- Video King

Transcription

- Video King

VOL. IX, ISSUE I
V
VKN
VIDEO KING NETWORK
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.
New Bonanza Games
A Virtual Treasure . . .
Read All
About It!
n New Bonanza Games Feature
Free Play & Bonus Rounds ... 1
n Video King ‘Launches’ Bingo
Aboard Black Diamond Cruise ... 1
n Paradise Bingo Creates New
Wolf Design For Custom Desk ... 2
n Video King Stages Brew Ha-Ha:
Cruise Offered As Top Prize ... 3
n OMNI’s Newest Modules Place
Customer Ease Top Priority ... 3
n New TSS Director Is Not
Afraid To Take ‘The Plunge’ ... 4
n Southern Ute Indian Tribe
Power Source Beyond ‘Res’... 4
n Bingo Promoter Well Known
For Brand Of Bingotainment ... 6
n Life’s A Circus Of Sorts For
DAV Bingo Hall Manager ... 8
n Bingo Becomes Big Business
For Family-Run Organization ... 8
n Chinook Winds Casino Provides
Warm, Welcoming Respite ... 10
n Palm Plaza Bingo ‘Promotes’
One Of Its Major ‘Players’ ... 12
n Corona Integra II Hands-Free
Desk: Ultimate Crown Jewel ... 16
Copyright 2013 VKGS LLC
All Rights Reserved
easure!
Aye, ’Tis A Tr ewes t
N
s
g’
in
K
o
de
Vi
es Now
Bonanza Gam Play
ee
Fr
e
Fe at ur
s!
& Bonus Round
SPRING 2013
Y
ou won’t have to dive
20,000 leagues under the
sea to find this sunken
treasure – just the nearest
Bingo venue, which
has the good fortune to
feature Video King’s
newest QuickShot
Bonanza
games.
Follow
this bodacious beauty,
a veritable siren of the sea,
as she as flits among the ancient ship,
for it is she alone, who holds the key ...
Aye ’tis a mystery to what unfolds,
till you climb aboard this beautifully
illustrated aquatic hull.
May the fates be kind, within this
watery wonderland. ’Fore within her
bounty, she may steer you to, Video King’s
newest game features, our highly anticipated free play and bonus rounds.
Whether it be a pirate ship, deserted
isle or coral reef, X marks the spot, from
where you select, whence your next
bonus round treasures may be ...
Treasure/See Page 13
Black Diamond Sets Sail From Florida Port ...
Video King ‘Launches’ Bingo On Board!
T
hey “missed” the
boat, literally ...
But with the
launch of
the Black Diamond
Casino Cruises, they’ll
get another chance.
In fact, they could hit
the jackpot – on many
levels ... Three to be exact.
After much anticipation,
the 165-foot, newly renovated ship,
which sets sail from the Port of Palm
Beach, Fla., offers gaming on all
three decks. But the top deck – their
upscale dining and entertainment
venue – is now reserved for
Bingo, powered exclusively
by Video King, a flagship
gaming company
in itself.
Formerly known
as the SunCruz
Casino, the 600plus, passenger cruise ship
was purchased by Black Diamond
Diamond/See Page 13
Black Diamond Casino Inc.
The newly renovated 165-foot Black Diamond
offers casino-style gaming on all three decks.
Home Of The Champs!
VKN – VIDEO KING NETWORK
Video King
Harbors Vast
Ports Of Call
A Word From Tim Stuart
M
y compliments
to our Carla
Chance, Video
King’s Director
of Marketing/Communications.
I think Carla does a great job
with our Video King Network
news magazine.
Carla’s main focus in this
issue was to go out and interview
a number of Bingo hall managers
from across the U.S.A and
Canada, both in the charitable
world and in Indian Country.
We find that Bingo hall managers and their teams have so very
many fantastic ideas about how
to give their players/customers a
great experience playing Bingo.
As you read Carla’s interviews
in this edition of our Video King
magazine, you will see that a
common thread is that the
managers really care about their
players/customers, and they
treat them like family.
