About Bingo

MVCA Bingo at Monte Vista is played on Friday nights in the Ballroom, starting the first week of November and ending the last week of March.  Holidays (such as Christmas, New Years, and Easter) or other events may disrupt this schedule – check the calendar!  The Early Bird games start promptly at 6:30 p.m., with the regular session games following immediately thereafter.  You should plan to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to start time to purchase your Bingo paper, daubers, mark special game designs, and pick up a snack from the concession stand, and then spend time visiting and getting acquainted with your friends and neighbors.  Bingo generally ends by 9:30 p.m.

Each Bingo player must purchase a main session pack.  Additional paper for the Early Bird Games, Double Action, Elvis, Betty Boop, and Blackout special games are sold separately.  The cost to play Bingo varies according to the games and the amount of paper you want to purchase.  Bingo prizes also vary according to the games.  Prizes for some games, such as Double Action, Elvis, and Betty Boop are based on a percentage of sales – other prizes are set according to the game and number of players.  The last game of the evening is the Progressive Blackout special.  If a Bingo is won the first night in 48 numbers or fewer, a $750 prize is given.  If there is no Bingo within the weekly number, then a $250 consolation prize is paid, and the following week the number is increased by one number.  After the $750 prize is given, the next week the required number returns to 48.

Following an approximate 10-minute intermission, four $10 door prizes are given weekly.  The first door prize (except for the last Bingo night of the season) includes an admission certificate, which can be used to purchase a future main session pack.  In addition, the last Friday of the month, a $100 door prize is drawn from tickets accumulated during the month.  During the Bingo session, if there is a single Bingo winner, special certificates are given to the player to the left and right of the winner, which can be used to purchase paper for the Progressive Blackout special game (either that evening or at a future date prior to the end of the current Bingo season).

Special observances are held for Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and other events where additional money is given to a player when their “lucky” number is called during a Bingo session.  These are usually held during the months of January, February, and March.

Bingo is regulated by the Arizona Department of Revenue.  MVCA is the licensee for Bingo at Monte Vista.  Bingo regulations require that anyone in the bingo hall must be at least 18 years of age.  Mandatory tax forms, including payment of taxes are required to be filed and paid to the Arizona Department of Revenue.

Web Page Coordinator: Larry Mecklenborg

How to Play

To play, you need to purchase your paper and daubers (if you don’t already have one or more), pick up a copy of the Bingo program showing the nightly games, and then find a seat and get ready to play.  Special bingo workers tables are set up along the south end of the ballroom (back along the table/chair storage area) where you purchase your paper.  You fill out an order sheet stating the amount of paper you want to purchase, and then pay one of the cashiers.  Pick up your door prize ticket (at the table where the daubers, tape, and ticket holders are for sale) – put one side of the ticket in the door prize ticket cylinder on the stage and keep the other one.  While playing Bingo, keep the receipt you received from the cashier visible, as the floor worker needs to verify you have it when a Bingo is called.

Many Bingo players play several Bingo papers.  They find it is much easier to keep track of the games if they mark the special designs on their paper (marking the paper is often done with a highlighter or pen).  This helps them to see what numbers need to be daubed (daubers must be used to mark numbers called). 

Prior to the start of Bingo, the caller asks someone from the audience to verify that all balls are in the machine.  As the Bingo balls come up the blower, the numbers will show on the TV monitors at the front of the stage and the two corners of the ballroom.  The large board on the stage shows the numbers after they are called, the design for the Bingo game, and the number of balls that have been called for each game.

When Bingo is attained, YELL BINGO loudly – the caller has to know there is a Bingo before s/he starts to call the next ball.  In order to have a valid Bingo, the last number called must be included in the Bingo – if it is not, the game will proceed until a valid Bingo is called.  Once Bingo is called, a floor worker will come to make sure you have a receipt for the night’s play and then confirm with the caller the Bingo is valid.  Confirmation is done by giving the caller a number from the Bingo paper for all games, except for Elvis and Betty Boop.

Additional paper for the Double Action, Elvis, Betty Boop, and Progressive Blackout games are sold on the floor during Bingo or during intermission (except for Double Action which is played prior to intermission).

Many Bingo players are very serious about playing Bingo – many are not even Monte Vista residents!  Talking is to be kept to a minimum during the Bingo games. 

If you’re new to Bingo at Monte Vista, let one of the Bingo volunteers know and we will be glad to assist you in getting started.

Betty Boop

What is Betty Boop and why is it so popular?  Betty Boop is our bonus game.  Game cards are $3 each and contain five squares with nine numbers (including free space(s)).  Once you purchase your Betty Boop card, you open the card by removing the “flap” on the back of the card along the perforated lines.  To win Bingo playing Betty Boop, you must have a block of nine in one square.

Below is a sample of part of a Betty Boop card (3 of the 5 squares).  You will see there are only three columns of numbers – there is no “Bingo” reference.  As the balls are called, only the number is given by the caller (for instance #1 rather than B1).

Prizes for the Betty Boop game are announced prior to the start of the game.  Prizes range from approximately 70 to 90% of net revenue, capped at $700, $800, $900.  Prizes are approximately 70% for the first or fifth squares; 80% for the second or fourth squares; or 90% for the middle square.  If there are two or more Bingos, then the prize is awarded based on the number of winners and the location of the square for each of the winners.  When there is a Bingo for Betty Boop, the floor worker reads the numbers back to the caller to verify the winning Bingo and prize location.
  
 

Elvis

Elvis cards are $3 each and contain five squares (including free space). The spaces are similar to double action - there are two numbers in each space and either number can be used. To Bingo, all spaces need to be daubed for a black out. Prizes range from approximately 60 to 80 percent of net revenue, capped at $600, $700, or $800, determined by the location of the last number called.




 

Bingo Volunteers

MVCA Bingo is run by volunteers.  A Manager, Supervisor, and Proceeds Coordinator are the key volunteers, who must have an approved Affidavit on file with the Arizona Department of Revenue in order to serve in these positions.  The Proceeds Coordinator must be a member of the MVCA Board of Directors.  Many other volunteers serve in several capacities, including:

• Callers - There is more to calling than just calling the number as it comes up the blower shoot and is placed in the appropriate slot to light up the display board. Callers tell us it takes concentration to make sure all is done correctly, including verifying Bingo winners, moving forward to the next game, etc. With several callers, most callers do not call more than once a month.
• Paper Sales - Some volunteers work most of the season; others prefer to work a couple of times a month. The volunteers selling paper usually work from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
• Cashiers - Some volunteers operate the three cash registers, recording paper sales, taking money, and providing appropriate change to the customers. Two lead cashiers are required each night during the Bingo session to keep a record of Bingo winners, pay out game prizes, help with floor sales, etc.
• Floor Workers - Two floor workers work during a Bingo session, picking up used Bingo paper, checking Bingo cards for winners, helping with door prizes, watching to make sure called numbers show up correctly on the board, etc. With several floor workers, volunteers generally work once or twice a month.
• Concession Stand - The concession stand is operated by the Monte Vista Pet Group and has some hot food, as well as snacks available to purchase. The Pet Group can always use more help. The concession stand opens around 5:30 pm and closes right after intermission.

Volunteers are always needed.  If you are interested in helping with MVCA Bingo, contact Adele McConnell or send an e-mail to: MVCABingo@gmail.com .