PDF Version - Video King

VOL. VI, ISSUE II
V
ideo King
is among
the
world’s
largest
providers
of electronic gaming systems,
Bingo hall equipment and
innovative games. Reaching
a global market, Video King’s
entertainment systems can
be found aboard luxury cruise
liners, throughout Indian
Country and in thousands
of charitable, commercial
and military establishments
around the world.
Read All
About It!
n Video King’s Free Play Site
To Award $1,000s In Prizes ... 1
n Bingo Racing Tickets
Printed At Point Of Sale ... 1
n Tim Stuart: Video King
‘Steady As She Goes’ ... 2
n Bingo Contest Gives
Players Royal Treatment ... 2
n Littlefield Corp. Fields
Diamonds In The Rough ... 3
n BingoWorld Expo Re-Joins
Southern Gaming Summit ... 3
n Video King Offers Free
Passes To Exhibits At G2E ... 3
n Life’s Been A Wild Ride
For Multi-Faceted CSM ... 4
n DigiMan: Ideal MultiMedia
Messenger For Bingo Halls ... 4
n Entrepreneur A Great Catch
For Bingo World Members ... 5
n Video King Offers Tips
For Bingo Racing Fans ... 6
n Film Producer Masters Many
Roles In Comedic Debut ... 8
n ‘Bingo Confidential’ On Sale
At Video King’s E-Store ... 11
n Video King Contacts
Are Just A Call Away ... 12
Copyright 2010 VKGS LLC
All Rights Reserved
VKN
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VIDEO KING NETWORK
Ready To Win A Lil’ Bling!
FALL ’10
Video King’s Free Gaming Site Offers $1000s In Prizes!
W
Living Large characters (above) – who love plenty of bling and other nice things – are just one of the many themed video slot
games, featured online on the Video King Gaming Channel at VKGC.net. The free play site offers Bingo and a multitude of
the most popular casino-style games. All new players receive 1,000 Welcome Points to enter prize drawings or simply play!
VKGC.Net
hat could be better than a free gaming
Web site – where you can play Bingo and
some of the most popular casino-style games?
How about a chance to win thousands of dollars
in some of the most popular prizes offered today?
Prizes & Drawings!
Bingo and prize drawing winners can select their own items
at VideoKingRewardsCenter.com – with everything from gift
cards to major retailers and electronics, such as hi-def TVs!
Now you virtually can – if
you’ve happened to preview the
Video King Gaming Channel
Web site at VKGC.net.
The free-to-play site is
brought to you by Video King
– among the world’s largest
providers of electronic gaming
systems, game designs and Bingo Bling! Bling!
hall equipment.
Reaching a global market, Video King’s
entertainment systems can be found aboard
luxury cruise liners, throughout Indian Country
and in thousands of charitable, commercial
and military establishments around the world.
Expanding into cyberspace, the newly created site is one
of the most effective ways – we’ve discovered –
to introduce Bingo to an even larger audience.
Plus, it can be a whole “lotta” fun to play!
Gaming Channel/See Page 12
Bingo Racing Tickets Printed Right At POS!
A
The Fun Begins At The ‘Gate!’
ttention Bingo Racing Fans! Get ahead of the game!
Let the fun begin right at the “starting gate!” In a swift
move – to help accelerate the action – Video King can
now print Bingo cards for our highly popular, patented
line of racing games – right at the point of sale!
Racing fans like it fast. And this latest feature – in a neverending quest to improve our products – can be a winning combination for both Bingo hall operators, as well as the players.
In fact, we’ll even bet on it ... Available in a number
of themes, including thoroughbred racing,
Racing Tickets/See Page 6
Home Of The Champs!
2
VKN – VIDEO KING NETWORK
Video King
‘Steady As
She Goes ...’
Tony Tombola ‘Suits Up’ For Buddy Contest!
Bingo Players Get Royal Treatment!
A
faux celebrity, no matter where he
goes, “Tony Tombola” doubles as
Video King’s guest columnist – when
he’s not signing autographs for his
fans at various shows. But in reality, the man behind
the tux is actually Tony Delise, Director of Bingo, Slots
and Keno at John Ascuaga’s Nugget® in Reno, Nev.
To help promote his love of gaming, he hopes to
share his wisdom and dispense gaming advice to our
readers. Simply e-mail your comments and questions
to Tony at [email protected].
Together with Video King, Delise has also
staged a contest to promote his favorite of game:
“Name Your Best Bingo Buddy.” Grand prize is a trip
for two to John Ascuaga’s Nugget. Register online at
VideoKingNetwork.com. Deadline to enter is Oct. 31.
(See Nugget Story below for more details.)
Minutes from downtown Reno, John Ascuaga’s
Nugget is one of the region’s largest and most successful casino resorts. To purchase $100,000 Bingo Blowout
tickets, call (800) 468-4388 or register online at
www.janugget.com.
A Word From Tim Stuart
Video King President/CEO
T
he current economic
environment continues
to be a huge challenge
for the entire gaming
sector. Lucky for all of us here at
Video King, we have been able to
n
n
n
n
n
Tim Stuart
hold on to an extremely loyal
customer base, and all of my
fellow employees are some of the
hardest working people I have ever
met, dedicated to excellence and
total customer satisfaction.
Despite these hard times,
we have been able to deploy more
than 5,000 of our new Champion
II™ and our TAB-e™ electronic
handheld devices into play across
the globe, so far in 2010.
We have incorporated quite
a number of customer-suggested
enhancements and are ecstatic
with the positive feedback we are
receiving from the Bingo halls and
casinos from around the world.
We are manufacturing all
of our devices in Omaha, Neb.
We have recently launched
The Video King Gaming Channel,
our new, free-to-play Web site,
at VKGC.net. (See Free Gaming
Site story, Page 1.)
Over the next year, we plan to
launch a lot of new game content
on VKGC.Net. Please check it out,
and give us your comments and
suggestions.
Our one and only Carla Chance,
as in years past, has recently won
a number of state and national
awards from the National Federation of Press Women – a reflec-
Video King/See Page 3
FALL ’10
Tony Tombola
Gaming Expert Bar None!
I
hope all of you are doing well
and finding lots of time to enjoy
“America’s Favorite Entertainment
Game” – Bingo! We are now coming into the home stretch of our
“Name Your Best Bingo Buddy Contest.”
With its multiple prize packages –
you and your friends just might be given the
Royal Treatment! To enter, simply visit our
contest section at VideoKingNetwork.com,
where you’ll find everything you need to know.
The top three nominations will
be chosen, based on the best entries
describing why your friend deserves the
title: “Best Bingo Buddy.”
First-place prize package includes:
n Three nights luxury accommodations at
John Ascuaga's Nugget® in Reno, Nev., one
of the region’s largest and most successful
resorts. (See resort images at right.)
n Airfare to Reno (for the winning nominee
and nominator) from a U.S. or Canadian
point of entry.
n Free meal vouchers, including dinner
with me, “Tony Tombola,” at the Nugget.
$100,000 Bingo Blowouts Dates:
Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010: $50,000 BINGO BLITZ!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011
Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011
n Free Bingo during your entire
stay at the Nugget.
n Choice of the Nugget's
$100,000 Bingo Blowouts,
held throughout the year.
n A feature in Video
King’s newsletter, “VKN The Video King Network,”
which is also posted online
for everyone to read.
And, since there are so
many deserving “winners,” we will award:
n $500 among
the secondplace winners.
n $250 among
the third-place
winners.
n A Video King Tshirt for all winners.
So far, we have
received hundreds of nominations
from Bingo lovers across the country,
who have taken the time to nominate
someone who is very special to them –
someone who they feel deserves to win
the “Best Bingo Buddy” nomination.
The contest ends Oct. 31, and the
results will be highlighted in Video King’s
next newsletter. I just want to say, that after
reading so many touching letters, it is easy
to see why Bingo is one of America’s favorite
pastimes and is loved by so many people.
I personally can’t
wait to find out the
results and have
the opportunity to
meet the winner,
along with the
person who
nominated them
– and of course
have a chance to
visit with them here
at John Ascuaga’s.
Speaking of ... The
Nugget’s $100,000 Bingo Blowout
held this summer attracted 1,332 Bingo
lovers, and I, Tony Tombola, personally got
to meet with more than 300 of them.
Many came to the Blowout with their best
“Bingo Buddy,” so I had
a great time hearing
where they were
from and some
of their favorite
Bingo stories.
