A Great Bingo Dictionary

Writing about bingo and online bingo can be very limiting as many who write content for online bingo sites and portals know all too well. Bingo is a very narrow subject and writers can be hard pressed to find interesting original material. Online bingo does offer some interesting opportunities for webmasters to provide original content.

Online bingo chat rooms have developed acronyms and a slang vocabulary peculiar to bingo alone. Land based bingo has also developed a language all its own and first time visitors to bingo halls are often confused be the slang the callers use. In the UK this ‘bingo dialect’ has been elevated to a fine art.

Recently the online bingo portal www.bestbingosites.net published a very interesting collection of bingo sayings, slang, and terminology. This collection of various terms is a must for the novice player especially those planning a visit to a land based bingo hall.

Here is a link to the entire article—enjoy!

http://www.bestbingosites.net/bingo-sayings-lingo-terms-terminology-slang-phrases/

Online Bingo Questions Answered

Land based bingo halls are closing at an alarming rate both in the UK and the US. One of the main factors cited is the recent passage of smoking bans in both countries. Many of these former patrons are switching to online bingo. Many of these people are new to the online world and are understandably suspicious of online sites. Such concerns as privacy and security rank highly with new online bingo players.

The online bingo portal www.bingoplayeronline.com has an excellent article that answers many of the questions new online bingo players have about the various bingo websites. The article answers the most frequently asked questions new online bingo players have. Questions like; do they accept US players? How secure is the site and where is it licensed? If the site is in another country what currencies do they accept? Will I have to download software? All these questions and more are answered in a complete, easy to understand manner.

This short, easy to read article should answer most questions that those new to the world of online bingo have. Here is the link to the actual article-

http://bingoplayeronline.com/category/16-points-to-consider-when-choosing-online-bingo-sites/

BingoSuite is Back and Better Than Ever!

BingoSuite, an established online bingo website, has been acquired by the same folks who own and manage BingoHouse. BingoHouse has long been a leader in the online bingo industry and has a loyal following among online bingo fanatics. BingoSuite will be going live on May, 1, 2008 and welcomes both old players and new. Former BingoSuite players will find that any balances they had in their accounts under the previous management are still available. BingoSuite has been providing a five star online bingo experience for eight years.

In recent years online bingo has become immensely popular around the world. Once confined to smoky church basements or bingo halls, bingo has adapted to new technology. When most people think of bingo they conjure up images of little old ladies in a dimly lit, smoky church basement. This stereotype is simply not true by any means. Online bingo players tend to be younger, middle class, female, and tech savvy.

Online bingo has become popular for a variety of reasons. Many players love the fact that they can play bingo from the comfort and privacy of their own homes. Women with children can play bingo to their heart’s content and still keep an eye on the kids. Smokers like the fact that they can play bingo and not be subject to draconian smoking bans.

BingoSuite has long been known to have some of the most generous bonuses in the industry. Players receive a 150% bonus on their first deposit. That means that if $50 is deposited the player will have $150 to play with. BingoSuite offers a 200% bonus for the second deposit and a 250% bonus for a third deposit. BingoSuite is offering the best bonuses in the online bingo industry.

BingoSuite offers daily, weekly, and monthly internet bingo tournaments and players can win big bucks and all for the price of a 10 cent card. Players may also win free Bingo Bucks in BingoSuite’s free online chat games. BingoSuite also features a wide selection of slots. BingoSuite is one of the only, if not the only, online bingo site that offers bonus points on slot games. For those new to online bingo BingoSuite offers free bingo games so new players can hone their skills before playing for real money.

Like a five star hotel, BingoSuite strives for excellence. The new owners want to provide the best online bingo experience possible and are using their years of experience and innovation to achieve just that. BingoSuite, it’s easy, it’s fun, so what are you waiting for?

J Davis is a consultant for the online bingo sites www.BingoSuite.com and www.BingoHouse.com. He is also an editor at www.BingoLingo.com and contributes frequently at www.internetbingoblog.com

Fantastic May Promotions at BingoHouse

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Panama City, Panama, (May, 1, 2008) BingoHouse is pleased to announce their phenomenal May promotions. The ongoing, ever popular, Jeeve’s Jackpots and Pleasure Pots with jackpots of $10,000 are easily the most popular games on BingoHouse and offer the biggest jackpots available anywhere. On May 24^th and 25^th Jeeve’s Jackpots take place and players should get their cards early. Every Saturday evening throughout May Jeeve’s Pleasure Pots will give lucky players a chance at $10,000. BingoHouse offers online bingo players the best in online bingo and monthly promotions.

Mothers Day is in May and to celebrate BingoHouse has Mothers Day with Jeeves. Bingo on the special heart pattern and 5 lucky players will receive a beautiful sapphire and diamond heart pendant. On May 17^th and 18^th log on to BingoHouse and play the Muchoooo Mooooulah Power Hour with a jackpot of $7,500. Where else can players win so much money for a 50 cent card? It’s also Cinco de Mayo time and to celebrate BingoHouse is offering some lucky winners Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Makers. Check it out in the S.S. Lo Max every Wednesday night. All month players will have the chance to win cash and some awesome prizes in the Spring up Spectacular with Bob.

