Forbes Ranks Michigan Cities Among the Worst for Jobs

Many of you may or not know that this blog and Wholesale Bingo Supplies are located in Jackson, Michigan. Therefore, we can tell you firsthand that Michigan has been hit extremely hard with a poor economy for a number of years now. Still, to have Jackson given the distinction of "Worst Small City" for jobs by Forbes magazine was surprising.

From Forbes:

"Given the failing auto industry, it's no surprise Jackson tops the list of worst small cities for jobs. Located in the South Central area of Michigan, the city's two largest employers are CMS Energy, Michigan's main electric and natural gas utility, and Michigan Automotive Compressor, which produces air conditioning compressors and magnetic clutches for cars. Between 2003 and 2008, jobs in the natural resources, mining and construction sector dropped almost 30%; those in manufacturing dropped 13.5%. Overall employment has declined 9.2% since 1997."

Jackson wasn't alone. Four other Michigan cities are ranked in the top ten.

For the complete story, please see Brad Flory, Jackson's job market earns city 'worst' distinction from Forbes magazine, Jackson Citizen Patriot, April 30, 2009.

Alabama Fights for Legal Electronic Bingo

Two bills in the state Legislature (HB 676 and SB 471) seek to make what is now illegal electronic bingo gambling legal in Alabama. The purpose of these bills is to thwart Gov. Bob Riley's task force on illegal gambling.

At the recent House Tourism and Marketing Committee meeting, Chairman Johnny Mack Morrow said all of the parties with an interest came together in preparation of the bill. It is certainly true that all gambling interests in Alabama came together to propose a constitutional amendment which would monopolize, expand and immunize electronic bingo gambling in Alabama.

The Constitution of Alabama does not permit games of chance. Alabama citizens have permitted only 18 constitutional amendments to permit limited charitable bingo by churches, civic groups, fire halls and other charities.

In the 1970s, gambling interests tried to expand gambling in Alabama with proposals such as video poker. These were based on electronic machines. The efforts failed, but it opened the door for conversion of these machines to electronic bingo gambling. Under the guise of the 18 amendments, charitable bingo expanded into real gambling. The certain knowledge of this was realized when Houston County in 2008 decided it had authority to open a casino. Following that, Etowah County proposed a casino, and bingo gambling began to expand in other counties.

Law enforcement was having a difficult time contending with this, and when there were no aggressive efforts to address the problem, Riley set up a task force and charged former Jefferson County District Attorney David Barber with the authority to bring a case to the Alabama Supreme Court to determine if this electronic bingo is legal.

For the complete story, please see A. Eric Johnston, Electronic bingo: Let's finally decide gambling issue, Al.com, April 26, 2009.

Odds Increase for Online Bingo and Other Internet Gambling in US

Is online gambling coming in from the cold?

When the U.S. Congress cracked down on Internet betting in 2006, the big, publicly traded European companies that had dominated the business closed up shop in the United States. Growth in the booming industry shifted away from these companies, once the darlings of the stock market, to private operators in offshore locations like Antigua and the Isle of Man.

But now, executives of some of the European companies whisper excitedly that they may soon get a second chance in the United States. Meanwhile, a number of European countries that have long maintained barriers are moving, under pressure from regulators, to legalize, and tax, online gambling.

“There’s still a lot of gambling going on, where there’s no revenue coming in to the governments,” said Gavin Kelleher, an analyst at the research firm H2 Gambling Capital in Ireland. “They realize they could use the revenue.”

The biggest potential change would be in the United States, where, perhaps within days, Representative Barney Frank, Democrat of Massachusetts, is expected to introduce legislation aimed at overturning the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.

For the complete story, please see Eric Pfanner, A New Chance for Online Gambling in the U.S., The New York Times, April 26, 2009.

Ohio Bar Owners Propose Local Approval for Slot Machines

Will slot machines be allowed in Ohio bars, restaurants, bingo halls, and veterans clubs? Below is an excerpt detailing the latest in the fight for slots to be legal.

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

Is there room for yet another player in the high-stakes, backroom discussions on whether Ohio should expand gambling?

Tavern owners hope so, and they think they have a winning hand that could appease gambling critics, including the governor - a plan that would require a vote of the people and wouldn't rewrite the state's constitution.