Speaking
of Bingo stories,
have I got one for
you ... During the
July Bingo Blowout,
173 players all yelled “Bingo” together on
one game. It was quite a sight to see AND
hear when 173 players yelled out “Bingo”
Royal Treatment/See Page 9
load
FALL ’10
VKN – VIDEO KING NETWORK
If They Build Them, Bingo Players Will Come ...
Littlefield Fields Diamonds In The Rough
Y
ou might see a brokendown Bingo hall, with
peeling paint, structural
damage and faded
signs in a run-down neighborhood.
Mike Lindley, however, sees potential.
With a keen eye for hidden and intangible value, Lindley serves as Senior
Vice President and Director of Capital
Transactions for the Littlefield Corp.,
a company that develops, owns and
operates charitable Bingo halls in Texas,
South Carolina, Alabama and Florida.
Composed of 42 charitable
Bingo halls – at last count – Littlefield,
headquartered in Austin, Texas, is the
largest public owner of charitable Bingo
halls in the United States.
Their business structure varies
by state, but in essence, here’s how
it operates: Littlefield Entertainment
enters into a business relationship
with a charity or a group of charities –
deemed worthy and legitimate – which
in turn operate charitable Bingo games
at a hall Littlefield owns or controls.
The charities then pay a fee or
“rent” for each session of Bingo played
within a Littlefield hall.
Jeff can,” Lindley said of his friend’s
business acumen.
Minch, a Virginia Military Institute
(VMI) graduate, holds degrees in both
civil engineering and finance. Following
distinguished service in the Army and a
subsequent career as a civil engineer,
Minch co-founded, grew and profitably
sold a commercial real estate business,
the Littlefield Real Estate Co.
The Littlefield Corp.
Beyond purchase, improvement and
operation of Bingo halls, Littlefield also
strives to reinvest in these communities.
In fact, since 2001, the 142-plus
nonprofit organizations that conduct
charitable Bingo in Littlefield’s halls
have raised more than $31 million.
These charities range from
ethics organizations to fraternal
orders and other worthy endeavors,
the company said.
Lindley credits Jeff Minch,
Littlefield’s President/CEO and board
member, for paving the way and making
the company the success it is today.
“A problem-solver, MBA, engineer
and quasi-lawyer, all wrapped into one,
few people can multi-task the way
Team Formation
The Littlefield Corp. began as
American Bingo & Gaming Corp., a
Delaware corporation formed in 1994.
Initially an outside investor, Minch
purchased a controlling interest in
1999, serving first as director, then
as the company’s top executive.
Once at the helm, Minch restructured the organization and redefined
the company’s strategies and goals.
To reflect the change in leadership
and philosophy, the company was then
renamed Littlefield Corp. in June 2000.
Not only does the name stem from the
successful Texas rancher, banker and
Diamonds/See Page 10
3
Register For
Free Passes
To The Show!
R
egister by Oct. 28 to
receive your free pass –
a $150 value – to the
exhibits at the Global
Gaming Expo, held Nov. 15-18 at
the Las Vegas Convention Center
in Vegas, courtesy of Video King.
G2E – celebrating its 10th year
– is the world’s premier casinoentertainment event where gaming
executives, buyers and industry
professionals gather to learn the
latest concepts in gaming.
Simply visit the tradeshow
section of Video King’s Web site:
VideoKingNetwork.com, click on
G2E 2010, then “Register Now.”
Once in Vegas, be sure to
demo Video King’s latest products
in Booth No. 533 at the show.
A proven industry leader,
Video King is among the world’s
largest providers of electronic
gaming systems, game designs
and Bingo hall equipment.
G2E/See Page 8
Video King –
Continued From Page 2
-tion of the company-wide effort
by everyone involved to ensure
that Video King's products deliver.
My congratulations to
Carla for all you do to deliver
the Video King story.
We have been able to continue
to grow our business by constantly
striving to be extremely innovative.
We are in constant dialogue
with our loyal customers, and
we will continue to try to be
good listeners.
Thank you all for your continued support. Always please feel
free to get in touch with me by
either phone or e-mail.
Sincerely, Tim Stuart
[email protected]
(800) 635-9912, Ext. 7777
Office: (402) 951-2970
Cell: (402) 578-1475
VKN – VIDEO KING NETWORK
Life’s A Wild
Ride For MultiFaceted CSM
Cindy Martin
n Name: Cindy Martin.
n Age: 44.
n Residence: Council Bluffs, Iowa.
n Title: Customer Service Manager.
n Length With Company: 15 years.
n Job Detail: Newly appointed
liaison between customer service
and the accounting, sales and
manufacturing divisions. I will
work closely with team members to
develop processes and procedures
that will improve customer service
and workflow efficiencies throughout the entire sales process – from
pre-sales support to post-sales
follow-through.
As in the past, I’ll also
manage inventory in the locations
where we supply our leased assets,
starting with the set-up of the
account and working with the customers on their replacements and
any other needs they may have.
My region is the western part
of the United States, all military
and all international accounts.
n Best About Job: It’s never
boring. I deal with sales, manufacturing, shipping, help desk, billing
and the customers on a daily basis.
n Most Difficult Aspect:
Keeping organized.
n Interests: Boating –
We spend as much time in the
summer as we can out on our boat.
In the fall it’s football parties
every weekend. Favorite college
team: Iowa Hawkeyes. Pro team:
Dallas Cowboys.
Getting together with family
and friends, playing board games
and cards are some of my favorite
past times. I also love to countr y
dance.
Ride/See Page 5
FALL ’10
Compact Unit Powerful Communication Tool!
DigiMan: A MultiMedia Messenger
Ideally suited for any
Bingo hall or venue,
the DigiMan 2000 – with
its remote management
capabilities – can display
flashboards – in addition
to a wide range of dynamic
digital content from
video clips to live news,
PowerPoints, text and
images to promote in-hall
sales, broadcast specials
and generate new sources
of advertising revenue!
A
n Olympic event, international
airports, leading research and
medical institutes, university
campuses, major retailers,
train and bus terminals, real estate developments, fast-food restaurants – and now
your casino, Bingo hall or gaming venue.
What’s the connection? Need a clue? Searching for a sign? Better yet, how about we
sell you one. And not just any “old” signage.
How about one so highly regarded in the
industry, it is the digital signage system of
choice for top international firms, ranging
from the Beijing International Airport to the
Hard Rock Café in Las Vegas and Columbus
Technical College in Georgia to be specific –
and many in between.
Now available through Video King,
the DigiMan 2000™ – known for its exceptional quality, extreme versatility and high
functionality – is among the most popular
digital systems on the market today.
A proven product in world-wide use,
its reliable hardware – coupled with
its innovative server software – can
help virtually anyone create a powerful, yet unique communications
system that offers unparalleled
opportunities to capture an audience’s
attention – at key decision-making
locations – for any size venue.
Like dynamite in a small package,
the DigiMan 2000, with remote management capabilities, features a powerful,
yet energy-efficient AMD Sempron™ 1.6GHz
processor in a compact device (known as a
player), which can display a wide range of
dynamic content – while receiving continuous updates from the server.
“It can take any standard video signal
and wrap additional information, ads or
images around it – in real time, as well
Digital Signage System Ideal For
Dynamic Bingo Hall Presentations!
•
•
•
•
•
Flashboards
MultiMedia
Text Messages
Advertising
Promotions
XRiver Technologies
4
Like dynamite in a small package, the DigiMan 2000 unit features a powerful, yet
energy-efficient AMD Sempron™ 1.6GHz processor in a compact and robust package, which powers displays with a wide range of dynamic content – from flashboards to video clips and PowerPoint presentations – while communicating with
the server for continuous updates. With VGA and HDMI outputs, the networkready system is as easy to install as a cable box to a TV, and comes with a webenabled remote management tool, providing intuitive management of content and
hardware functions. Powered with Microsoft Windows® XP embedded operating
systems, all units are VESA mountable and offer optional wireless networking,
enabling high definition content playback and video processing.
as scheduled playbacks,” according to
Dan Free, Video King’s CTO and Vice
President of Electronics, of the palmsized unit’s broad range of appeal.
Yet, the DigiMan’s network-ready system
– with both VGA and HDMI outputs – is as
easy to set up as connecting a cable box
or VCR to your own TV. One plug,
connected to the existing LCD,
is all one basically needs.
As far as content layout and
scheduling, once the hardware is
connected and software installed, average
learning time has been about two hours, a
further an indication of its ease-of-use.
Powered with Microsoft Windows ® XP
embedded operating systems, each unit is
equipped with the WebDT Content Manager,™
a web-enabled remote management tool,
which provides intuitive management of
content files and hardware functions.