BingoHouse is going all out to make this the best May ever for online bingo players. BingoHouse is also offering depositors the choice of a really cool t-shirt with the BingoHouse logo or an awesome sun visor, perfect for the beach or pool. T shirts come in white, pink, or blue. Just make a deposit of $25 or more and send your name, BingoHouse user name, address, and t shirt size to BingoHouse at Hotmail.com. At BingoHouse”Our house is your house”

Where Have All the Bingo Players Gone?

A recent New York Times article asks; where did all the bingo players go? The answer to the question is very simple- they are playing online. There are many factors contributing to this phenomenon. One of the main factors that are often cited is the passage of smoking bans. Statistics show that a majority of bingo players enjoy a smoke while playing and smoking bans have sent many players online.

The UK passed a draconian smoking ban which went into effect July, 1, 2006. Almost immediately attendance at local bingo halls declined dramatically. Some estimated a 60% decline in attendance. In the US several states have passed smoking bans with a hodgepodge of various rules and regulations. In the US bingo has long been used as a fundraising device by several charitable organizations. Bingo games in states with smoking bans experienced a rapid loss of players and revenue. Many churches and veterans organizations closed their bingo games. In Youngstown Ohio a parochial school was forced to raise tuition because the parish’s bingo games had subsidized tuition for years.

For many, bingo was affordable, inexpensive entertainment. Left with no place to go many bingo players switched to online bingo. Online bingo can offer jackpots and prizes unheard of in the land based bingo industry. Online bingo players appreciate the fact that they can play from the privacy of their own homes, and yes they can smoke if they choose. Most online bingo websites have chat rooms for those who like to socialize while playing. Many offer special chat games with unique prizes available only to those in the chat room.

Online bingo players may play any time they choose whether it’s at 6 AM or midnight. The trek to the local bingo hall is no longer necessary and with gas hovering at around $4.00 a gallon playing online can save on gas money. Most online bingo sites offer the ability to multi task while playing bingo. A mom can go to a bingo site, log on, play and still watch the kids at the same time.

Who plays bingo? One bingo network cites the following figures of online bingo players by age; 18-34 = 29%, 35-44 = 29%, 45-54 = 28%, 55-64 = 12%, 65+ = 2%. These figures dispel the myth that most bingo players are little old ladies. 85% of all bingo players both online and offline are women. Most advertising for online bingo targets women ages 35 to 54. The three countries with the most bingo players are the US, Japan, and the UK, in that order.

Where did all the bingo players go? They went online and with good reason.

UIGEA-Inevitable Repeal

Right now congress is holding hearings on UIGEA and is hearing testimony from the banking and financial services industry. UIGEA placed unfunded enforcement responsibilities on the banking industry and a myriad of Byzantine rules and regulations. The regulations, as written, could ensnare the innocent, and seriously interfere with e commerce, one of the fastest growing sectors of the global economy.

The House of Representatives Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade and Technology heard from the US Treasury, Federal Reserve, the American Bankers Association, Financial Services Roundtable, Wells Fargo and Credit Union National Association, on the difficulties of implementing and enforcing these vague regulations.

Representatives of the banking industry have testified that the implementation of these regulations could seriously disrupt e commerce and consumers could be at risk of having innocent transactions blocked. Luis Gutierrez, Democratic representative from Illinois and chairman of the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy stated, “Consumers will be placed at risk of having lawful transactions blocked,' said Luis Gutierrez, a Democrat Representative from Illinois and Chairman of the Subcommittee. Stated “It is easy to see how these regulations if implemented in their current form could wreak havoc on electronic commerce in the US. The regulations have been widely criticized as being vague and costly for financial institutions to implement. One of the most common complaints is that the proposed rules fail to sufficiently define key terms, leaving financial institutions with significant compliance difficulties. There is a risk that financial institutions would misclassify a payment as illegal and thus be exposed to liability,' said Leigh Williams on behalf of the Financial Services Roundtable. We also believe that 'monitoring of websites' is inappropriate to include in a financial institution's monitoring activity.”

Obviously UIGEA is seriously flawed in its present form. Several industry experts testified to the unenforceability of the act. A representative of the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative said "US banks and credit card companies, along with every other type of US company involved in payment systems, would be forced spend substantial resources to force compliance with a ban on internet gambling that can be easily circumvented by anyone in the US that wants to continue to gamble online."

UIGEA was originally passed to pander to a tiny group of social ‘conservatives’ without much planning and since has had unintended consequences. The act wreaked havoc with gaming stocks on exchanges globally and thousands employed by the industry suddenly found themselves unemployed. Presently many members of congress are lining up behind a bill sponsored by Barney Frank of Massachusetts that would regulate and tax internet gaming.

Isolated pockets of opposition to legalized online gaming remain but are generally confined to isolated anti gambling extremists such as Paul Weyrich and James Dobson. Opponents cite faulty studies and statistics as they try to restrict the freedoms of average Americans. Opponents of legalized gaming conveniently ignore the dishonest way UIGEA was introduced and passed. They also ignore the burden without benefit that the financial industry will suffer under the current regulations.