Groups representing liquor-serving establishments are floating a plan in the state legislature that could allow more than 80,000 Ohio Lottery-authorized slot machines in bars, restaurants and bingo and veterans halls and at horse-racing tracks.

Under the plan, residents of cities, villages and neighborhoods would decide whether they want the table-top games at their corner bars in precinct-by-precinct votes - the same process used to determine where Sunday liquor sales are allowed in Ohio.

For the complete story, please see Reginald Fields, Ohio bar owners propose letting local communities vote to approve slot machines, The Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 26, 2009.

What are Pulltabs and/or Charity Tickets?

One of the most popular charitable gaming products used at bingos and/or clubs is the pulltab or charity ticket. Many people unfamiliar with bingo have no idea what a pulltab and have no idea what they look like.

Basically, they're a type of lottery ticket where players peel open windows to reveal the prize rather than scratching off certain spots. Many styles of pulltabs exist (some meant more for bingo and some meant more for clubrooms) and they are typically sold either in pulltab machines or by bingo workers and/or other staff. Regardless of where they're sold, they've become an essential part of most nonprofit groups charitable gaming fundraising efforts.

For more information on pulltabs, please see What Are Charity Game Ticket Games (or Pulltabs)?, Wholesale Bingo Supplies.com

Nonprofits Lose Bingo Fight

The following is an excerpt from an article in Mother Jones detailing the recent e-bingo fight between tribal casinos and charity bingos.

"Californians can say goodbye to the electronic bingo machines (better known as e-bingo) in their charitable bingo halls thanks to a ban signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger that takes effect tomorrow. Turns out that bingo isn't just good old-fashioned fun anymore. Instead, it's at the center of a fight between nonprofits and Native American tribes who are all clamoring after bingo's big money.

Federally recognized tribes will still get to operate the machines on their reservation land, but charities will have to shut theirs down. Despite a few upshots for charitable bingo operators in the new law, like an increase on prize caps from $250 to $500 for traditional bingo games, the e-bingo ban still puts them on the losing end because many have come to rely on the machines to keep their business afloat.

Doug Pringle, who operated 80-plus machines out of Sacramento’s North Watt hall for his nonprofit, Disabled Sports USA, worries that he won’t be able to fulfill the terms of his 5-year lease without e-bingo. “Even if we close this building, we’re obligated to about $850,000 in rent over the next 2 years,” he said. “How are we going to replace three-quarters of a million dollars?”

For the complete story, please see Anna McCarthy, California's Charitable E-Bingo Is E-Liminated, Mother Jones, April 10, 2009.

Sides Battle Over Potential Tribal Casino Smoking Ban

A second legislative committee has approved a bill extending the state smoking ban to Connecticut's two tribally operated casinos, though the proposal's chances of becoming law remain unclear.

The Government Administration & Elections Committee voted 8-3 Monday to pass legislation that would remove the exemptions from Connecticut's bar and restaurant smoking ban for the two casinos. The bill, which has already triggered a threat of legal action from tribal officials, was previously approved by the Public Health Committee, 28-2.

The second committee vote went down on party lines — Democrats supporting the measure, Republicans opposing it — with one legislator, Rep. Andrew Fleischmann, D-West Hartford, abstaining.

But despite the handy committee victory for supporters of the effort, doubts remain among legislators about the attempt to force the smoking ban on the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes, which operate Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun, respectively, as well as the potential cost.

The tribes have long held that such a move by the legislature would violate their rights as sovereign entities, and Mohegan Tribal Chairman Bruce “Two Dogs” Bozsum has warned legislators that passage of such a law will trigger a long and costly court battle, during which the tribe would withhold its current payments to the state of 25 percent of the take on the casino's slot machines.

For the complete story, please see Ted Mann, Second committee approves proposed casino smoking ban bill, TheDay.com, April 20, 2009.

Slots Coming to Ohio Tracks?

State Rep. Louis Blessing said he'll introduce legislation this week to put 2,000 slot machines at each of Ohio's seven horse tracks, including River Downs in Anderson Township and Lebanon Raceway in Warren County.

Blessing, a Republican from Colerain Township, said it can be done without Ohio voter approval if the gambling is regulated by the Ohio Lottery Commission, which already oversees Keno.

Possible bankruptcy of Ohio horse tracks makes passing state legislation this year more urgent than ever, according to Blessing.