Ideally suited for Bingo venues, the
DigiMan can be used to display flashboards
– in addition to PowerPoints, live news,
video clips, images and/or text messages to
promote in-hall sales, broadcast specials
and generate more advertising revenue.
Just picture its possibilities ...
The system can support virtually
any multimedia from digital files, such as
GIFs, JPEGs and TIFFs; to plain-text and RSS
content, such as tickers which scroll messages across the screen; HTML and FLASH,
used in Web applications and animation;
audio, real-time S-Video and Composite
Video input, as well as other formats.
Not only can your displays be easily
customized – by placing the wide range
of media at
various times
into configurable templates or
zones – but
the entire
system can
be managed
locally or
remotely,
via the
Internet,
he said.
DigiMan/See Page 10
VKN – VIDEO KING NETWORK
FALL ’10
Self-Made Entrepreneur ‘Reels In’ The Fun!
Conroy A Great Catch For Bingo World
Y
ou can tell when he enters
the room. He’s not an
imposing figure, but he
does have a larger-than-life
personality. Quick to joke, easy to laugh
with – the mood just seems to lighten.
It’s as if Dennis Conroy has “good
times” branded across his forehead.
Which is a good thing, because that’s
how he makes a living, providing entertainment to the countless people he
encounters. And, he delivers ...
Not only does the 57-year-old
Conroy
own three Bingo Bugle newspapers,
dubbed the “Readers Digest” for players nationwide, operate
“Shakem Up Tours,” shuttling players to the most popular Bingo
venues along the East Coast, but also organizes the Bingo Bugle’s
World Championship Bingo Tournament & Gaming Cruise, now
embarking on its 22nd year and offered most recently as a prize
package for the long-running TV game show, “The Price Is Right.”
Not too shabby for a former trucker
from Long Island, N.Y., who transformed himself into a self-made
Bingo entrepreneur.
But catching him
is another story ...
When he’s not publishing
the papers, often working from
pre-dawn to midnight, the man
with the boisterous voice, easily
recognizable, yet distinctive
New York accent, spends half his
month headquartered in Long
Island, amid one of the most
populous metropolitan regions
of the world, and the other along
the emerald waters of the Florida
coasts, a haven for sun-seekers
and retirees alike, to promote his
Dennis Conroy
various businesses.
It’s a well-trodden trek he’s traveled for the past
18 years. But don’t feel sorry for him. When he has a
rare moment, he’ll tell you he’s loving every minute.
“I used to say that I would r etire at 50. I planned
my life that way. Now I’m not even thinking about it.
I have no desire to retire. I’m having too much fun.
There’s no stress,” he insists. “I started with one paper,
and it all has blended together. When I’m out selling
my ads, I sell my trips, I sell my cruises. I’ve become
friends with all my customers,” he said, shedding some light
on just how he manages to stay ahead of the game – amid
what some may deem a pretty hectic schedule.
But life wasn’t always that “serene” ...
One of eight children, the father of two – one even born
on his own birthday – and grandpa to one, Conroy always
believed it was possible. It’s just others he managed, by his
sheer gusto, to surprise along the way.
“I succeeded at everything I’ve ever done. Do you know why
it rains every time the Indians do a rain dance,” he says, half
in jest, half in earnest. “Because they dance until it rains. I will
make it work no matter what. I believe like the Indians,” he said,
letting you in on one of his trade secrets.
And Conroy, with some college under his belt, has had plenty
Dennis Conroy
His license plates may strike recognition among many in
the Bingo world, up and down the East Coast. Not only
does Dennis Conroy, a New York native, own three Bingo
Bugle newspapers, dubbed “The Reader's Digest” for
Bingo players nationwide, operate “Shakem Up Tours,”
shuttling players to some of the most popular Bingo venues, but also organizes the Bingo Bugle’s World Championship Bingo Tournament & Gaming Cruise, now embarking on its 22nd year. But don’t feel too sorry for him
(pictured left, snagging a Sailfish) he does manage to
schedule in some fishing, his favorite pastime.
of windshield time, through which he saw a lot of the world,
to see his plans through. Beginning with soda (that’s pop for us
Midwesterners) at age 17, he hauled everything from tomatoes to
office furniture, covering all but six states, logging 1.6 million
miles over a span of 26 years.
Tired of trucking, he had been looking for something new.
“My mother loved Bingo,” he said. “I saw a lady win $46,000,
and thought, you know what, that’s something I’d like to be
involved with ...”
Enroute to Florida one day, he just happened to see a promotion for a local Bingo game at the hotel’s front desk and wanted
to play. But, discovered there was no way for him, nor that matter,
any of the guests to get there.
“I thought, ‘Come on. How come there’s no transportation
with all these hotels all over the coast.’”
Then he had a “thought.” Instead of transporting goods,
why not bring people from New York down for a Bingo vacation.
Going to the source, he set a meeting with the Seminoles, a
federally recognized Indian tribe, chiefly located in Florida today.
“In 1979, they had started the original, high-stakes Bingo in
the United States. They said, ‘Go for it.’ They helped me tremendously,” he said.
Thus began the first phase: his
Bingo tour business. After figuring
out the logistics, he just needed
something to sum up his services.
It would pretty much cater to a
traveler’s every need – from dinner to
Bingo, shopping, entertainment, hotel
room selection and shuttle service.
“Everybody in the Bingo hall shouts, ‘Shakem Up.’ I wasn’t
going to name it, ‘I’m going to kill the caller ...’” he said, already
armed with a ready brand of humor about his new business.
5
Ride ––––––
Continued From Page 4
n Hidden Talents: It probably
would be decorating, reorganizing
and faux painting. My family says
we are losing square footage in
the house by the minute, because
I am always repainting a room,
and my furniture has more miles
on it then my car because of
re-arranging all the time.
n Family: I have a wonderful
husband, Kim, of 21 years, whom
I met one night at a country bar.
He was riding bulls in the rodeo
circuit at the time. We traveled
every weekend to rodeos, and
11 months later we had an
outside wedding. He came up
the aisle on horseback, and I
rode down the aisle sidesaddle.
Then, 2 1/2 years later we
had our son, Kody Lane, (named
after Lane Frost, a famed bull
rider). Kody, our basketball player,
graduated from high school this
year and is going to college to
study aviation mechanics.
Then, 2 1/2 years after Kody, we had
our beautiful daughter, Kylie Jo.
Kylie, our dancer, is in high
school and wants to go to college
to become a pediatric nurse.
n Background: I was born
in Council Bluffs and have
lived there all my life. I took
tap, jazz and freestyle ballet
all through school. My first job,
I was hired through the dance
school I took lessons at, and
I was a student dance teacher
for five years. I studied ballet at
the Omaha Ballet for one year.
After I graduated high school in
1984, I worked miscellaneous jobs
until I joined the gaming industry
where I have been for 18 years.
n What People Don’t Know:
I love Halloween. Three years
ago I made a costume, and I won
$1,000 at Ameristar Casino Hotel
for Best Overall Costume. I was
Marie Antoinette, (a headless one
– after her visit to the guillotine.)
Last year’s costume I made, I won
$250 for Women’s First Place.
(Cindy created a pajama-clad
child, abducted by a massive,
neon-green alien, with blinking
red eyes, all within one costume –
or did she ... ) See Photo, Page 9.
n If You Weren’t Doing This:
I would be in business for myself.
n Favorite Get-Away: Table Rock
Lake, a reservoir in the Ozarks.
We vacation there once or twice
every year.
Catch/See Page 7
Ride/See Page 9
6
VKN – VIDEO KING NETWORK
Tickets ––––
Continued From Page 1
Video King’s Bingo racing uses randomly generated numbers associated with race competitors to create the feel of a live event or race.
True to form, the games have
simulated announcers (in English,
French and Spanish), who help
build excitement by “broadcasting”
the event as the crowd cheers the
animated stream of characters –
as they flash across the screen,
jockeying into place!
To amp the level of fun
and up the stakes, a variety
of combination “wagers,”
including progressives –
much like the live events –
in the form of Bingo cards
can also be played.
Now buying and selling
more of these Bingo racing
tickets can be as easy as, well,
selecting your favorite dog, yes,
even Bingo ball or filly.
Say your customers want to
buy some Quinellas, cards with the
first two finishers in any order, or
Tri-fectas, cards with the first three
finishers in exact order, for upcoming games – even before they sit
down and claim their lucky seats?