For me it reinforces what a
great “social” game Bingo is.
We hope that you enjoy these
articles, and again I thank Carla
and I thank all of the managers,
who were kind enough to let us
interview them. Your feedback is
always very much appreciated.
Tim Stuart
President & CEO
VKGS LLC (dba Video King)
[email protected]
(800) 635-9912, Ext: 7777
Cell: (voice) (402) 578-1475
Text: (only) (402) 575-8387
SPRING 2013
Wolf Clan’s Bingo Heeds People’s Call ....
Tribe Creates Symbolic Desk Design
T
Heeding Their Call ...
he wolf symbolizes
many things to many
cultures: courage,
strength, loyalty,
strong family ties,
success at hunting, as well as wisdom.
But to the Munsee Delaware Nation
of Canada, this noble creature also
symbolizes the clan of these First
Nations people, an ancient civilization,
akin to the Native Americans of the
United States.
Located on a small reserve on
the northern shore of the Thames River
in the province of Ontario, the Munsee
Delaware Nation or Lenni Lenape
people’s (meaning ancient or first man)
origins could date back as far as 30,000
years or more, their ancestral homeland
being among the Delaware and Hudson
rivers – better known today as
New York City.
According to similar accounts,
The First Nations had great respect for
wolves because of their very likeness.
Both hunt, gather, defend and even
educate their tribe or pack.
Food was provided for all in the pack,
including the old and sick, it was said.
In fact, the wolf has always been
respected as a very family-oriented
creature. It mates for life, watches and
protects its young until they are old
enough to fend for themselves and
protects its elders.
In a sense, the wolf, much like these
people, lived in a way that made the
tribe strong. Although their lives have
changed dramatically and
their numbers have dwindled since ancient times,
the Munsee Delaware
Nation’s sense of community has remained strong.
Much like the wolf, they are
still heeding their people’s call. Which
is why they chose a wolf motif as a
symbolic design for their new desk at
the Paradise Bingo Hall, one of many
endeavors, which help enrich their
community and help strengthen and
preserve their cultural heritage.
Video King
2
The Munsee Delaware Nation created a wolf motif, symbolic to their people,
for their new desk at Paradise Bingo Hall. Pr oceeds generate funds for various community enrichment projects. The Munsee are among many who have
chosen Video King’s stock or custom decals to enhance their Bingo halls.
The Paradise Bingo Hall, which
opened five years ago, generates funds
for several community betterment projects,
including most recently the construction
of six, brand-new homes on the reserve,
according to Tyler Waddilove, 29, its
general manager.
Owned and operated by the Munsee
Delaware Nation, the popular venue –
which seats up to 300, offering trips,
cars and other big-money prizes – has
had a tremendous impact on the local
economy, helping the Munsee people
forge a better future, he said.
Although only 400-some strong,
the community, governed by an elected
chief and council members, offers
everything needed for every aspect
of life for the roughly 3-kilometer
(1.9-mile) reserve.
They range from parenting
classes, job training, home health-care,
counseling services, law enforcement,
alcohol and drug awareness, education,
housing and economic development
programs.
A portion of the Bingo proceeds
fund a charity, which helps cover the
costs of these community-enrichment
projects, as well as provides financial
assistance to Munsee Delaware youth,
pursuing sports and other extra-curricu-
lar activities, he said. But it doesn’t
stop there.
They take care of their own ...
“We are the highest paying Bingo
hall in the area, because we want them
to make good pay to provide for their
families,” said Waddilove of the roughly
26 full-time employees, hired from the
Munsee Delaware and surrounding
reserves.
Waddilove first caught wind of
Video King’s Bingo consoles, available
in custom and stock designs, through
Peter Speck, a Bazaar Marketing
distributor, at the Canadian Gaming
Summit,
held in
Niagara
Falls last
year.
“We
had an
old console
we had bought used five years ago. We
needed a new machine. We got a great
deal, along with the decal through Peter,
who has worked tirelessly and efficiently
since the beginning. It was a no-brainer,”
he said, of the new desk purchase.