It should be obvious to all rational members of congress that UIGEA is an idea whose time has passed. The law restricts the freedoms of otherwise law abiding citizens and is bad for business specifically e commerce. Fortunately the momentum seems to be towards regulation not outright prohibition.

Another One Bites the Dust

In one of the more stunning instances of hypocrisy to come out of the political world, it was revealed that anti online gambling crusader Eliot Spitzer was deeply involved with a very upscale prostitution ring. It has been estimated that Spitzer spent in the neighborhood of $80,000 for ‘services’ rendered. Ironically Spitzer made a name for himself fighting organized crime and prostitution rings similar to the one he was involved with.

As New York’s Attorney General he made a national name for himself cleaning up Wall Street, consumer advocacy, environmental protection, and white collar crime. He had a reputation for aggressive prosecutions. In 2002 he bullied several banks involved with online gaming with prosecution. Citibank, one of the largest issuers of credit cards in the US was forced to stop processing transactions related to online gaming.

Spitzer was elected governor of New York in 2006 and stated in his inaugural address "Every policy, every action and every decision we make in this administration will further two overarching objectives: We must transform our government so that it is as ethical and wise as all of New York, and we must rebuild our economy so that it is ready to compete on the global stage in the next century." Spitzer promised clean government but what the taxpayers of New York got was something quite different.

It all fell apart for Spitzer last week when the New York Times published articles detailing his patronage of the ‘Emperors Club VIP’ an upscale escort service based in New Jersey. It was revealed that Spitzer spent $1,000 an hour for the services of a call girl.

Spitzer’s bank was the chief agent leading to his demise. The good governor tried to conceal transactions totaling more than $10,000 by splitting up the transfers The money was destined for the Emperors Club VIP but the bank reported the suspicious transfers to that beloved agency the IRS which immediately launched an investigation. Spitzer tried to have his name taken off the money transfers but the bank, to their credit, refused. The IRS initially thought Spitzer might be a victim of fraud or extortion and the case was handed to the FBI who discovered the link to the prostitution ring.

Spitzer announced his resignation effective March, 17, 2008 giving the new governor time to make an orderly transition. A statement issued by Spitzer said, "Over the course of my public life, I have insisted, I believe correctly, that people, regardless of their position or power, take responsibility for their conduct. I can and will ask no less of myself," said Spitzer. "For this reason, I am resigning from the Office of Governor."

Recently the US public has seen several politicians, many who have proposed legislation regulating private consensual behaviors, fall from grace. Many opponents of online gaming have been caught up in various scandals and ethics violations. Senator Bill Frist, a fervent supporter of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement act chose not to run for re election in 2006 because of ethics violations involving insider trading and Medicare and Medicaid fraud. John Kyl, another supporter of UIGEA took campaign money from the horse racing industry.

All these politicians had something in common, they all presented themselves to the public as ethical virtuous men, and all had serious conflicts between their public actions and their behavior as private citizens. Sometimes you just want to ask; where have all the good guys gone?

Bankers-Our New Best Friends?

The passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in 2006 sent shock waves through the internet gaming industry. Publicly traded online gaming companies saw their stocks plummet, thousands lost their jobs and online payment processors suddenly found themselves shut out of the lucrative US market.

UIGEA mandated that banks and other financial institutions assume law enforcement responsibilities that are not in any way funded by the government. Banks are concerned that UIGEA could cause significant and costly burdens to these institutions. The regulations are vague at best and the consensus in the banking industry is that compliance with UIGEA is impossible under the present circumstances.

In a filing to the Treasury and Federal Reserve the Financial Services Roundtable, an organization that represents many in the banking industry, said "The statute and the proposed rule expand the role of financial institutions to police laws that are more appropriate for law enforcement agencies." At present the rules require, in effect, that banks and other financial institutions know the purpose and legality of payments in an area where Federal and State laws often conflict.

The American Bankers Association which had originally been neutral to UIGEA now is expressing serious reservations. In a terse statement the ABA said "(W)e believe that UIGEA will in the end catch more banks in a compliance trap and do greater damage to the competitiveness of the American payments system, than it will stop gambling enterprises from profiting on illegal wagering." Under the present rules even the definition of what constitutes unlawful internet gambling remains undefined.

The ABA feels, and rightfully so, that enforcement of this law rests squarely with established law enforcement agencies. Putting the burden of enforcement on banks is, in the eyes of the ABA, an unfunded government mandate. The opposition by banks to UIGEA may be the best hope for reform or repeal. The banking industry spends millions each year on lobbying and makes significant donations to political campaigns. Their political influence is far reaching and is felt in both political parties.

With the US economy headed for a recession the last thing the banking industry needs is to be burdened with unclear regulations that will be costly to implement. In essence the government is saying that the sophisticated systems of the FBI, Secret Service, and other law enforcement agencies are inadequate for tracking online gambling transactions so they are dumping the responsibility on the banking industry and the banking industry is not happy.