“With our new print-ondemand feature, cashiers can
simply enter a sales request –
and in addition to a sales receipt
– print the Bingo racing cards
directly on to the paper receipt,”
said Dan Free, CTO and Vice President of Electronics at Video King.
(See POS Bingo card, lower right.)
In addition to faster
transactions, helping alleviate the
staff, odds are the new system will
be a Bingo hall crowd favorite –
on multiple fronts.
A time-saver and convenience,
the print-on-demand feature can
eliminate the need for halls to
stock additional pre-printed cards
for the paper-only players.
“And, since the system is
also distributing both the electronic
cards and the paper cards, there
is no longer any need to have two
different ‘deals’ of the game cards
in play,” Free said. “This is particularly important to many of the
small- and mid-sized Bingo halls,
which might have trouble selling out
two deals for a game,” he added.
Helping operations run
smoother, the new system can
also improve integrity and eliminate duplication by controlling the
number of multiple winners.
Tickets/See Page 7
FALL ’10
Raise The Stakes ... Place ‘Wagers’... Win Progressives ...
Video King’s Top Bingo Racing Tips!
A
global provider of electronic
gaming systems, game designs
and Bingo hall equipment, Video
King is the first company to be
awarded a patent for Bingo Racing, a concept
developed by key members of our Research
& Development and Marketing teams.
Compatible with event-style pull-tabs,
Video King’s Bingo Racing is a highly popular
line of themed games, which use randomly
generated numbers associated with
various race competitors to create an
animated event that has the
feel and suspense of watching a live contest or race.
The racing phenomena has transformed hundreds of quiet Bingo halls
into places where people
actually stand up and
cheer as they watch the
animated race or contest
progress on TV screens
or monitors, positioned
throughout the venue.
Here’s a run-down
of just how simple Bingo
Racing can be to play:
In Bingo racing, each
“competitor” – be it an
animated horse, greyhound, Bingo ball or other
event icon – is associated
with one of the columns on a standard flashboard.
If you picture a flashboard, you’ll see 15
columns or “competitors.” Competitor 4 is
associated with balls, 4, 19, 34, 49 and 64, all
the numbers found in the 4th column. Whenever
one of these balls is called, Competitor 4, for
instance, a race horse, advances one position.
Once all five of these numbers in the 4th column
are called, Competitor 4 crosses the finish line.
Competitor 11 is associated with ball calls
11, 26, 41, 56 and 71, all the numbers found in
?
?
?
Horses
At The
Starting
Gate!
No. 4 Horse
To Place 1st!
Results Posted
In Bottom Image
No. 11 Horse
To Place 2nd!
Video King
In Bingo racing, each “competitor” – be it an animated race horse, greyhound,
Bingo ball or other event icon – is associated with one of the columns on a standard flashboard. If you picture a flashboard (shown in the image above), you’ll see
15 columns or “competitors.” Competitor or Horse No. 4 is associated with balls,
4, 19, 34, 49 and 64, all the numbers found in the fourth column. Whenever one
of these balls is called, Competitor No. 4 advances one position. Once all five of
these numbers in the fourth column are called, the Competitor or Horse No. 4
crosses the finish line. Competitor or Horse No. 11 is associated with ball calls
11, 26, 41, 56 and 71, all the numbers found in the 11th column. Once all these
numbers are called, the Competitor 11 crosses the finish line and so forth. In
addition to a single winner, the game can be expanded even further by designing
Bingo cards that utilize combinations of numbers and patterns to create winning combinations similar to real-life wagers, such as Quinellas (See POS Bingo
card image at lower left), with the possibility to win huge progressive jackpots.
Racing Tips/See Page 7
1st
1st
2nd
Quinella Ticket Printed At POS
4
11
13
2nd
Video King
FALL
’10’10
FALL
Catch –––––
Continued From Page 5
Launched in 1992, the first trips up
and down the coast were by train, but
quickly replaced by plane. “They didn’t
want to waste two days of travel,” he said.
Today, Conroy schedules monthly bus
tours to the most popular Bingo destinations, such as Foxwoods® Resort Casino
in Connecticut and Bingo World® in
Maryland – all within a 400-mile radius
of New York City. Hoping to expand even
further, he also schedules longer excursions to Florida, at least twice a year.
To kick off his business, Conroy
began going to the Bingo halls, passing
out “Shakem Up Tour” fliers.
Then someone said to him, “Why don’t
you advertise in the Bingo magazine in
Long Island?”
A eureka moment. Conroy tried, but the
magazine owner simply refused his business.
“They already had a tour operator, who
took out three pages. He was afraid she
would pull her ads,” he said.
Like many publications, the
magazine lived and died by
the advertising sword.
Undeterred, Conroy
then did some extensive
research, which was
considerably harder preInternet days, he said.
“I found a Bingo Bugle in
Tampa, Fla., and told the publisher,
Chuck Wells, what I wanted to do.”
Again, he was turned away. But this
time it wasn’t about the revenue. There
simply was no paper. The franchise, owned
by Frontier Publications, was up for sale.
Doing what any enterprising person
would do, Conroy bought the paper that
very afternoon.
“I never knew anything about typesetting or printing. I knew nothing. I didn’t
even know how to get it printed. I thought
you just took it to printer,” he said.
Although he was green, he fared
better than others, who exhibited more
noticeable signs of shock.
“I said, ‘I just bought a Bingo news paper,’ and my family and friends said,
‘Are you out of your freak’n mind …?!’
I turned a profit the first month and never
looked back,” he said, with some sense
of satisfaction.
VKN––VIDEO
VIDEOKING
KINGNETWORK
NETWORK
VKN
In fact, he even
acquired two more
newspapers over the
years. But not before he
rolled up his sleeves,
dove in head first, and
learned everything he
needed to know about
the business.
And when we say business, we mean
one, like the man himself, “travels” far
and wide and goes the distance.
Established in 1979, The Bingo Bugle
is a monthly tabloid newspaper designed,
written and published for Bingo players.
Produced and printed in more than
50 markets throughout the United States
and Canada – with a monthly circulation
of more than 750,000 – it now ranks as
North America's leading Bingo and gaming newspaper and consistently ranks in
Entrepreneur Magazine’s Annual
Franchise 500.
While Frontier sets the standard and
provides feature stories, puzzles and cartoons, each franchise owner must provide
the local content, he said.
Still not a problem for the
man – who you probably
have a good sense by now,
is indeed blessed with
a golden gift of gab.
“Within three months
I had everything up and
running. I hired a typesetter and went out selling the
ads. I was the delivery boy and
the sales person. That’s all I did.
Sales comes easy for me,” he said,
relying on his known strengths.
But within three years, he was
also typesetting his own ads.
“I was spending $1,100 a month.
I thought that’s ridiculous. I need to
learn that. I’m self taught,” he said.
So, not only does he take full
credit, but also full blame for any
of his publications.
“It’s all me. I own it. Deliver it.
Sell and design the ads. Invoice it.
If there’s a problem, come see me.
I’m the cause. On the other hand, if you
want to praise the paper,” he laughed,
somewhat pleadingly, “Come see me.
Cause I’m the cause.”
And, maybe, that’s just what
caused Tara Snowden, President of the
Bingo Bugle Newspaper Group, to tag
him not once, but twice to run first their
Fort Lauderdale and East Coast
and then Tampa and Sun Coast
publications.
“I kept refusing her. I did
everything I could to resist, and
she just kept trying,” he said.
“Then she said, ‘Just take it
over until I get a new owner.’
That was eight years ago. She
got me,” he said, good naturedly, “again ... and again ...”
7
Racing Tips –
Continued From Page 6
To put it in fishing terms, Conroy’s
favorite pastime, the company snagged
a big one. And, don’t want to let this one
get away.
“For over 17 years, Dennis has
been an outstanding member of the Bingo
Bugle family of newspaper publishers. We
couldn't hope to find a more enthusiastic,
positive, hard-working person to represent
the Bingo Bugle brand,” she said.
“One of the keys to his success,
and a main reason we promoted him
to national sales manager, is that he truly
loves what he does and he sincerely likes
the people he works with and for – he is
tireless in promoting the interests of his
clients and friends and is always looking
for ways to go above and beyond.
“Some people talk about service,
and other people really deliver service,
and Dennis delivers – with intelligence,
creativity and a great sense of humor,”
said Snowden, whose father actually
founded Bingo Bugle.
But don’t worry, all this positive feedback hasn’t changed his hat size any.
“He's very down-to-earth, and he
doesn't play favorites by favoring larger
clients with more or better service –
everyone is treated equally, and he sees
your success as his success.