Wolf/See Page 15
load
SPRING 2013
Thethe
Join Us For A Brew Ha-Ha!
Cruise Among Show’s Top Bingo Prize!
O
What’s all the Brew ha-ha?
h, only that you could win an all-expensepaid cruise for two – in addition several
other Bingo prizes. After you’ve had a
chance to preview Video King’s latest
line of electronic gaming systems,
game designs and Bingo hall equipment. Where? Oh, just
somewhere, sunny, breezy, known as a prize vacation destination along the Gulf, where
they pride themselves
on Southern hospitality
and gamers, they do
like to gather ...
Have you connected
all the dots? That’s OK,
that’s not the name of
this particular game.
Let us paint the
Carnival Cruise Lines
picture for you ...
Video King, a corporate sponsor, will stage a Bingo game
at the 20th Annual Southern Gaming Summit, held in conjunction
with BingoWorld May 7-9 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum &
Convention Center in Biloxi, Miss.
This event, which attracts thousands each year, is North
America’s largest commercial gaming tradeshow, outside of Vegas.
“Spin The Bottle Bingo” – well, you will need something to
wet your whistle – will be held at 3:30 p.m. W ednesday, May 8,
at Booth 923. Game information will be included in the registra tion packs. Free Bingo cards will be available fr om Video King
And, while your waiting for the fun and games to begin,
do be sure to preview all Video King plans to offer at
the show. This year’s products will include:
n The Corona Integra II: Video King’s
3
OMNI Places
Customer Ease
As First Priority
W
Carnival Cruise Lines
Just like Lil’ Champ, can you picture yourself aboard an allexpense paid cruise? Well if you dream it, it could come true
– if you partake in “Spin The Bottle Bingo,” sponsor ed by
Video King at BingoWorld, May 8, in Biloxi, Miss.
ultimate crown jewel. Our new, deluxe, hands-free Bingo console
offers players a ring-side seat to all the action. This top-of-theline, chrome console – with crystal-clear, glass-encased chamber
– allows unhindered view of the balls in motion fr om every facet
in the crowd. (See images, Page 16).
n TriplePlay Bingo Display: “Super-Size” your game!
By splitting the electronic flashboard image into three, hi-definition (HD) channels, everything can be much, MUCH bigger – as it
is spread across three TV screens. Aligned in the shape of a traditional flashboard, two of the monitors will show the 75-number
Cruise/See Page 16
ith the first
of the year,
came many
firsts for
OMNI,™ our multi-functional
Bingo hall management system.
First of all, did you know ...
OMNI, our touch-screen-driven,
point-of-sale system – prized for
its supreme tracking ability –
is continuously updated.
That’s because when a need
arises, be it a new function or
feature, Video King makes it our
top priority to respond to your call.
And, what makes this
revolutionary, yet incredibly easyto-operate system, the one you’d
want for your hall.
First off, OMNI now has the
ability to offer sales to multiple
sessions – all at the same time,
according to Dan Free, Video
King’s CTO and Vice President
of Electronics.
“That means if a customer
comes in at 9 a.m. and wants to
stay for multiple sessions, he or
she can buy everything at once.
“No need to return back to
the cashier for the next session.
Everything is downloaded onto the
gaming device then and there.”
Not only is it easier for the players, but also the hall managers.
“It makes the financial
reporting much simpler. In the
past, multiple sessions could be
sold as one, but the financials,”
he said, “were lumped together.
“Now they can distinguish
between sessions.”
Deemed “smarter-than-theaverage” cash register, OMNI
now exhibits more “marketing
intelligence,” as well.
“In essence, the Promotions &
Players Club modules have been
integrated to provide more astute
reporting features,” Free said.
For example, OMNI now has
the ability to track spending patterns of a select group, such as
VIP members, or judge whether a
promotion, say discount for newcomers, was money well spent.
Most recently, OMNI has
expanded even further, to allow
halls to generate their own custom
-designed gift certificates, complete with optional bar-coding
system.