The ABA and other banking organizations and lobbying groups could prove to be the unexpected ally of the online gaming industry. With their considerable political clout the banking industry could force the government to take another look at UIGEA. Even the most fervent opponents of gambling in congress will listen to complaints from banks and their lobbyists. The objections of the Financial Services Roundtable and the ABA could be the best hope for congressional action to repeal UIGEA and regulate rather than prohibit.

Don,t Make the Same Mistake Canada!

Since the passage of the ill advised Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) with all its unintended consequences and regulatory confusion, one would wonder why any other country in its right mind would want to pass similar legislation. This week the Canadian government announced it was considering legislation that would restrict banks and credit card companies from processing transactions from internet gambling websites.

UIGEA in the United States has been less than a resounding success and one wonders just what the Canadian sponsors of such legislation are thinking. Historically, the Canadian government has opted for regulation rather than prohibition unlike their neighbors to the south.

According to Michael Lipton, a gaming law expert and senior partner at the law firm of Elkind & Lipton in Toronto, "History demonstrates that over the past 50 or 60 years the trend in [Canada] is to regulate, not prohibit," says Lipton. "It happened with horse racing about five years ago. It happened with land-based casinos in 1969 and then it happened again about seven years ago when those casinos were allowed to start offering craps so they could compete with the border casinos. If the public wants something regulated, and the regulation benefits the country, it usually happens."

Regulation, not prohibition, has been beneficial for the Canadian government in several ways. The most obvious would be the revenue generated by the many land based casinos, especially those located close to the US border. Those who cross the border to gamble also spend a considerable amount of money at other Canadian businesses. Online gambling in Canada remains virtually untaxed and it is this factor that has led some to call for a ban on online gambling.

Over 400 online gambling sites are licensed by and operate from the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory which is considered by the Mohawks to be a sovereign nation. The Canadian government in Ottawa considers these sites to be illegal but the Mohawks contend that Canadian law does not apply to them since they are a sovereign nation. The legality of these licenses has never been challenged in a courtroom and the law remains vague.

Unfortunately, this dispute has led some in the government to call for a ban on online gambling. The horse racing industry, which is heavily taxed, is exerting enormous pressure on the government to shut down the Mohawk’s online gaming operations. The Canadian horse racing industry pays approximately 1 billion dollars a year in taxes while the Mohawks pay nothing. Woodbine Entertainment which has a monopoly on government sanctioned online horse betting is exerting tremendous pressure on Parliament to preserve their monopoly.

Hopefully both sides can work together on mutually beneficial legislation and avoid the disaster that occurred in the US with the passage of UIGEA. Chuck Barnett of Mohawk Internet Technologies has suggested legislation that,"could serve as the catalyst for a potential source of economic development, employment and revenue through taxation.” Quite simply the Mohawks would continue to offer online gambling but would pay taxes to the Government even though the Mohawks do not recognize the governments’ jurisdiction.

The Canadian government has seen what a nightmare UIGEA has been in the US and has no desire for a similar experience. The US law was passed in 2006 and has been almost impossible to implement due to vague regulations and unfunded mandates on banks and credit card companies. The US government has lost billions in potential tax revenue because of UIGEA and it is hoped that the Canadian government will not make the same mistake.

Canadians are usually more amenable to regulation than their American counterparts but both countries have long traditions of respecting individual liberty and privacy. The rights of individual choice and the right to privacy are jealously guarded in both the US and Canada. At least Canada is not pretending to ‘protect public morals’ as did the sponsors of UIGEA. This is simply a dispute between competing business interests trying to use government to further their individual agendas. Hopefully the Canadian government will not go down the same path as the US and can resolve this dispute with sane legislation.

Kosher Bingo?

Most of us are familiar with bingo games sponsored by Catholic churches across North America. The Catholic Church has used bingo as a fund raising tool for decades. The revenue generated is used to fund a wide variety of activities including, social services, Catholic charities, Missionary work, and Tuition at parochial schools. Bingo has been wildly successful and generates millions of dollars each year to support all these services. Charitable organizations and Veterans groups, most notably the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars have operated successful bingo games across the US and Canada.

There is one group that most people do not associate with bingo, yet during the great depression they were as well known as the Catholic Church for sponsoring bingo games. During the depression when the average person was searching for inexpensive entertainment, Jewish Synagogues commonly sponsored bingo games. During those days of dwindling incomes the average person was forced to forgo more expensive forms of entertainment and seek out more inexpensive pleasures.

On the East coast Catholic churches and Synagogues operated weekly bingo nights that were wildly popular and drew thousands of paying customers. During the depression era even movie houses used bingo to draw customers and boost attendance. Bingo was not without its opponents. In 1938 mayor Fiorello La Guardia of New York ordered a temporary bingo ban. La Guardia used fear of underworld intrusion as an excuse for the ban or as one official put it, ‘mercenary intruders’. The New York legislature, in short order, changed the law stating that bingo could only be played in churches or synagogues with the proceeds going exclusively to charity.