“As president of the Bingo Bugle,
I consider Dennis our No. 1 go-to guy.
He always gets the job done, and done
well,” she said.
So it’s no wonder, it was Conroy’s
idea to place the local Bingo Bugles
on the Web, to reach a larger readership. “We needed to move ahead,”
he simply said.
And, given what he brings to the
table – no one hungry here – it also
seemed most natural for him to most
recently become Director of Operations
for Bingo Bugle’s cruises.
Nearly always a sell-out, the highly
popular excursions offer $80,000 in cash
and prizes, all aboard the Carnival Cruise
Lines, giving passengers a chance to visit
some of the world’s most exotic ports from
Alaska, Mexico and the Caribbean.
“The cruises are here to stay. We
have a ball. We book anywhere from 400
to 1,000 passengers. People are already
asking about next year’s cruise,” he said.
“But we only play at sea. Everything
is cash. There’s no paper work in international waters, and it doesn’t interfere with
cruise activities or port visits,” he said.
Catch/See Page 10
the 11th column. Once all these
numbers are called, Competitor 11
crosses the finish line and so forth.
To up the stakes and amp
the level of fun, the game can
be expanded even further – by
designing Bingo cards that utilize
combinations of numbers and
patterns to create winning combinations similar to real-life racing
wagers, along with the possibility
to win huge progressive jackpots.
So in addition to a single
winner, the Bingo racing jackpots
prizes can include:
n Exactas: First 2 finishers
in exact order.
n Quinellas: First 2 finishers
in any order.
n Tri-fectas: First 3 finishers
in exact order.
n Super-fectas: First 4
finishers in exact order.
And, whenever the game-ending pattern is not achieved, the
players simply continue daubing
until a card is full (black-out), and
a consolation prize can be paid.
Set Up Is Easy: Software used
to generate the game's animated
features integrates seamlessly
with Video King's primary Bingo
hall equipment product lines
(Bingo ball consoles and flashboards), along with Video King's
electronic Bingo handsets, tablets
and fixed-based player devices.
Video King currently has three
Bingo racing themes now running:
• HorsePower Racing,™ based on
a thoroughbred-racing theme;
• Go-Go Ball Racing,™ a humorous spin on a race of Bingo ball
characters; and • Long Shot,™
a spoof on greyhound racing.
So if, you want the inside
track for your Bingo hall, casino
or cruise ship – here’s a hot tip ...
Video King’s Bingo Racing,
a virtual crowd-pleaser, is already
gaining lots of ground!
Tickets ––––
Continued From Page 6
“The audit controls of a fully
system-controlled set of Bingo
cards are excellent and provide a
great, secure solution,” according
to Free, “for any sized hall.”
So, don’t let this golden
opportunity for you and your players run astray. Rein this one in!
Be the first in line to learn about
the benefits of Bingo Racing and our
new print-on-demand feature.
8
VKN – VIDEO KING NETWORK
G2E 2010 –
Continued From Page 3
Here’s just a sampling of what
Video King plans to showcase at
this year’s Global Gaming Expo:
n The Champion II™:
Among our newest two-way,
WiFi touch-screen tablets, deemed
“Leader of the Pack” in portable
gaming. Vibrant screen, rugged
construction, incredible reliability.
Must-have for every Bingo venue.
Windows® CE operating system.
Device can venture outside of the
gaming industry for applicability.
n The TAB-e™: Our newest
portable gaming tablet. Boasting
same fine features of our “Top
Dog” tablet, the Champion II, ™
this one’s a virtual copycat – but
at a reduced cost and weight.
n Crazy Quarters™: A most
revolutionary concept, our newest
Class II, paramutual, credit-based
Bingo game, guarantees every one
a chance to win 3 different prizes
for every game, as well as a mustgo accumulator jackpot.
n Pick ’N Play Bingo & Slots ™:
Received Casino Journal’s Top 20
Most Innovative Awards in 2008.
First-of-its-kind, combination
slot machine/Bingo terminal.
Delivers both Class II & Class III
games simultaneously, maximizing
earnings per square foot, allowing
players to toggle between slots and
electronic, session-based Bingo.
n PowerPlay Bel Air ™:
Most contemporary Bingo console
on market today. Sleek, yet durable,
easily transportable for multipurpose halls. Removable panels
give easy access to PC-driven
components and blower motor.
n OMNI™: Multi-functional,
MICS compliant POS features
paper inventory, a cash vault or
virtual bank, flexible accounting
system, Bingo session scheduler,
complete integration of Video
King’s POS and Player Tracking
System, a gateway to Bally Casino
Market Place Player Management
System, incredible discounting and
training mode modules, ability to
disperse players’ points to multiple
charities within one hall, creditcard payment options. O
n ENFloor®:: A North American “green leader” in access
flooring industry. All-steel and
calcium-sulphate products, viewable online at www.enfloor.com.
n DigiMan 2000®:: Digital
signage system, ideal for dynamic
Bingo hall presentations. Compact
device. Supports wide range of
media from live news, PowerPoints,
video, images and text messages.
(See DigiMan Story, Page 4.)
FALL ’10
‘Bingo Confidential’ Comedy A Directorial Debut!
Film Producer Masters Many Roles
T
he show must go on – and it had better be one
helluva good show ... That seems to have been
Suzy Noel Benfatto’s mantra ever since she began
tapping her toes to the beat – nearly 50 years ago
in her Glen Cove, Long Island, N.Y., home.
Involved in some form of entertainment since childhood, this
L.A. film producer was even raised in a theatre-like atmosphere.
“Ever since I was little,
I was in shows. I lived in New
York, so it was easy access,”
said Benfatto, who recently wrote,
produced and directed the comedy,
“Bingo Confidential – It’s Not
A Game For Kids,” now available
through Video King’s online store.
(See Bingo Confidential Story,
Page 11).
“Cast parties were a family
Benfatto
affair. There were people singing
around the piano, all kinds of interesting people. It was like a
Great Gatsby party of theatre people. Tap dancing in the hall
ways ...” she said, her voice trailing off slightly , with fond recall.
Adding more spice to the lively mix was her ethnic heritage.
Full-blooded Sicilians, Benfatto and her brother were raised in a
“pretty Italian” household.
“We have a large extended family. Every Sunday we had
dinner at grandmother’s. It was mandatory,” she said, in a way
many older Italian-Americans families may know. “There were all
kinds of people. It was really lots of fun, lots of kids, lots of fourth
and fifth generations,” she said.
But if anything, her mother, a homemaker, and father, who was in
the construction business, were the complete opposite of stage parents.
“I dragged my parents into it. I wanted them to come see me in
all my shows,” said Benfatto, who acted in children’s theatre, sang
in the chorus, was a hoofer (slang for tapper) and studied ballet.
Now both in their 80s, her mother eventually became a set
decorator and father, a theater producer, through her meteoric
(pun intended) rise on the stage. There was even a role for her
brother. “He ran the parties,” she quipped.
But before we go any further, dismiss any visions
of tiny prima donnas you may have dancing in your head ...
“I was one of the painfully shy kids, who only felt comfortable
on stage,” Benfatto insists. “I think, because on stage, you embody
somebody else.”
Though she didn’t become rich and famous as a child star, she
found her footing, and she gleaned something even more valuable
– at least to her. “That’s where I learned how to do everything.
The discipline needed to carry you into other things. The show must
go on work ethic. That’s translated really well today. I draw from
everything I learned in the theatre,” she said.
And, despite all the tabloid-type chatter, not all those in the
entertainment industry feel entitled
to the “star treatment.”
“Theatre people
are used to roughing it.
In film production, you
work 16-hour days.
You’re always on the
move. It’s a very nonglamorous profession,”
she said, spoken as one
who’s checked her ego
long ago.
Bingo Confidential
“Bingo Confidential,” is an award-winning, new comedy –
shot documentary style – which follows six, zany, Bingo-loving
characters as they vie, lie, scheme, plot – and even channel the
beyond – to win a million-dollar Bingo game, bequested by a
woman, who made her fortune by playing Bingo. The movie,
written, produced and directed by Suzy Noel Benfatto, is now
available in the Movie section of Video King’s online store:
VideoKingNetwork.com. Check us out for other great deals!
Firmly rooted in reality, in a world of make-believe, Benfatto
knew early on what her possible parts could be. “I never really considered myself as a actor, but a dancer who could act. What made
it more difficult, I never looked my age, so I started moving behind the
scenes where it didn’t really matter what you looked like,” she said.
Armed with a great sense of humor – in a sense – acting as
her understudy, it’s no wonder she gravitated toward comedy, like
“Bingo Confidential,” her first directorial debut.
