Archives - March, 2016



11 Mar 16

[ English ]

An abundance has been reported in the press just a while ago concerning the bingo industry being hurt as a consequence of the smoking ban in England. Conditions have grown so bad that in Scotland the Bingo industry has called for massive tax breaks to help keep the industry alive. However does the online adaptation of this quintessential game present a salvation, or might it not compare to its land based peer?

Bingo has been an enduring game usually enjoyed by the "blue haired" generation. In any case the game of late had seen a recent increase in popularity with younger members of society deciding to hit the bingo halls rather than the bars on a Friday night. This is all about to be reversed with the enforcement of the anti smoking law around UK.

Players will no longer be allowed to smoke while dabbing numbers. From the summer of 2007 every public place will no longer be allowed to permit cigarettes in their locations and this includes Bingo parlors, which are possibly the most popular areas where players enjoy smoking.

The effects of the smoking ban can already be felt in Scotland where cigarettes are already prohibited in the bingo parlours. Players have dropped and the business is absolutely fighting for its life. But where have the players gone? Certainly they have not abandoned this ancient game?

The answer is on the net. Players realise that they can participate in bingo using their computer at the same time enjoying a beer and cig and still have a chance at monstrous cash rewards. This is a recent anomaly and has happened almost perfectly with the anti smoking law.

Of course gambling on on the net can never replace the collective portion of going down to the bingo hall, but for a group of people the law has left a number of bingo enthusiasts with little choice.







8 Mar 16

[ English ]

New Mexico has a stormy gaming past. When the IGRA was passed by Congress in 1989, it seemed like New Mexico might be one of the states to get on the Amerindian casino bandwagon. Politics assured that wouldn’t be the case.

The New Mexico governor Bruce King appointed a task force in 1990 to discuss a contract with New Mexico American Indian tribes. When the task force came to an accord with 2 big local bands a year later, Governor King declined to sign the agreement. He held up a deal until Nineteen Ninety Four.

When a new governor took over in 1995, it appeared that Indian betting in New Mexico was a certainty. But when the new Governor signed the accord with the Indian bands, anti-wagering forces were able to hold the contract up in courts. A New Mexico court found that the Governor had out stepped his bounds in signing the compact, thus denying the state of New Mexico hundreds of thousands of dollars in licensing revenues over the next several years.

It took the Compact Negotiation Act, signed by the New Mexico government, to get the ball rolling on a full accord between the Government of New Mexico and its American Indian bands. Ten years had been burned for gambling in New Mexico, including Amerindian casino Bingo.

The non-profit Bingo industry has grown since Nineteen Ninety-Nine. In that year, New Mexico non-profit game operators acquired only $3,048. That climbed to $725,150 in 2000, and passed a million dollars in 2001. Nonprofit Bingo earnings have grown constantly since then. 2005 saw the largest year, with $1,233,289 grossed by the owners.

Bingo is certainly favored in New Mexico. All sorts of owners look for a slice of the pie. With hope, the politicians are through batting over gaming as a key matter like they did back in the 1990’s. That’s most likely hopeful thinking.







2 Mar 16

New Mexico has a complex gaming background. When the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was signed by Congress in Nineteen Eighty Nine, it seemed like New Mexico would be one of the states to get on the Native casino bandwagon. Politics assured that wouldn’t be the situation.

The New Mexico governor Bruce King announced a panel in 1990 to draft an accord with New Mexico American Indian tribes. When the working group arrived at an agreement with two prominent local bands a year later, the Governor declined to sign the bargain. He would hold up a deal until Nineteen Ninety Four.

When a new governor took office in Nineteen Ninety Five, it seemed that American Indian betting in New Mexico was a certainty. But when the new Governor passed the compact with the Native bands, anti-gambling groups were able to tie the deal up in courts. A New Mexico court found that the Governor had overstepped his bounds in signing the deal, thus costing the government of New Mexico hundreds of thousands of dollars in licensing revenues over the next several years.

It required the Compact Negotiation Act, passed by the New Mexico house, to get the ball rolling on a full compact between the Government of New Mexico and its Indian bands. A decade had been squandered for gambling in New Mexico, including Amerindian casino Bingo.

The not for profit Bingo business has grown since 1999. That year, New Mexico not for profit game owners acquired just $3,048. That climbed to $725,150 in 2000, and surpassed a million dollars in 2001. Nonprofit Bingo revenues have increased steadily since that time. Two Thousand and Five saw the largest year, with $1,233,289 grossed by the owners.

Bingo is apparently popular in New Mexico. All types of owners look for a bit of the action. Hopefully, the politicos are done batting around gambling as an important issue like they did in the 1990’s. That’s probably hopeful thinking.