From Chris Christoff, State smoking ban closer to reality Detroit Free Press, May 9, 2008.
From Angie Schmitt, Senate OKs smoke ban in Michigan
Toledo Blade, May 9, 2008.
From Charlie Cain, Senate passes ban on smoking Detroit Free Press, May 9, 2008.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Michigan Senate Passes Smoking Ban
Yesterday, the Michigan Senate passed a statewide smoking ban that bans smoking at charitable bingos. The Michigan House had earlier passed a smoking ban that exempted charitable bingos, so now the bill will go back to the House for final consideration. However, this doesn't look good for charity bingos in Michigan.
Should smoking be banned from bingo halls, charitable bingo will now be at an even greater disadvantage when competing with casinos with no such restriction. We will continue to follow this story as it unfolds. Below are links to a copy of the bill, as well as, a Detroit News story.
Version of the Senate passed bill. HB 4163
See Gary heinlein, Michigan Senate OKs smoking ban in bars, restaurants Detroit News, May 8, 2008.
Should smoking be banned from bingo halls, charitable bingo will now be at an even greater disadvantage when competing with casinos with no such restriction. We will continue to follow this story as it unfolds. Below are links to a copy of the bill, as well as, a Detroit News story.
Version of the Senate passed bill. HB 4163
See Gary heinlein, Michigan Senate OKs smoking ban in bars, restaurants Detroit News, May 8, 2008.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
More Bingo Tips for Running a Successful Bingo
More tips for running a successful bingo.
1. The Caller is the most important worker at your bingo. Choose them carefully, because a poor caller can mean failure for your bingo.
2. If possible, pay your workers the maximum amount allowed by your state. This will make your workers feel appreciated.
3. When floor workers have free time, they should volunteer to help bingo players any way they can. Take and deliver food orders, pick up trash, and (if allowed) play bingo cards for players so they make head to the restroom. Encourage your workers to be as helpful as possible.
Again, make your bingo a fun and exciting environment for everyone (bingo players and bingo workers) and your bingo players will keep coming back.
1. The Caller is the most important worker at your bingo. Choose them carefully, because a poor caller can mean failure for your bingo.
2. If possible, pay your workers the maximum amount allowed by your state. This will make your workers feel appreciated.
3. When floor workers have free time, they should volunteer to help bingo players any way they can. Take and deliver food orders, pick up trash, and (if allowed) play bingo cards for players so they make head to the restroom. Encourage your workers to be as helpful as possible.
Again, make your bingo a fun and exciting environment for everyone (bingo players and bingo workers) and your bingo players will keep coming back.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Odds Slim on Stopping Grand Rapids Casino
The Michigan Legislature doubts that a Grand Rapids area casino can be stopped.
For the full article, please see Jim Harger Odds slim on stopping casino, Senate leader says, The Grand Rapids Press, May 6, 2008.
For the full article, please see Jim Harger Odds slim on stopping casino, Senate leader says, The Grand Rapids Press, May 6, 2008.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Grand Rapids Area Casino Facing Final Hurdle?
In what could be their final legal challenge to the project, opponents of a proposed tribal casino plan to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a constitutional challenge to a Depression-era law aimed at bettering the lives of American Indians.
If successful, the case could change how tribes secure and expand their reservations.
For the full article, please see Indian casino foes will ask Supreme Court to hear case
, Detroit Free Press, May 4, 2008.
If successful, the case could change how tribes secure and expand their reservations.
For the full article, please see Indian casino foes will ask Supreme Court to hear case
, Detroit Free Press, May 4, 2008.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Michigan Horse Tracks Fight Gaming Prohibition
Michigan racetracks would love to be able to offer slot machines and other video gaming devices, but an amendment to the Michigan constitution prohibits this. "Racinos", if allowed in Michigan would no doubt hurt charitable bingo attendance.
Below is the latest information from a recent article:
"Northville Downs and other Michigan horse racing interests filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against the governor and state attorney general, alleging state lotteries and casinos are killing their industry and state restrictions on installing video lottery terminals and other forms of gambling at Michigan horse tracks violate the U.S. Constitution.
