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I'm not sure how much it brings in per year, but the Bluecoats have a healthy bingo operation which they run out of their new building in Canton.

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SCV and Blue Devils both have bingo halls.

And both (as well as Freelancers) took a hit from Indian gaming, correct?

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Yes BTW SCV owns its building (outright), BD leases theirs. Indian gaming has had little effect on SCV's bingo revenue. Bingo players like a clean, well run game and they get that at the SCV bingo hall.

I was partly joking about the Indian gaming in another thread but that could be a source of a great drum corps. It could also be great for the communities the Indian Gaming serves.

You might know, does SCV also have some other sources of income? I am just curious.

About owning the buildings outright... that can be good and bad. Just depends on the lease and location. SCV has a great location and are doing well.

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I'm not sure exactly what you are looking for... the answer to your question is VERY complicated...

I ran drum corps bingo for 30 years. Designed and built Patriot's Gates Center Bingo which is still going today and is STILL moderately successful but nothing like the 90's... This hall 10 years ago was listed by Bingo Manager's Magazine as one of the 10 best in North America - that included all Indian and commercial operations. I have traveled around North America giving lectures on charity bingo and doing consultations for bingo halls.

I also designed Brigadier Hall in Syracuse which was hugely successful for a time.

I would be most reluctant to give you figures publicly on here but feel free to contact me as - in my retirement - I still do some consulting work.

That being said here are a few facts I'm comfortable with:

1. Bingo can still bring in large sums of money under the right circumstances

2. strict and limiting Charity Bingo Laws and an inability to attract younger players have doomed it to be (literally - dead customers not being replaced) a dying industry

3. competition from Indian Bingo, Commercial Bingo and the proliferation of casinos being allowed by governments across the nation looking desparately for ANY source of income is devastating

4. complete reliance on bingo income without building other sources of income is suicide

5. no one drum corps can compete with the billions of dollars being thrown around by the commercial entities and Indians. I once was called into a meeting with Albany officials about how I ran my bingo hall. When it was my turn to meet with the Czar of Bingo in NY State, I found him shaking hands with Donald Trump and saying goodbye to him. I realized that morning that with the officials in bed with Billionaires, no one drum corps could compete. In NY Cuomo has stated publicly that income from commercial gambling is a major part of his plan to balance a most difficult budget.

6. All that being said - I refer back to #1... in the right location under the right circumstances - a decent income is still possible.

Tom Peashey

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Bingo! How much does Bingo bring in for Corps?

Millions and Millions$$$$

Depends on location... Central PA took a hit when some professional gamers came into the area and ran games for local groups (churchs and others IIRC). Then the IRS took a long look into how much actually went to the locals and stuff hit the fan.

Then PA enacted the smoke free buildings law and Bingo went to crap no matter who ran it. Turns out a LOT of people wouldn't go if they couldn't light up. Some even went as it was the only place they could light up. You could almost hear the flushing sound of the money going down the toilet....

Edit: After reading Tom Ps post I'm reminded that in PA AL and VFW Posts are limited to a very small limit on weekly profits with pulltabs and the like. IIRC it's $500 a week and the limit has not been raised in decades. Once in a while some noise is made about raising the limit but since we not have Casino gambling (Now With Tables!) don't hold your breath for some reason.

Edited by JimF-LowBari
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I believe Glassmen still run their Bingo games and their annual Monte Carlo Night at their G-East Hall in Toledo.

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