La Guardia pressed for a total ban and the archdiocese of New York ordered the games discontinued in 1942. Presbyterians soon followed stating that bingo and other games of chance “not in keeping with the Christian doctrine and life.” The Jews, having no central authority, continued the games on a congregation by congregation basis. Opposition grew and by 1955 the New York board of Rabbis declared, “The raising of funds through bingo games, even for worthy causes, is not in consonance with the high standards of morality and dignity which the synagogue sets for the general community.” Bingo games finally disappeared from Synagogues forever leaving the Catholic Church as the biggest religious sponsor of bingo.

Outstanding March Promotions at BingoHouse

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Panama City, Panama February 29^th 2008 BingoHouse, a leader in the online bingo industry is pleased to announce their March promotions. This month BingoHouse is offering a selection of promotional games that has to be seen to be believed.

As always there is Jeeve’s Jackpot and Pleasure Pots games with a chance for some lucky player to win up to $10,000. These games take place every Saturday evening and are easily the most popular games on BingoHouse. Cards are only 50 cents and any player could find themselves $10,000 richer.

For St. Patrick’s day BingoHouse is featuring the Leprechaun Power Hour with a $7,500 jackpot. Games will take place from Friday March 14^th to Monday the 16^th and cards are only 50 cents. From March 1^st to the 14^th the March Madness games will give players a chance to win the $1000 jackpot.

For fans of the television shows Survivor and Amazing Race, BingoHouse is offering fans of both shows the opportunity to compete for a jackpot of $1,000 so get your cards early and support your favorite show.

The Easter Bunny will be visiting BingoHouse with two special promotional games. From March 1^st to the 31^st the Bunny Hop Bop offers players a shot at a $2,000 jackpot. Throughout March Peter Cottontail makes an appearance with the ‘Pin the Tail on Peter’ games with a prize of $1,500. All these great promotions are in addition to the outstanding games offered by BingoHouse on a regular basis.

Don’t forget our t-shirt and visor promotion! Players who log on to BingoHouse and make a deposit of $25 or more are eligible to receive a cool t-shirt with the BingoHouse logo or an awesome visor that is perfect for the beach. T-shirts come in white, blue or pink. Just send us your username, address, t-shirt size and color preference to BingoHouse at hotmail.com and we’ll get it to you right away.

Gay Bingo and AIDS Research

For decades bingo has been used by the Catholic Church as a fundraising tool for the various charities the church engages in. In fact if you mention bingo most people immediately think of Friday and Saturday nights in a smoky church basement or recreation hall. As a fundraising tool bingo has been wildly successful for the church and continues to be a mainstay of their fundraising efforts. Bingo enables local parishes to keep tuition at parochial schools affordable, funds building maintenance and improvements, and supports missionary work worldwide. The revenue generated by bingo games has enabled churches, veterans, and charitable organizations to engage in works for the common good.

In the past decade the Gay community has embraced bingo with a vengeance and flamboyance that brings new life to the game. Almost all the major cities in the US have one or several Gay themed bingo games and seats at some of these games are as sought after as front row seats at a new Broadway production and are just as hard to get. These games have raised millions for AIDS research and other charities.

What is probably the most popular bingo game in the United States takes place in Los Angeles at the popular bar and restaurant Hamburger Mary’s. Since 1998 ‘Legendary Bingo’ has been raising money for various charities and the arts and it has been estimated that over 1.5 million dollars have gone to charities ranging from AIDS research to Habitat for Humanity. The games were first held at a local gourmet coffee shop and moved to their present venue at Hamburger Mary’s.

Within a short time celebrities began showing up at these wildly popular games and the tradition of celebrity bingo callers began. The list is quite impressive and past callers have included, Ed Asner, Linda Blair, Ruth Buzzi, Courteney Cox, Daryl Hannah, Perez Hilton, Lisa Kudrow, Rod McKuen, Tori Spelling, and others too numerous to mention. Games are held regularly in West Hollywood, Palm Springs, and Newport Beach. Legendary Bingo is easily one of the hottest events in the Los Angeles area and started a trend that has spread across the US. Like they say on their website “This is not your grandmothers’ bingo”, outrageous games, outlandish people and LOTS of fun!

In Philadelphia Gay bingo is immensely popular and has a colorful history. Games are held at the Gershmen Y in Center City and each game has a unique theme. Examples include, Glamour Goth, Bitchy Bridesmaids, Rocky Horror, and Madonna Madness to name just a few. Monthly games are hosted by the Philadelphia AIDS Fund and all the money is used to fund AIDS awareness programs and prevention and care services for those living with AIDS. Over the years the Philadelphia AIDS Fund has raised the impressive sum of 12.6 million dollars through gay bingo and a wide variety of other fundraisers.

In San Francisco the aptly named ‘Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence’ sponsor bingo games that attract both the gay and straight communities. The ‘sisters’ are well known in the San Francisco area for their unique fundraising events. These events have not been without controversy. In 2006 the ‘sisters’ were booted from the Most Holy Redeemer church because of complaints from the church’s congregation. Several charitable organizations were forced to temporarily cut back some services funded by the bingo games. Since then the ‘sisters’ have found a new facility and things are running smoothly again.

