs match any of the winning combinations as shown on the ticket front, win the corresponding prize. The arrow connecting the symbols indicates you are a winner.

              Prizes and Odds:

Prize Odds

$.50 1 in 7.11

$1.00 1 in 21.60

$3.00 1 in 90.00

$6.00 1 in 270.00

$10.00 1 in 540.00

$15.00 1 in 540.00

$50.00 1 in 540.00

Overall Odds 1 in 6.51

Thanks Nan.  They look like good fun.

blue

The local bingo halls are noisy and I can't hear all that well in crowds, so when the heavily accented scratchcard stuff is going on, I am totally lost. I don't know if someone is calling bingo, horsey, or what.  I don't know if this is a regular game. 

Sunday is the 128th St.Louis Days Celebration here in Castroville.  Doesn't look like I'll be going.  Last year I went and played Bingo-they had hard cards with sliders-slide the cover over if the number is called.  Real Old School...and lots of fun.

Slider cards!!! Usually see those at fairs or special functions. That sounds adorable.

You can spend so much money on those pull tabs. Sounds like you had a blast. Maybe next time you'll be hip to how they do it at the bingo hall and bring your dabbers :-*

You all make me want to go see what the bingo hall really is like.. i'm so glad i have tips, i am going to take me a custom made, state of the art, auto-enabled, supercharged double headed Bingo Dabber, make some delicately laced trashbags labeled with pretty letters that say "my precious bingo discards", a pair of rear-view mirror pink fluffy dice to hang over the computer, a recorded Loud Bingo Yell.. (spanish and english).. a cusiony seat to sit on, and beer hat & goggles, the goggles just cuz i wanna see how it feels to wear them in a public place and to diguise myself, i'd not want anyone to recognize me at my place of work, and just something to put in this big ol' totebag that says... "I Wonk for Bingo" (i got it on sale real cheap it was an irregular typo).. well i'm set...anything i'm forgetting?

Omgggggggg lmaooooo!!! You are the Bingo Diva!! Don't forget to add the T shirt that says "I dab for Money"!!!!

Lips