OMNI/See Page 7
4
TSS Director
Is Not Afraid
To Take The
‘Plunge’ ...
Kevin Watson
n Name: Kevin A. Watson.
n Age: 28.
n Residence/Place of Birth:
Omaha/Grand Island, Neb.
n Title: Technical Service
& Support Director.
n How Long With Company:
Almost one year.
n Job Detail: My job involves
directing all installs with our
field staff and help desk. I also
interface with our Research &
Development team to ensure that
as new product is available, that
we get it into the appropriate
markets in a timely manner.
n Best About Job: Working with
a diverse team spread across the
United States and Canada.
n Interests/Hidden Talents: I was
a DJ for seven years. I worked all
types of events – from weddings
to sorority and fraternity parties.
One event will always stick
out in my mind from this. I was
working a wedding with my wife,
and this older lady was dancing
on the floor all night.
At the end of the night
she came up behind the booth
and planted one right on my lips
in front of my wife. I have never
been at a loss for words like
I was that night. My wife will
still give me a hard time about
it today.
n What Did You Want To Be As A
Child: A physical therapist, until
I took my first computer networking class and was bit by the bug.
Plunge/See Page 5
SPRING 2013
Video King Plays Hand In Casino Enterprise
Utes: Power Source Beyond The ‘Res’
T
hey are the longest
continuous residents
of Colorado, the largest
employer in La Plata
County and among the
most generous contributors to nonprofit
organizations in the southwest region
of the state, which accounts for 75
percent of the U.S. landmass, reaching
a lofty 10,000 feet.
Over the past 25 years, the
Southern Ute Indian Tribe of Colorado
has become a major player in the local,
state and national economy, operating
a range of
businesses on
and off
the reservation.
Among
them,
Sky Ute
Casino,
Sky Ute
their
newly renovated property, which began
using Video King’s products last year,
according to Doug McCall, general
manager of their Bingo hall.
It is not written in stone when
the Utes – known historically for their
horsemanship – came from the North
and South and inhabited the mountainous areas of present-day Colorado,
Utah (which takes its name from the
Ute people) and parts of Arizona
and New Mexico, he said,
providing a little background on their origins.
Eventually, though,
the Utes became concentrated into a loose confederation of
seven bands, with the Mouache and
Capote comprising the tribe, as it is
known today.
As their livelihood shifted, adapting
to their ever-changing
times, so have their
gaming operations.
In 2012, they began
offering hand-held
electronics for the
first time ever, with
the installation of Video
King’s gaming equipment. More specifically the
TAB-e,™ our latest portable gaming
tablet, and OMNI,™ our multi-functional
Bingo hall management system,
he said.
Now employing 438 people, the
original property, located just outside of
Sky Ute
The Southern Ute Indian Tribe of Colorado has become a major player
in the local, state and national economy, operating a wide range of businesses on and off the reservation, including the newly renovated Sky Ute
Casino, which has opted to implement Video King’s gaming systems.
Ignacio, opened as a Bingo hall and a
hotel with 35 units back in the 1970s.
“The casino was added to that in
1993, with another addition in 1994.
The new property opened in 2009.
Sky Ute
So Bingo has been going strong and
evolving for the last 42 years,” he said.
Since some time has passed, we
asked McCall for some feedback
regarding the installation, gauge
its success, and the hand it
may play, bringing more
people to the resort.
First, a bit about Sky
Ute, fast emerging as a
booming tourism destination.
n Why do people visit?
For the entertainment of gaming,
the shows, such as Joan Jett or Carlos
Mencia and the like, dining, bowling
and of course we can’t forget the most
important venue of all ... BINGO!
(I am slightly biased.)
n What are some of the area
attractions/recreational activities?
Water sports on various nearby
lakes, hiking, biking, golfing, camping,
soaking in the hot springs, cultural
activities – both Native American and
that of the Wild West (i.e. Mesa Verde,
old Fort Lewis, the Durango Silverton
Train, Chimney Rock, etc ... ) and of
course gambling!
