Citizen Chris: Bingo is simply faceless gambling

Oct 20 2008 By Chris Donkin

The youth of today, rude, no manners, wasting all their money on drink and gambling –  but it seems the youth of yesterday are much worse.

I had the misfortune to exercise my Bingo wings for the first time, heading off to my local club for a bit of ball-dropping action. If you watch the adverts they'll have you believe it's a sociable event where you and your friends can drink, laugh, dab and be merry – even if you don't win a good night is guaranteed.

The reality is very different. I spent my Thursday evening in a brightly lit, yet mostly empty bingo hall, being tutted at by people (largely sat on their own) for talking, laughing and – shockingly – dabbing too loudly. Hardly the party atmosphere I'd been sold.

Players spent a small fortune on cards, slot machines and loads of bonus national games, where the odds of winning are about the same as if I stole a horse from Hounslow Urban Farm and attempted to win the 3.30 at Kempton on it.

Bingo halls around the country are apparently struggling – especially in the week – and it's easy to see why. The numbers were called horribly fast and the smallest of noises from your table would be greeted by tuts from the faithful. It is not a fun game to enjoy with your friends – it's an every-man-for-himself betting frenzy.

I can't help thinking, even the regulars might enjoy it if it became a more social event, with more time between games to have a chat and a drink – this is bound to draw a younger crowd in too. Otherwise, where's the next generation of players coming from?

With such a focus on win or lose, it's easy to see how people overspend at the hall and become addicted, which is made even worse if they then go home and sign up to one of the thousands of online bingo games you can now play. Chasing your losses has never been so easy.

There's no fun involved at all, no 'legs eleven' complete with a wolf whistle or 'two fat ladies'. Everyone takes it far too seriously - it's only a game! Surely it's meant to be fun? There was not a single snigger when the number 6 and 9 – 69 came out. Total silence, the only noise aside from the tutting were the curses when someone won.

No matter how it may be disguised, bingo is simply faceless gambling. I honestly see no difference in casino betting and bingo and you can bet your last fiver the bingo crowd are the first ones to get the banners out if a super casino opens at the end of their road.