Bingo is clearly one of the most effective fundraising devices for the gay community. The amount of revenue that has been generated is astounding and clearly demonstrates the solidarity of the gay community. AIDS research and social services for the victims of this tragic disease have received desperately needed funds from gay bingo games nationwide. These games have, in a small way, brought the straight and gay communities closer together and have opened channels of communication between the two groups.

How to Play 90 Ball Bingo

Bingo is a game enjoyed all over the world with a large following in the U.K. as well as the United States. One version of bingo that is getting a lot of attention among online gamers is 90 ball bingo.

Traditional bingo usually uses 75 balls. The main difference in the 90 ball bingo game can be seen on the playing card which does not include the 5 letters that spell b-i-n-g-o. The scorecard contains 9 columns that are not designated to any specific letters and has 3 rows with the numbers 1 through 90 marked randomly on the bingo ticket grid.

One other key difference is a number of free spaces that exist on the ticket. On the 3 horizontal rows only 5 spaces include random numbers while 4 spaces are left blank per row. Each game will conclude with 3 winners and in order to win one of 3 things must be done: The player must have all 5 numbers from one single row in order to call bingo and wins the first, smaller jackpot.

Another possibility is for a player to cover two horizontal rows. And finally, the player to fill in every number on the card wins the “full house” jackpot which is usually worth the most.
The player can buy one ticket (bingo card) or a strip of 6 tickets that contains all numbers from 1 to 90. What sets 90 ball bingo apart from standard bingo games is the fact that there are 3 winners per game and that jackpots often get pretty large as the game has longer to progress.

Not only can you find this great game at many bingo halls but the software version is also available to play online. If you’re a fan of online bingo gaming you’ll definitely want to try out 90 ball bingo at your preferred online bingo site.

For more information and reviews on all the top Online Bingo Websites check:
Online Bingo Reviews

Listen to Your Stepmother!

The campaigns for the presidency have been exciting and for the Democrats there is still no front runner. Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are running even and it remains to be seen who will be the Democratic nominee. On the Republican side it appears that Senator McCain will be the nominee. For those who like to play online bingo and poker this election could free these players from the draconian Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA).

No candidate has taken a clear position on online gaming and online players are left wondering where the candidates stand. Senator McCain has not made mention of online gambling and the Republican Party is divided on the issue. The libertarian wing opposes most government regulation especially where it concerns personal choices while the social conservatives oppose gambling in any form be it online or land based.

On the Democratic side Senator Clinton has said that the issue should be studied with the end result being regulation and taxation of internet gaming. Barack Obama, an accomplished poker player, has expressed concerns that the internet is a “wild west of illegal activity” but supports the idea of an unbiased study on internet gambling.

Recently it has been revealed that Obama’s step mother, who lives in England, enjoys playing bingo. Bingo is wildly popular in the UK both online and at brick and mortar bingo halls. Kezia Obama, originally from Kenya, lives a quiet life in Bracknell and enjoys socializing at the local bingo hall. Very few of her neighbors know she is related to Senator Obama. She is following the presidential race closely and says "When your stepson has a chance of being the President of the United States, it's so exciting you have to watch it”.

This presidential race is very important for online bingo and poker players. As it stands now Senator McCain has no clear position while Senators Clinton and Obama favor regulation and taxation. With his skill as a poker player and a stepmother who enjoys a game of bingo Senator Obama would probably be more in favor of legalizing online gambling.

Should Barack Obama become the next president of the United States online players in the US hope he will listen to his stepmother and allow them their online bingo and poker games.

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What Do They Have to Hide?

By now most people who play any kind of online bingo or poker games have heard about the settlement the US recently reached with three members of the World Trade Organization. In December 2007 a deal was worked out between the European Union, Japan, and Canada. There has been very little media coverage and trying to find particulars of this agreement is akin to looking for a needle in a haystack.

Recently an independent writer based in Michigan filed a Freedom of Information request to find out the details of the settlement reached between the US and the World Trade Organization. The government response to this simple request was “Please be advised that the document you seek is being withheld in full pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(1), which pertains to information that is properly classified in the interest of national security pursuant to Executive Order 12958”. The US government is actually claiming that a trade agreement falls under national security!

Normally trade agreements are not classified as state secrets and why the government would take this position is troubling. An extensive online search failed to reveal anything but general information and the specifics of this agreement are all but impossible to access. Analysts have speculated that this agreement could cost the American taxpayers billions of dollars per year all in the name of “protecting public morals”. Presently the office of the US Trade Representative will not release any information about the settlement.

The only information released to the public by the Trade Representative is that “United States Postal Service has allowed foreign competitors to handle overseas mail for 20 years with this portion of the compensation agreement purely making the practice legally binding. Sensitive sectors such as domestic delivery and storage at ports and airports would remain closed to foreign firms.” Essentially what the USTR is saying is that nothing will change. The Financial Times of London summed it up best, "De facto, nothing really changes although current affairs are legally better backed through the WTO.”