Skiing in just over an hour.
Shopping. Dining. It is one of the
few places in the country where you
can ski one day and ride your bike
the next. We are in the middle of it
all, he said.
n What amenities does the
resort offer?
For gambling we have Bingo, table
games, such as blackjack, poker, craps
and roulette, and a great slot floor with
more than 600 slot machines.
We have fantastic banquet services
and space for weddings, meetings and
conferences. Pretty much anything you
want, our Food & Beverage crew can
make it happen.
On the hotel side, Sky Ute has
140 rooms, including eight king suites,
standard rooms with king beds, standard rooms with two queen beds and
handicapped-accessible rooms.
Of that number 25 percent are
smoking rooms. Amenities include pool
access, guest laundry, a fitness center
and complimentary breakfast.
Sky Ute/See Page 5
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SPRING 2013
Thethe
Plunge ––
Sky Ute –––––––––
Continued From Page 4
In addition Sky Ute has 24 RV spaces, with the same
amenities offered to hotel guests. Other perks include a
variety of discounts, including group and hotel packages, a
24-hour gift shop, 24-lane bowling alley, 18-hole miniature
golf course and beauty salon on the premises.
n How popular is Bingo at your resort?
People love it! Where else can you find a wonderful
social evening’s entertainment, where your enjoyment
and contentment is the goal of an entire department.
n Do you notice any fluctuations or
patterns in number of visitors?
The casino itself is a seasonal business,
so summer is quite a boost for them. Bingo does
pretty well year-round, but also benefits from the
summer boost!
n How often is Bingo played?
We hold session four days a week. Wednesday, Thursday
and Friday doors open at 4:30 p.m., with the first game
called at 5:45 and usually completed at 8 to 8:30 p.m.
Sunday we open at 12:30 p.m., the first game called at 1:45,
and the session usually ends at 4 to 4:30 p.m.
n How many people generally attend Bingo sessions?
We run approximately 75 to 115 people per session.
We are a smaller hall and are pretty much maxed out at 115.
n Do you hold any special Bingo-related events?
We do our best to plan a special event for our Bingo
players each and every session!
n Any future plans for the resort?
Our desire is to build on the reputation of being the
place to go for entertainment in our area and continue to
provide the best in customer service.
Video King Plays Hand
n Describe your recent Video King install.
The install and going live was the worst fear I faced
throughout the process. The team that came down made it a
very smooth and easy transition. Aside from the installation
itself, the guys stayed on and helped with live sessions,
training staff and customers. I couldn’t have hoped for a
better transition. I am very pleased!
n Why did you decide to implement Video King?
Video King has an excellent line of products. However,
I look for a lot more when I make the decision to work with
a company. It is paramount that the company I deal with
maintains professional integrity in their business dealings,
not just with me but any business dealings.
The staff must display a positive attitude, show affection
for the company they work for, and be honest themselves.
This may seem like a lot to ask for these days ... in all hon esty it’s really not. If you run a company properly , with good
intent, it’s a fairly easy standard to meet.
n When was the install completed?
The install was completed and tested on April 23, 2012.
We trained the staff on April 24, 2012, and our first day to
use the TAB-e handsets in a live session was April 25, 2012.
I really wish I had brought this product to our Bingo hall
years ago.
n Did the installation go smoothly?
The installation was very smooth. This was not the first
rodeo for the guys that came down. They were confident, very
knowledgeable of the system, and worked very well as a team.
5
Video King
Many factors went into Sky Ute’s decision to implement
Video King’s gaming equipment, which included the
TAB-e (above), our portable gaming tablet, and OMNI,
our multi-functional, Bingo hall management system.
Factors included product excellence, company integrity
and a dedicated, as well as, highly professional staff.
n Why did you decide to install the T AB-e?
I trust this company, and this is latest version of their
handset. The handset is just the right size for a customer to
use and play paper as well. The handset has a r ugged design
that should hold up over time. Ease of use is a BIG reason.