“Creative types look at the world in a different way.
They’re not mainstream. Sometimes the world (seems) a little crazy
to them. But I don’t go looking for a joke, I just point out things that
are funny,” she said, of her brand of humor.
Fast-forwarding to her adult years, Benfatto was once again
“cast” into a prime role. Studying television communications in
college, Benfatto was among a group of students hand-picked
for internships, which rolled into real jobs at CBS at some of the
larger networks, she said.
Right on cue, Benfatto began her television career in live
sports. ESPN and the US Network were just getting started. She
was in the right place, right time.
Film/See Page 9
–
VKN – VIDEO KING NETWORK
FALL ’10
Film ––––––
Continued From Page 8
“It was the late ’70s, in the early days
of broadcast TV, women were breaking
traditional roles. I was one of the first
women technicians to travel places – with
a group of guys,” she said, suppressing a
bit of a chuckle. “It was really interesting.
It was really fun. I got to travel all over
the world. Visit some glamorous places.
I was really exposed to the world.
“But at the end of the day, I didn’t like
sports, and I knew I couldn’t stay,” she
said, remaining loyal to her true calling.
Once again, her timing was
pitch perfect. During the early
’80s, a new media sensation,
music videos, was quickly taking
flight. Stepping further off stage,
Benfatto was hired by MTV, where
she learned all about film producing,
which was worlds different from television.
“With broadcast TV, the truck had
everything on it. The sound, camera, the
sound booth. With film, everything is piece
meal. The camera, the dolly, the lights, the
stands, there’s tons and tons of equipment.
You had to learn what you needed and
what you don’t need to order,” she said.
Despite the steep curve, Benfatto,
eager to learn, definitely had a good
time, during those headier days.
“It was a lot of fun to be young at
that time,” said Benfatto, who produced
videos for rockers as big as Cindy Lauper
and Run DMC.
“MTV started producing 3- to 4-minute
videos with their bands. It was quite a ride.
They were signing bands on a daily basis.
Everybody thought they were going to be
the next Rolling Stones,” she said.
Following her creative instincts
even further, Benfatto freelanced as a
writer, worked on television commercials,
which brought in the big bucks, and as
a production manager for mostly action
adventures and erotic thrillers, which
mainly went direct to video, she said.
Gaining a greater perspective of
the entire industry, her jobs ranged
from projects with big budgets to projects
with almost no budget, such as “Bingo
Confidential,” where she had to borrow
the money to buy the camera to shoot
the flick, she said.
But here’s where the saying, “More
money. More problems,” seems to apply.
“I worked with a big, A-list film
where you just throw money at a problem,
where you don’t have to rob Peter to pay
Paul. It was actually worse than making
a low-budget film,” she said, placed
chiefly in charge of making the project
run smoothly and its financing.
“With the big actors, there are big
entourages. You end up moving large
groups of people around. There’re lots of
people. During filming, people are busy
making the next deal for the next film.
“You work twice as hard. The script
changes. A new page flies in every day.
Then there’s cast changes.
“Everybody wants changes. It was
exhausting. It started out good – then
everything changes. I’m kind of lucky
I wrote (Bingo Confidential) all myself,”
she said, despite no financial safety net.
Bingo Confidential
“Estelle,”a fan favorite in a scene from
the comedy, “Bingo Confidential,” uses
her intuitive powers on all aspects of
her life, including playing Bingo.
In fact, given the potential for
unscripted drama, directing wasn’t
even in her repertoire.
“I had fun on the set, but at the
end of the day, it was just work for work’s
sake. We’re not curing cancer,” she said,
when egos flared, personalities clashed,
and things became intense.
Adopting a more
Zen-like philosophy,
Benfatto simply
states, “If you don’t
see blood on the
floor, it really can’t
be that
bad.
Let’s
A Source of just
Inspiration fix it
and move on ...”
Yet, amid all her accomplishments,
Benfatto didn’t feel fulfilled – at least
creatively. “I wasn’t proud of anything
I did. I thought, ‘Oh my God, this brings
nothing of value into the world.’”
Then opportunity to put her
talents to good use came knocking ...
In the form of a little old lady.
“With all these years under my
belt, I wanted to do something funny.
I didn’t want to just make a movie. It
had to have some good. Do it because of
a reason. Then I’d be more prone to keep
at it. It had to have a higher reason than
myself,” she said, of her motivation.
Taking a bit from her production
notes, Benfatto tells a little about the
origins of “Bingo Confidential.”
“The inspiration for the film started
with Mary Sanchez, the mother of my
friend, Peter. She came to visit him in Los
Angeles and had left a newspaper called
“The Bingo Bugle” on his kitchen table.
“Surprisingly, it was about the size
of “The LA Weekly” or “The Village Voice”
– I flipped through it, and I was just
astounded to see that the cash prizes were
pretty substantial - about $250 per game!
“I had always thought that it was a
church game, played mostly for fun, and
the most you might win was $25 a game.
This was 10 times that – and there were
hundreds of Bingo games listed all over
Los Angeles. I was curious, so I offered to
drive Mary to her usual Tuesday night
game. I just had to see what was going on.”
What she discovered was a virtual
microcosm of movie material.
“When we walked into the Bingo hall
I was floored! There were easily a hundred
people there – and they were all ages!
“They all had these colorful ink
daubers and charms and photos spread
out in front of them – but what was most
astonishing was many of the players were
playing four cards at the same time, and
each card had six games on them.
“They were keeping track of 24
separate Bingo cards! I sat through about
six games and watched the players, and
I just knew that there was a film to be
made about it. I knew how difficult it is to
make a film, so I needed to find out more.”
And, she learned quickly what
most newbies don’t soon forget: Never
get between a player and the caller.
“Before the game, they were all laughing and talking. During the game, it was
dead silent. You can’t even whisper,”
she said, with amazement and mock fear.
But it was the impetus behind the
game, staffed by loyal volunteers, that
really moved her to make the film.
“I spoke to a Bingo hall manager,
and he told me that almost all Bingo in
the United States was charity based – all
the profits went back to the charity that
sponsored the game.
“He had said that the money went back
into the schools or the community, but the
small halls had begun to lose some of their
players because of the new larger casinos.
“I thought making a film might create
an interest in people, who had never considered that game before and help those
local charities,” she said.
But before she made the commitment,
Benfatto, pretty much a 1-woman band –
save a skeleton cast and crew – spent the
next six months researching her subjects.
“I wanted to know how often people
play Bingo and why. I knew if the game
wasn’t popular, no one would want to
see the film,” she said.
“The whole project started out as a
short, to see if it would be feasible to
make a 90-minute film,” she said.
Film/See Page 11
9
Martin Meets Martian?
Ride ––––––
Continued From Page 5
n How Do You Unwind:
Sitting outside and reading.
n Life Motto: You get out of life
what you put into it.
n Before Life Is Through? I would
love to be able to have a boat we
could live on, not here in Iowa either.
Somewhere way more South!
Royal –––––
Continued From Page 2
and raised their Bingo cards in the
air. It took a little over a half hour
to verify all of the winners – but
no one complained about the wait
– because they knew they were a
part of a Bingo record event.
Later, after all of the Bingos
were verified, a player asked me
“What would you have done if that
were a Good Neighbor Game?”
Now, for those of you who do
not know what a Good Neighbor
Game is – it is a game, designated by the operator, in which players seated to the left and right of
a winner also receive a prize or a
gift – which, in this case, would
be even 346 more. My answer was,
“Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha.”
Well, that’s all for now ...
This is Tony Tombola saying:
Do a good deed and introduce
someone new to Bingo. They will
always thank you for it. And don’t
forget, you still have time to nomi nate your favorite “Bingo Buddy!”
Yours - Tony Tombola!
10
VKN – VIDEO KING NETWORK
Diamonds ––
DigiMan ––––
Continued From Page 3
Continued From Page 4
benefactor, George W. Littlefield,
but it is also the name of the real
estate company Minch and Lindley
previously made a success:
Littlefield Real Estate Co.
Since its sale in 1997,
the name sat on the corporate
shelf waiting for the next worthy
business endeavor, they said.
Following the turnaround,
Minch began to implement
a strategic acquisitions
program. To do so he
brought a colleague from
his Littlefield Real Estate
days: Lindley, 45, who received a
degree in economics/finance
from The University of Texas
at Austin and completed the
Executive Education Program at
the Stanford Graduate School
of Business.
With more than 20 years
of acquisition and investment
banking experience, Lindley began
his career at Merrill Lynch in
New York City.