Jack Hanessian, general manager at River Downs, said he's already competing against two Indiana horse tracks that offer slot machines.

"We've had tremendous losing years, and these are actual cash losses ... and it's gotten more severe in the last three or four years."

Expanded gambling options generate more "purse money" for horse owners, and that attracts quality horses, Hanessian said. "If you don't have the purse money, they won't come."

Blessing said he thinks the proposal has enough votes to pass in the Ohio House, although Gov. Ted Strickland said he will likely veto any new gambling legislation that excludes a statewide vote of Ohioans.

For the complete story, please see Jon Craig and Allison D'Aurora, Bill would put slots at Ohio tracks, The Cincinnati Enquirer, April 12, 2009.

Legal Online Wagering May Have to Wait

At Wholesale Bingo Supplies, we've always paid close attention to the legal battle over online betting. It's impact on casinos, bingo, and the gaming industry in general is worth keeping an eye on.

From the Las Vegas Review-Journal:

Online gambling proponents may have to wait a little longer for the passage of federal legislation that would legalize betting on the Internet. Congress is tied up with other pressing issues.

Macquarie Securities gaming analyst Joel Simkins told investors not to bet the house on Internet gambling becoming legal anytime soon.

His prognosis comes despite a White House that is seemingly friendlier toward Internet gamblers and the support of Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., who plans to reintroduce a bill after the Easter holiday that would legalize and regulate Internet gaming.

After checking with Washington, D.C., lobbyist contacts and casino company operators dialed into Capitol Hill, Simkins put steep odds on the issue seeing any light.

"We see little reason for investors to try to play this near-term," Simkins said.

Online gambling has long interested the casino industry, mainly due to the reported revenues the activity has produced. Estimates by Internet gaming advocacy groups peg the amount of money annually wagered online at anywhere from $20 billion to $25 billion.

For the complete story, please see Howard Stutz, INSIDE GAMING: Legal Net betting may have to wait, Las Vegas Review-Journal, April 12, 2009.

Indianapolis Casino Looks Doubtful

Establishing a new Downtown casino in Indianapolis to bail out the city's struggling sports venue board will face long odds in the state legislature, Gov. Mitch Daniels and some lawmakers predicted Friday.

Rep. Bill Crawford, D-Indianapolis, has pitched a 1,500-slot machine casino as an answer to help plug the projected $47 million deficit the Capital Improvement Board will incur in operating the city's sports venues.

While the plan would generate $20.5 million for the CIB through a 10 percent gaming tax, Daniels said it's "very unlikely" the General Assembly would back slots.

For the complete story, please see Bill Ruthhart, Few betting on casino in downtown Indy, The Indianapolis Star, April 12, 2009.

Wholesale Bingo Supplies Introduces Instructional Bingo Videos

Wholesale Bingo Supplies is introducing a series of instructional bingo videos primarily aimed at helping the novice bingo fundraiser or manager.

These videos will cover a wide range of topics from "How to Order Bingo Paper" to "Creating Bingo Programs" to the latest in new products and more.

So, please be sure to check back from time to time (either on this blog or the site itself) to see what's new in the land of bingo. We'd love to hear what you think and welcome your suggestions for future videos.

Charity Bingos Continue Electronic Bingo Machine Battle

Charitable bingo parlours in California are preparing last gasp legal motions to stay in business after a federal appeals court threw out a lower court order barring the state from shutting them down.
The case of the small bingo operations, concentrated mostly near the capital city of Sacramento, has been a closely watched legal test.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a new law SB 1369 officially prohibiting charities from using casino-style electronic bingo machines. The charity groups continued operating under a court order after the law went into effect 1 January.

Meanwhile, some of California’s wealthiest Indian casino tribes threatened to withhold tens of millions of dollars of revenue sharing payment to California if the charity groups continued to operate the class II games. The tribes said the electronic machines violated exclusive casino gambling rights under tribal-state compacts.

For the complete story, please see Peter Hecht, Charities In Last Ditch Fight After California Appeal Court Decision, Gambling Compliance Ltd., April 6, 2009.

Greektown Continues to Struggle

From the outset, Greektown Casino has been days late and millions of dollars short.