It is known that the hearings in December did not go well for the US. Antigua had filed a claim against the US seeking billions in compensation for losses suffered by its gaming industry because of UIGEA. The WTO awarded Antigua $21 million in annual trade sanctions. Antigua had originally sought $3.4 billion in retaliatory measures against the U.S.

We may never know just how much this ridiculous law has cost the taxpayers already. With future claims against the US it is a certainty that it will continue to be a drain on an already weak economy. The classification of this settlement as a state secret makes one wonder what the government has to hide.

We Need the Money !

The passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) sent the online gaming world into shock. Stocks of online gaming companies plummeted on European stock exchanges. Thousands suddenly found themselves out of work. A brief history shows that UIGEA was tacked onto a totally unrelated bill, presented in a late night session of congress with no room for debate, and was designed to pander to a very tiny minority of US citizens.

The bill also sent shock waves throughout the financial industry. Banks and other financial institutions suddenly found themselves burdened with law enforcement responsibilities that they were ill equipped to handle. UIGEA placed the burden of enforcement squarely on the backs of banks without any federal funding to compensate for these new unwanted mandates.

One of the effects of this legislation is a massive loss of potential revenue for the federal government. A recent study conducted by the top accounting firm of Pricewaterhouse Cooper found that the United States government is missing out on potential revenue to the tune of $7 to $42.8 billion dollars. Thanks to UIGEA most of this money is now going to offshore banks and governments.

The report was presented last week to members of congress by Representative Jim McDermott. (D-Wash) McDermott, like most people grounded in reality, realizes that Americans continue to gamble online despite the passage of UIGEA. Representative brings up two very important issues. The first is the loss of much needed revenue for a government that is in debt for trillions of dollars. The second issue is consumer protection. In his own words "Instead of this ineffective attempt to prevent adults from gambling over the Internet, we need a more sensible approach to protect consumers and ensure that revenues that now flow offshore stay here in the U.S. and are therefore subject to taxation”.” A new, safer, more sensible approach is needed to regulate Internet gambling and protect consumers."

Representative McDermott realizes that gambling prohibition has been ineffective and that as thing are now online gamblers are without protection and are at the mercy of offshore banks some of which have less than stellar reputations. Representative Barney Frank (D-Mass) has introduced a bill that would essentially repeal UIGEA and would introduce licensing and regulation of internet gambling in the US. Prohibition of gambling has been as effective as alcohol prohibition which many older Americans remember with distaste. Like alcohol prohibition the ban on gambling has spawned an underground economy, untaxed, unregulated, and easily invaded by criminal elements.

The ban on internet gambling has also created ill will against the United States from the World Trade Organization and the European Union. The suit By Antigua against the US could wreak havoc with agreements regarding intellectual property rights. The US barely dodged the bullet in a settlement with the EU that could have cost the US taxpayer billions.

The US has a national debt of trillions and the revenue from online gambling would help in many ways. It could help put the country back on the road to solvency and finance shortfalls of under funded social programs like social security. As it stands now unknown amounts of money leave the US on a daily basis depriving the government of much needed revenue. Revenue collected from gambling could possibly forestall the need for future tax increases.

Whether its poker, online bingo, or the many other forms of gambling available online, the legalization, regulation, and taxation of online gambling would benefit all concerned and the government could get on with more important issues facing the nation. It is fervently hoped that both Frank’s and McDermott’s bills will pass-- and soon.

Celebrate Valentines Day at BingoHouse

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CELEBRATE VALENTINES DAY WITH BINGOHOUSE

Panama City, Panama, January 31, 2008 February is the month where everyone celebrates the Super Bowl and Valentines Day and BingoHouse is no exception. Get out those munchies, fill up the refrigerator and get ready to party with BingoHouse! From February 1^st through the 3^rd BingoHouse is featuring their Super Bowl Cash Bash. Payouts will be made during each quarter and the odds of winning are better than the office football pool!

Valentines Day is also in February and BingoHouse has been bitten by the love bug. From February 15^th through the 17^th BingoHouse is offering players the chance to win $7,500 in the Love Bug Power Hour. In keeping with the spirit of Valentines Day Cupid will be putting in an appearance in the Desperate Lounge from the 1^st to the 29^th. Prizes include cash and 5 gorgeous diamond and garnet rings.

Of course the ever popular Jeeves Jackpots and Pleasure Pots will take place throughout the month each with a jackpot of $10,000. Jeeves is also offering some good lovin with prizes ranging from free play to diamond necklaces. BingoHouse is offering many other promotions with prizes ranging from primo chocolates to branded merchandise.

BingoHouse is a leader in the online bingo industry. In 2007 the online bingo portal BingoLingo awarded BingoHouse a coveted spot in their annual top 15 online bingo sites. BingoHouse offers a 250% sign up bonus, a 300% re deposit bonus, and $30 free play and the most generous bonus bucks program in the industry. BingoHouse is also offering new players who sign up with a deposit of $25 or more an awesome t shirt or a really cool visor. Shirts come in white, pink, or blue, To get yours just send them your user name, your address, t shirt size, choice of color to BingoHouse at hotmail.com As always at BingoHouse ‘Our House is your House’.