He then served as Director
of Corporate Development and
Investor Relations for Norwood
Promotional Products, the largest
publicly traded promotional
products company in the country,
followed by Hotlink, Inc., a leading
provider of Web-based software,
marketing automation and branded
merchandise, before embarking
on joint ventures with Minch at
Littlefield.
Within a short period of
time, the company’s acquisitions
program, headed by Lindley,
acquired several well-established,
profitable, old-economy businesses
and began operating them as
units of Littlefield Corp.
“These were mundane companies with consistent cash flows.
Solid, established moneymakers.
No start-ups or pies in the sky.
Not a lot of excitement. That was
the thesis,” Lindley said of their
choice of acquisitions.
This philosophy is known
around the Littlefield Corp. as
Adventure-less Capital.™
The Game Plan
“The grim facts of the
business at the end of the day,”
explains Lindley, “are the 6 Ds:
death, disability, disease, divorce,
distraction and duress.
Ninety-five percent of all Bingo
halls were started in the ’80s.
Diamonds/See Page 11
Though not a novel
concept, digital signage
have become increasingly
popular methods of communications– as evidenced
by their spike in use.
But why the DigiMan?
“We like the stability
and reliability of the
product,” Free said.
“XRiver Technologies LLC,
the North America
distributor, is
good to work with,
and they are the front line of
support for the units we sell.”
With more than two decades of experience and know-how, XRiver Technologies
explores, defines, designs and develops
breakthrough concepts in mobile computing
and software development.
“Our ideas evolve the way our
customers work with technology, setting
new standards for what you can achieve,”
according to Jin Choi, in Business
Development for XRiver Technologies.
“XRiver works with best-of-breed
companies to create solutions that empower
users to achieve the task at hand.
“Our hardware and software solutions
can offer productivity gains in your work
force, improved quality of service for your
customers, and a measurable return on
investment for your organization,” he said.
In addition, XRiver has the qualified
technical resources needed to provide
mobility solutions combining services,
Catch ––––––
Continued From Page 7
“But it seems Conroy, the consummate salesman, is as much of a draw as the
$20,000 grand prize, some have even said.
He’s always a lot of fun,” said
Joy Jones, a tournament winner from
Chesterfield, Va., who’s become good
friends with him over the years.
“He knows what players like. He makes
it fun. There’s no grass growing under his
feet. He’s a real go-getter. He enjoys life.
He’s always in a good mood. He makes me
laugh. He’s bigger than life,” she said.
He’s even turned the tide for at least
one fellow passenger,
now on his third Bingo
cruise.“Personally I could
software and hardware computing technologies to cover a variety of gaming and
field service areas, such as work orders,
service tickets, audits and inspections.
Offering an affordable, space-saving
alternative to using dedicated PCs in
a digital signage network, the DigiMan
has been the best seller amongst all of
XRiver’s signage appliance models to date.
“Because the management software
and media player hardware are from the
same manufacturer, there is no research
and testing required to ensure compatibility,”
Choi explained.
In addition, the VESA-mountable design
makes it easy to integrate with screens, and
wireless networking options
help reduce wire clutter.
In fact, DigiMan is
XRiver’s only model that
offers an S-Video and
Composite Video in port.
“These ports allow
for clients to connect their
satellite or cable boxes directly
to the (player) and display live TV into one
of the eight possible zone/windows,” he said.
On a grander scale, here are just
some of DigiMan’s wide range of benefits:
n The system can begin with only a
few units and be scaled up to thousands,
and there are no recurring monthly costs
for hosting.
n Remote management capability
allows staff in a central office to control
and send out the playlists of content for
consistent branding and messages.
n The reporting feature provides
proof-of-play for advertisers, giving
another source of revenue and a faster
ROI (return on investment).
n Messages to customers can be
quickly altered to keep up with changes
in promotions and invitations to connect
online for social media outreach.
n In addition to efficient, customizable
communications, there is the option for
WebDT SimulCAST and UrgentCAST,
so that digital signs can also be used for
never stand cruises. I had a negative attitude,” said Dale Willey, marketing director/
manager of Bingo World, a Baltimore commercial hall. “Once you walked the whole
length of the ship, there wasn’t a lot do.
This was actually fun. There’s a lot
of interaction with other people. It
was relaxing. I’m in the business,
so I’m not a big fan of playing.
But how often can you play for
that kind of money?” he said.
Willey, whose been in the Bingo
business about 30 years, actually met
Conroy before his first cruise, which he
now books with a large group.
“I met Dennis about 15 years ago.
During the last six or seven we became
friends. We had more of a working relationship. Dennis runs buses. Our job is
to book buses to our halls.”
Whether on ship or shore, he said,
FALL ’10
Product Specs:
n Model: SA2000
n Processor: AMD Sempron™
1.6GHz/2GHz or AMD Turion™ 2.0GHz
Dual-Core Processor
n RAM: 1 or 2GB (DDR II SODIMMx 1)
n Storage: 4GB, 8GB or 16GB Flash
or 120GB HDD
n Display: Up to 1920 x 1080
n Operating System: Microsoft
Windows® XP Embedded
n Wireless Connection: 10/100Mb
BaseT LAN/WiFi 802.11a/b/g
n I/O Ports:
• VGA (1)
• HDMI (1)
• Audio Jacks (3)
• USB Ports (2)
• RJ45 Connector for Ethernet (1)
• DC-in Jack (1)
• S-Video Input (1)
• Composite Video-In (1)
• RS232 COM Port (1)
n Optional: WiFi Dipole Antenna (1)
n Dimensions: (H x W x D)
2.16” x 5.82” x 6.5”
n Weight: 3.16 lbs/1430g
n Environmental Regulatory: FCC
Class B, CE, C-Tick, UL, RoHS Compliant
n Operating Temperature:
0-40 Degrees C
emergency broadcasts if needed.
n These two software components
allow for messages to be quickly displayed
on all digital signs in a network, as well as
all computer gaming screens in a network,
with text and audio overriding scheduled
content to give clear, time-sensitive information immediately to specific locations.
We’ve given you just a picture.
But think you get the message ...
“Dennis will do anything he can to help you.
He makes sure you are being taken care of.
He’d do anything for you.”
Even when “the waters” get a
bit rough º º º
“I’ve never seen
him get upset,” Willey said. “He handles
situations very well. He’s a real nice guy.
The Bingo business is a very small circle.
I’ve never heard a bad word said about him
– that’s highly unusual in this business.
He’s an OK guy.”
Need more proof? Just ask the fish.
When it comes time to relax, yes, he does
schedule that in, Conroy goes sports fishing at least four or five times a month.
“Sailfish, Mahi-Mahi, King Fish,
Blue Fish, you name it, I caught it. But
I release them. I want to catch them
tomorrow. If I let them go, they get even
bigger,” he said. Enough said
º
ºº º
VKN – VIDEO KING NETWORK
FALL ’10
Film ––––––
Continued From Page 9
“Alix and Richard,
who play “Lois” and “John,”
were in L.A. for pilot season,
so I called them and asked
them if I could borrow them
for an hour. I gave them the
concept for their characters,
and we improvised for a
while. What came out of their
mouths made me laugh, so their
characters were set. I came up with five
other characters, and I found five other
friends and put it all on tape and edited it
on iMovie™ on my Mac.
“After that, I really had to think about
continuing because I knew what it would
take to make a movie with absolutely no
budget. It would be a huge undertaking –
once I started I knew I couldn’t turn back.”
The film, which won “Best Comedy”
and “Best Feature Film” at the 2009
Long Island Film Festival, was shot documentary-style to give it “a less refined, less
precise look, with the camera often placed
in the middle of the room,” she said.
The only thing that makes her
cringe a bit, the genre the film falls
under – mockumentary.
“I didn’t base my characters on specific
people – to me that would be like I was
making fun of someone, and I don’t really
like that kind of comedy. I just came up
with characters who seem normal on the
outside, but were interesting and fun to
watch and a little flawed, when you get to
know them. Like my friends and me.
The characters are not thought as
Bingo players, but characters who
play Bingo,” she said.
Although the script
was originally improv,
Benfatto eventually had
to take the reins and write
the dialogue.
“I gave Alix, Richard
and Sheri, who plays
“Estelle,” the underlying
motivation and the direction
they needed to go for the scene.
I gave them some lines I knew I needed to
get from point A to B, and I let them go.
“I wound up with hours of footage –
most of it very funny, but unusable because
there was too much of it – the film would
have been four hours,” she said.