It’s a breeze to use from programming on the hall’s side to the
customer signing on for an enjoyable session of BINGO!
n What are its best features?
Again, ease of use for customers, staff and management.
n How do you like the OMNI Bingo Hall Management System?
We do not use the management system at this time, but
it is a well-written program.
n Which OMNI modules do you use?
At this time we use the TAB-e handsets and OMNI point-of
-sale. I would like to bring Bingo racing to the hall in the future.
n Which OMNI feature is most valuable to you?
For me it’s the large choice of reports the system generates
and perks, such as being able to program in new games at the
server instead of the caller desk (I have to check out keys to
open up the desk). For my staff it’s an easy-to-use, customized
point-of-sale.
n What are some of its best features? The system
is user friendly so training new staff is quite simple.
n What type of feedback have you gotten from your
employees regarding the new system.
At first everyone, including myself, was a bit intimidated
in regards to learning a new system. Everyone picked up on
the functions very quickly. My cage staff now actively looks for
improvements to the sales screen. They are pleased to take
part in the customization of the system and feel confident
when using it. Heck they should, we designed it as a team!
The floor sales staff like that the TAB-e is easy to verify
winning Bingos. They also like the opportunity to spend more
time with the customer, helping them customize the TAB-e,
customers enjoy this part as well.
n Family: I have a wife, Jenn,
and two children. My son, Ethan,
is 1, and my daughter, Jocelyn,
is 3. They tend to keep me on
my toes.
n Background: My background
has been heavy on network and
server administration. I then
spent a couple years managing
a team of technicians across
Nebraska working on small business networks. I also did sales
and project management during
this time as well.
n Education: Bachelor’s degree
in Telecommunications
Management from the University
of Nebraska at Kearney;
Master’s degree in Management
of Information Systems from
University of Bellevue.
n What People Don’t Know About
You? That I’m an avid fisherman.
When spring comes around, I like
to spend as much time on the
lake as I can.
Even though I spend a lot of
time fishing, I practice mostly
catch and release. I will harvest
fish six to seven times a year, but
would rather see the fish enjoyed
later by another angler.
I’m very excited for this spring
as my daughter is getting to the
age that I can start bringing her
along with me.
n If You Weren’t Doing This:
I’d be a teacher. I have a hard
time though picturing myself
teaching keyboarding at the high
school level. I would love to teach
and coach though.
n Favorite Get-Away:
Rodocker Ranch in Halsey, Neb.
It’s a great place to spend time
with my family with absolutely
nothing around. Also my cell
phone doesn’t work up there,
it’s peace and quiet.
n Favorite Drink: Any
energy drink.
n Favorite TV Show(s): If you
went by what is on my TV the
most that would be “Dora The
Explorer” and “Bubble Guppies.”
When I finally get to watch my
shows, I like “Breaking Bad.”
It’s interesting to see a
character, who is faced with his
own mortality, make decisions
that may be legally and morally
wrong, just to leave his family a
better life after he is gone.
Sky Ute/See Page 9
Plunge/See Page 6
6
Plunge –––
n Favorite Food: Any Mexican
food. I prefer authentic, but will
also eat Tex-Mex.
n Favorite Movie: “Serenity,” it
gave a little closure to the series,
“Firefly,” that was canceled way
before it should have been. I grew
up watching Westerns, and the
nerd in me loves Sci-Fi movies.
When you combine the two, I’m
a sucker and can’t resist it.
n How Do You Unwind: My
biggest stress reliever is either
going for a run or taking my bike
out for a few miles.
n Most Daring Thing You’ve
Ever Done: Got married ...