State of the Union Bingo

The game of bingo can be adapted for almost any purpose. Bingo is used in education to teach such basic skills as math, English, and foreign languages to name just a few. Music educators have found bingo to be a very effective tool to teach young children basic symbols and notes. There have been many strange variations such as ‘Bob Dylan’ bingo, Buzz word (or bullshit) bingo, and there is even a bingo game that was loaded on a spacecraft. Bingo has also been used for decades as a fundraising to State of the Union bingo. There are a few variations of this game based on political perspective and point of view. The game uses the traditional bingo card grid but substitutes political buzzwords for numbers. One version offered by the Philadelphia based National Constitution Center is designed to teach students about the annual State of the Union address and its meaning. As part of their homework assignment students are given a bingo card with such words and phrases as, bi partisan, Iraq, Oil, earmarks, climate change, and other current topics that are likely to be mentioned during the address. When any of these are mentioned the student marks the card until bingo is reached. This version of the game is politically neutral and is designed to instill an interest in the workings of government.

The Democratic Party offers another version which is surprisingly neutral. The cards contain words and phrases such as, democracy, safe haven, troops, threat, fear, and so on. The chips used in this version have a very unflattering image of President Bush. One website offers a version of state of the union bingo with over 100 card variations. This link will show an example of the cards used, http://www.ableplus.com/buzzwords/Bush_Bingo_Card_1.Html.

Many Americans are woefully ignorant about their government, its branches, and how it works. Many readers will remember when Jay Leno would go out in the street and ask average Americans very simple questions about their government. One show featured a section where Mr. Leno asked what the three branches of government are. Almost 3 out of 5 could not answer the question correctly. These are things that are supposedly taught in elementary school.

The State of the Union address is an important annual event. It is essentially a report from the executive branch on the nation’s performance for the previous year. With so many American citizens apathetic about the workings of their own government we should applaud any attempt to educate our young people about government and engage them in the political process.

Grand Rapids Michigan Names Bingo Capitol of the USA

BingoLingo, a newly launched bingo news and information website, has named Grand Rapids Michigan as “Bingo Capitol of the USA”. www.BingoLingo.com has determined that Grand Rapids has more Bingo games per capita than any other metropolitan area in the United States.

Our studies have shown that Grand Rapids has more bingo games and halls than any other metropolitan area in the United States and more bingo players on a per capita basis than anywhere else in the country. Grand Rapids also has a growing population of players who play bingo online..

According to the US census Grand Rapids has a population of approximately 774,084, with a combined statistical area population of 1,320,487. The city, located in western Michigan has an ethnically diverse population including a large population of Roman Catholics which may account for the popularity of bingo in this mid-sized city.

Catholic churches have used bingo as a fundraising device for decades. In fact the church has done more than any other entity to popularize the game of bingo not only among Catholics but also among the general population. Studies also show that Grand Rapids has a larger than average number of online bingo players.

One of the main factors contributing to the switch by some players to online bingo is the recently imposed smoking ban. Studies show that approximately 60% of bingo players are smokers. The ban has greatly contributed to the switch by many players to online bingo.

Bucking recent trends Grand Rapids bingo players still patronize bingo halls with more frequency than anywhere else in the US earning the city the title “Bingo capitol of the US”. We congratulate the city of Grand Rapids “Bingo Capitol of the USA.”

Bingo With the Stars!

BINGO WITH THE STARS

Paris Hilton playing bingo? Believe it or not Ms. Hilton has been known to play occasionally, and get this, for charity! How did this happen and since when did bingo become so fashionable? Hamburger Mary’s, the home of these star studded bingo games, is a restaurant franchise that caters to the gay community. As stated on their website they are "open-air bar and grilles for open-minded people." The West Hollywood location has been offering these flamboyant games to the community at large for quite some time. Celebrities and players can select a favorite charity and the proceeds from that game are donated to that charity.

The games are known as ‘Legendary Bingo’ and take place every Wednesday night at 7 and 9. Some of the charities listed include, the American Cancer Society, Habitat for Humanity, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the Voice For The Animals Foundation. The games are indeed legendary and are so popular that they have launched their own website.

The games have attracted such celebrities as, Robbie Williams (not the comedian but the UK pop star) Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks, the infamous Paris Hilton, actresses, Tori Spelling, Daryl Hannah, and Courtney Cox. A few of these celebrities have also served as callers. Other celebrities who have participated include, Ed Asner, Ruth Buzzi, Anne Cusack, Corey Feldman, Perez Hilton, Lisa Kudrow, Ricki Lake, June Lockhart, and Jo Ann Worley, to name just a few.

The games were started by Jeffrey Bowman in 1998 as a fundraising event for various AIDS projects in Los Angeles. Within a very short time it became extremely popular and to date has raised 1.5 million dollars for various charities. Games also take place at Hamburger Mary locations in Newport Beach and, Palm Springs. You may rest assured that these are not the typical church basement variety of bingo game most of us think of. Outrageous games, outlandish people and a LOT of fun!