“It became an editing nightmare, so I
bit the bullet and sat down and wrote out
everything, but I wrote it as I went along.
“It was not a complete script from the
beginning. I had to do it that way because
I never knew what locations I could get or
what kinds of supporting cast I could
come up with.”
Nor was everyone involved a
professional actor by any means.
“I think everyone did a great job. We
even cast some real Bingo players at one
of the halls we shot in. I told them about
the scene and who the characters were
and what the joke was, and they jumped
right in. They had a lot of fun, and I got
some great moments for the film.”
Since its release, Benfatto has
received nothing but positive reviews.
“I was thrilled. I think it is really
funny. Every time I put together a scene,
I kept watching and kept laughing at the
antics of the characters,” she said.
But what makes her happiest, is the
feedback from her peers, the people in the
industry. “They said, ‘This is a really wellmade film. It doesn’t look like an independent film. All the story lines hang together.’
“But, above all else on the planet,” like
many artists, who remain their toughest
critics, Benfatto said, “I have to like it best.”
Despite a successful screening at
a L.A. theatre, Benfatto decided to shop
the film through independent distributors,
such as Video King.
“Bingo is such a niche market.
Many Bingo players aren’t online or have
Facebook,” she said. Instead, she’s
working on the “Bingo Confidential Tour,”
by bringing the film to a local theatre –
or better yet – Bingo hall nearest you.
Wrapping the project up, Benfatto
surmises, “It’s really a simple, little movie.
The film is certainly not changing the
world. It’s not teaching anybody anything.”
But she does want it to spark an
interest ...
“I hope it encourages people to go
to the local Bingo halls. Even one game,
one night. It’s a lot of fun. You can win
some money. It’s charity-driven. It helps
local churches and high schools.
They need people.”
If nothing else ... she said,
“Everybody could use a laugh ...
They should laugh. And laugh, as often
as possible ...” Cut.
Comedy Available Through Video King’s Online Store!
Bingo Confidential – Not A Game For Kids
B
1 ... That is be one of the
first to view what may fast
become a Bingo cult classic.
“Bingo Confidential – It’s
Not A Game For Kids,” a comedy feature
film, shot documentary style, follows six
Bingo-loving characters as they vie, lie,
scheme, plot – and even channel the beyond
– to win a million-dollar Bingo game,
bequested by a woman who made her
fortune playing Bingo.
Here’s where the plot thickens ...
The game, held in the woman’s honor,
must be played before her greedy relatives
can contest her will. That’s about the only
thing honorable about most these characters,
played by a multi-talented, award-winning
cast – and crew for that matter – ranging
from Emmy recipients, Broadway performers,
playwrights, a man working on his doctorate
in mathematics, comics, first-time actors,
real Bingo players and, yes, even realtors.
The 88-minute
mockumentary, available
through Video King’s online
store, was produced, written, directed and edited by
To purchase your copies of
“Bingo Confidential,” with discounts
for large orders, visit Video King’s
e-store at VideoKingNetwork.com.
Los Angeles filmmaker, Suzy Noel Benfatto.
And, since she began this madcap-style,
who’s-in-it-to-win-it production with almost
no budget (she even had to borrow the
cash to buy the camera to shoot the flick)
– she also served as location scout, caterer
and wardrobe mistress. But, as they say in
some gaming circles – this wasn’t her first
spin at the wheel. Seems the film industry
for Benfatto – like Bingo itself – has a
certain calling ...
Although it’s her first directorial debut,
Benfatto has been a producer for more than
20 years, beginning in the early years of MTV,
producing the one of the first rap music
videos for RUN/DMC, as well as videos for
Cyndi Lauper, Juice Newton, Oak Ridge Boys
and the FLY ON THE WALL video for AC/DC.
After moving to Los Angeles in 1989, Benfatto, who’s currently writing the Web series,
“The Real Horsewives of Hollywood,”
worked as a line producer for low-budget
features, before joining ad agency Bozell
as a broadcast producer for clients, such
as Taco Bell,® TaylorMade® and Kawasaki.®
She also wrote and produced “Naughty
Or Nice,” a Christmas film for ABC/Disney,
starring comedian George Lopez in 2005.
Although none of the cast is based on
real players, the film was inspired by a true
Bingo aficionado, who exposed Benfatto to
the Bingo culture – which in film terms –
were rich in character. What struck her most
was not only the
magnitude of the
game’s popularity, but the fact
that all profits
went back to
the charity
that sponsored
the game.
11
Diamonds ––
Continued From Page 10
“Traditionally, sons and
daughters do not follow in their
father’s footsteps. As the owner
ages, there’s no internal transition.
“That’s when they find me.
I get half a dozen calls a week
from a range of people; lawyers,
owners, sons, daughters, all looking to monetize their business.”
When a property is acquired,
the work doesn’t necessarily stop
there. The company anticipates
recovering its entire investment
(usually $100,000 to $400,000)
in a newly acquired Bingo hall –
within one to two years after a full
contingent of charities and a
stable and predictable operating
environment are in place.
“We do a lot of things to
update and energize the halls.
In the first 180 days we’ll make
about $100,000 in improvements;
mostly physical repairs.
“New flashboards, flat screens
and computers, paint the entire
hall from top to bottom, get new
tables and chairs, redo the bathrooms, move and expand the
point-of-sale system, install a new
sound system, add/or improve the
cooling and exhaust system, as
well as improve a building’s exterior and signage,” Lindley said.
But, it takes more than
cosmetic changes to make these
Bingo halls a success – which is
the second part of their equation.
Although many hall owners
are street smart, not all are business savvy. With a seasoned,
senior management team in place,
Littlefield incorporates a series of
best practices in everything from
training, software and reporting
procedure – right down to the
proper employee dress code to help
their halls, and again, the charities,
realize their full potential.
Testing various marketing
schemes, Lindley is also using
the latest technology, like Video
King’s entertainment systems.
“The handhelds have really
come a long way,” Lindley said.
And so has the Littlefield Corp.
For further information regarding
Littlefield’s acquisitions or investments, please contact Michael J.
Lindley at (512) 476-5141 or
[email protected].
• • • •
Visit VideoKingNetwork.com
for our entire line of electronic
gaming systems, Bingo hall equipment, innovative games, contests,
media center and online store!
12
VKN – VIDEO KING NETWORK
Company
Contacts
Video King
FALL ’10
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE PAID
OMAHA NE
PRINTCO GRAPHICS
2717 N. 118th Circle, Ste. 210
Omaha, NE 68164
VideoKingNetwork.com
VKGS LLC
Video King:
Corporate Headquarters
2717 N. 118th Circle, Suite 210
Omaha, Neb., 68164
Toll Free: (800) 635-9912
Local: (402) 951-2970
Fax: (402) 951-2990
Manufacturing Division
VKGS Florida Affiliates
Bingo Video Division
9940 Curry David Dr., Ste. B4
Tampa, Fla., 33619
Toll Free: (877) 746-6087
Local: (813) 628-4020
Fax: (813) 628-4013
Bingo King Division
3402 S.W. 26th Terrace, Ste. B4
Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 33312
Local: (954) 321-8300
Toll Free: (800) 786-2464
Fax: (813) 954-321-8262
Video King Gaming &
Entertainment Canada Ltd.
Research & Development
1475 Chevrier Blvd., Suite 100
Winnipeg, MB R3T 1Y7
Local: (204) 452-0100
Fax: (204) 452-0600
Help Desk: (888) 246-4609
Newsletter Editor
Carla Chance
[email protected]
Channel ––––
Continued From Page 1
Play Free At VKGC.Net º º º º
Earn Points, Enter Drawings,
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brings us to the
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every casino-style
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rounds and highly
stores to gas cards, as well as player’s
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favorites, such as I-Pods, digital cameras,
– is
hi-def TVs, jewelry – and more.
someWinners will be notified directly via e-mail,
thing
using your log-in registration information.
(If you need to change your initial contact
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In case you've been out of the loop or
need to refresh your memory, click on the
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To ensure you’ll be able to further
Along with your winner notification,
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Video King will also be introducing new
Yes, you’ve heard it right. On the
games and prize offerings, including some
Video King Gaming Channel, you don’t need to
seasonal items, throughout the year.
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We hope you enjoy this virtual gaming
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Bingo, a favorite pastime the world over,
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the Video King Gaming Channel was designed
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according to Dan Free,
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Video King
7270 Pacific St.
Omaha, Neb., 68114
Toll Free: (800) 525-8380
Facility: (402) 951-2970
Fax: (402) 315-3496