The ching-ching-ching of slot machines rang out first at MGM Grand Detroit's temporary casino in July 1999. Five months later, MotorCity Casino got into the gaming groove.

But it wasn't until November 2000 that Greektown Casino took its first bets.

In October 2007, MGM Grand unveiled its $700-million permanent casino and hotel. Five months later, MotorCity opened its permanent facility.

But Greektown didn't open its 400-room hotel until February, the last piece of its permanent building.

This weekend, all three downtown casinos are full of Final Four revelers, with Greektown located closest to the Ford Field games.

"We're very optimistic," Randy Fine, a Greektown turnaround consultant, said Friday as crowds milled through downtown.

But one slam-dunk event won't erase the $777 million that Greektown owes creditors and lenders.

The owners of Greektown Casino, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, filed for bankruptcy protection about a year ago.

For the complete story, please see Mary Francis Masson, Greektown always lagged behind, Detroit Free Press, April 5, 2009.

Your Bingo Should Be Prepared for a Smoking Ban

With a smoking ban likely looming over Michigan bingos, bingo managers, bingo supplies providers, and hall owners need to be prepared to take steps to keep the smokers in their crowd coming back.

If your bingo is about to become smoke free, don't sit back and wait for it to happen. Be proactive and begin planning now. Embrace your customers that smoke and let them know what steps you'll be taking to accomodate them, and then make sure you follow through.

Here's some steps you can take:

1. Educate your smokers on the new policy and what they should be prepared for.

2. Create a comfortable and nice smoking area for your bingo players that smoke.

3. Be prepared to change your bingo games or offer additional breaks.

4. Have as much fun as possible with it. We recommend you do this with every aspect of your bingo, so why not try to make this fun too.

5. Clean, clean, and clean. Use this as an opportunity to brighten up your bingo hall.

For more information, please see our article on Preparing Your Bingo for a Smoking Ban.

Smoking Ban Update

Smoking Ban discussions continue to swirl around the Michigan legislature.

On tuesday, the House Regulatory Reform Committee adjourned without taking any action on HB-4377, the newest anti-smoking bill. Both proponents and opponents testified both for and against the concept however nothing new was uncovered. HB-4377 will be the bill that will see action and that bill will be taken up on April 22nd. So far, there is no information on whether casino, bingo, smoke shop, or other exemptions will be attached.

The Legislature now goes on break until April 20th.

Bingo Heats Up as Nightlife Entertainment

At Wholesale Bingo Supplies, we're always trying to pay attention to the latest trends in bingo. And, we're encouraged by what's going on in Minnesota.

Bingos there are adding new club-like elements of fun and excitement to their bingos and, as a result, drawing younger crowds. At the same time they're keeping their older regular players. While we're not saying you should immediately go out and add flashing lights and loud music to your bingo, you may want to keep an eye on this.

For more information, please see Tom Horgen, Nightlife: A game by any other name, Star Tribune, April 2, 2009.

Smoking Ban Battle Heats Up at Mohegan

We've talked before about the possibility of smoking bans eventually spreading to tribal casinos. Here's an excerpt from an article discussing the upcoming battle taking place in Connecticut.

From Indian Country Today
"The Mohegan Tribe has threatened to withhold millions of dollars of slot revenues and sue the state all the way up to the United State’s highest court if the legislature passes a bill banning smoking in Connecticut’s two Indian casinos.

Mohegan Tribal Chairman Bruce “Two Dogs” Bozsum and Mohegan Attorney General Helga M. Woods wrote letters to Gov. Jodi Rell and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal March 25 saying the proposed bill violates tribal sovereignty, is unconstitutional and a breach of the tribal-state gaming compact.

The letters were in response to House Bill 5608, titled “An Act Concerning the Issuance of Liquor Permits to Casinos that Permit Smoking in Such Premises.” The bill would essentially hold the casinos’ liquor licenses hostage by refusing to renew the permits unless the tribes sign an agreement with the governor to totally ban smoking from their facilities. The bill was initiated by Blumenthal in February.

Both the Mohegan Tribe and the Mashantucket Pequot prohibit smoking in around 90 percent of their facilities and have installed state-of-the-art ventilation systems in the restricted smoking areas of their casinos."

For the complete story, please see Gale Courey Toensing, Mohegan promises smoking ban battle all the way to high court, Indian Country Today, March 31, 2009.