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Charities Hurt by Plummeting Bingo Revenues

"Before the sponsors' association at Bingo Country voted to pull the plug on their ailing operation late last month, the charities were actually losing money every time they ran a game.

"The situation is so bad that some local charities are talking about cutting services because of the revenue drop.

"…Phil Saresky, longtime volunteer administrator with the CANUSA games, says his group may have to drop some sports from the 45-year-old event now that their bingo funds have ended with the shuttering of Bingo Country on Frid Street.

"…Sadly, an analysis of financial data filed with the city shows the CANUSA folks are not alone. Local charities have seen their profits from regular bingo games plummet by about 30 to 50 per cent in the first half of this year.

"Charities at Bingo Country actually lost $40 per monthly game they sponsored, but sponsors at the cities other venues saw precipitous drops as well. Compared to the first six months of 2001, revenue this year dropped by: 31 per cent at Upper Hamilton Bingo; 41 per cent at Princess Bingo; and a whopping 49 per cent at Delta Bingo. Comparable figures weren't available for the city's other hall, Bingo Central.

"The falling attendance and lower bingo revenues were offset somewhat by extra money generated via special bingo games and the sale of Nevada or `break-open' lottery tickets, but in no venue did the extra funds make up for their dropping core profits.

"…Plummeting revenue is causing serious problems for the 177 charitable and community groups in Hamilton which depend on the quaint game of chance to fund their activities and services…"

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