Targeted in the lawsuit is an amendment to Michigan's Constitution passed as a result of a 2004 ballot initiative which the horse racing interests allege was largely financed by the state's casinos.
The state provision requires both a statewide and a local referendum before any new gambling can occur. Exempted from the provision are the casinos.
The law prevents tracks such as Northville Downs from installing VLTs and benefiting from innovations such as telephone wagering and theater wagering at restaurants, the lawsuit alleges.
Because the state constitutional amendment essentially protects the casinos, it violates the equal protection, due process and commerce clauses of the U.S. Constitution, Maxwell said. He wants the court to declare the provision invalid."
For the full artcle, please see Paul Egan, Casinos are killing state's race track industry, lawsuit alleges, The Detroit News, May 1, 2008.
Below is the latest information from a recent article:
"Northville Downs and other Michigan horse racing interests filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against the governor and state attorney general, alleging state lotteries and casinos are killing their industry and state restrictions on installing video lottery terminals and other forms of gambling at Michigan horse tracks violate the U.S. Constitution.
Targeted in the lawsuit is an amendment to Michigan's Constitution passed as a result of a 2004 ballot initiative which the horse racing interests allege was largely financed by the state's casinos.
The state provision requires both a statewide and a local referendum before any new gambling can occur. Exempted from the provision are the casinos.
The law prevents tracks such as Northville Downs from installing VLTs and benefiting from innovations such as telephone wagering and theater wagering at restaurants, the lawsuit alleges.
Because the state constitutional amendment essentially protects the casinos, it violates the equal protection, due process and commerce clauses of the U.S. Constitution, Maxwell said. He wants the court to declare the provision invalid."
For the full artcle, please see Paul Egan, Casinos are killing state's race track industry, lawsuit alleges, The Detroit News, May 1, 2008.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Bingo Paper Prices Going Up.
As we stated about a week ago, bingo paper prices have increased at the manufacturing level and are now increasing at the distributor level. Blue Bay South, Michigan's leading bingo provider of bingo supplies to licensed bingos, has officially announced a price increase.
Some excerpts from their news release:
"Earlier this year, all of the major bingo paper manufacturers (Arrow, Bingo King, & American Games) raised their prices significantly to us and to every other distributor. Unfortunately, this was inevitable. Commodity prices for Canadian pulp (the key ingredient in bingo paper) have risen over 50%. This increase is compounded by the devaluation in the U.S. dollar. Further, diesel prices continue to climb, and bingo paper is a heavy product that is expensive to ship. These things have created a recipe for upward pricing.
It has been several years and many manufacturer price increases since we last raised our paper prices. We’ve dealt with the same higher freight and gas costs that the manufacturers’ have, but on top of this, our Michigan small business tax has quadrupled. And, while we are absorbing much of these cost increases, we simply cannot absorb them all. Therefore, we are sorry to inform you that effective May 10, 2008, we will be forced to increase our bingo paper prices."
Hopefully, this will be the last of bingo paper price increases for some time.
Some excerpts from their news release:
"Earlier this year, all of the major bingo paper manufacturers (Arrow, Bingo King, & American Games) raised their prices significantly to us and to every other distributor. Unfortunately, this was inevitable. Commodity prices for Canadian pulp (the key ingredient in bingo paper) have risen over 50%. This increase is compounded by the devaluation in the U.S. dollar. Further, diesel prices continue to climb, and bingo paper is a heavy product that is expensive to ship. These things have created a recipe for upward pricing.
It has been several years and many manufacturer price increases since we last raised our paper prices. We’ve dealt with the same higher freight and gas costs that the manufacturers’ have, but on top of this, our Michigan small business tax has quadrupled. And, while we are absorbing much of these cost increases, we simply cannot absorb them all. Therefore, we are sorry to inform you that effective May 10, 2008, we will be forced to increase our bingo paper prices."
Hopefully, this will be the last of bingo paper price increases for some time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