Either cliff jumping at Pactola
Lake in South Dakota or bungee
jumping in Vegas. Bungee jumping was surprisingly the harder
of the two, even though I was
attached to something. When you
stand and can see over the casinos in Vegas and then jump from
the edge, it gets a bit sketchy.
n In Regards To Technology,
How Do You Think Things Will
Be Different In The Future:
I see technology becoming more
intrusive into our lives as we
move forward. I think there will
become a point where targeted
ads will be displayed while you
are walking down the street or
driving in your car based upon
GPS and your previous purchases
and searches. I think we as
consumers have the power to
prevent the over sharing of our
information, but either don’t know
how to stop this flow, or don’t
care as long as they are giving
us something free in return.
n Best Invention Ever: The
Internet. The Internet has changed
the way that we live our lives, do
business and socialize. Name
another invention that has
changed the way the world works
the way that the Internet has.
If I needed to chat with someone
in China today, I could start a
Skype or WebEx session and
chat and collaborate in real time
while seeing their reactions and
body language.
n Life Motto: Strive to be better
today than you were yesterday.
n If You Could Go Back In Time,
What Era Would You Live:
The 1920s were great before the
Depression, the economy was
booming, and it appears it was
Plunge/See Page 7
SPRING 2013
Bob’s The Name, Bingotainment My Game!
Pilot Stages Bingo With Flying Colors
H
e’s probably staged
one of the most,
if not the most
successful Cosmic
Bingo in the nation,
where as emcee, he takes a lead role
in keeping the party rolling ...
How else could you account for the
800-some people who flocked to this
wildly popular,
late-night
event, where
the house
lights are
about the only
thing turned
down low.
For those
who have
never witnessed it. It
is a sight to
behold. But
be warned.
You may need
to adjust your
Bob Larsen
eyes. It’s
Bingo in a totally different spectrum.
Bingo. Not like you’d know it ...
Billed as two hours of high-energy,
entertainment – blasting everything
from techno music to rock ‘n’ roll –
there’re mega jackpots and progressives, a DJ, dance-offs, fluorescent ink
to mark your cards,
glow-in-the-dark
T-shirts and
decor, all in a
swirling vortex of
black lights,
laser beams,
fun, laughter, Bingo
players, contests and strobes.
Add that to his illustrious, long
list of highly popular, often-sold out
“bingotainment” – on top of his multiple personal and professional accomplishments – that run the gamut of
high-tech, military training to a life
dedicated to the preservation of cultural
arts to taking on some he’s a much,
braver-man-than-me roles.
Yet Bob Larsen – highly regarded
as one of the premier Bingo promoters
in the country by many peers, remains
humble,
reserved,
rather softspoken,
upon hearing these
words –
which may
Oneida Nation
Bob Larsen, highly regarded as one of the premier Bingo promoters in the
country, is widely known for his “bingotainment” events, such as Cosmic
Bingo. But Bingo is just one facet of this humble man’s varied careers.
have a lot to do with his early years.
Since the ’80s, Larsen has indeed
been busy – mostly drumming up
enthusiasm for Bingo – at diverse
Indian casinos at lands in-between and
from coast to coast.
For the past 14 years, he has served
as Director of Bingo at Turning Stone Casino,
an award-winning resort, owned and
operated by the Oneida Indian Nation
in Verona, N.Y., home of the state’s
largest Bingo venue.
A popular tourist destination,
Turning Stone offers everything from
lodging, golf amenities, an RV park, multiple entertainment venues, night clubs,
numerous restaurants and spa – not to
mention, rocking ’round-the-clock casino.
But all the glitz and glamour is a far
cry from his humble beginnings ...
Father of four and now grandfather
to seven, Larsen, a member of the White
Earth band of the Chippewa Tribe, was
born on Leech Lake Indian Reservation
in Northern Minnesota.
The eldest of nine children, he
recalls how for a time, out of necessity,
he lived alone with his great-grandmother in the woods.
“There was no running water. No
electricity,” he said, huddling beside her
at night, just to keep warm. “It was cold.”
“I’m not sure how we survived.
We had no income. We ate whatever
the neighbors may share with us.
Everything from deer to porcupine.
I ate more boiled white fish then I’d
ever care to eat in a life time,” he said,
still shuddering in mock horror.
Although he has wonderful
memories of his time in the woods,
not all were pleasant. Among his more
vivid, the time his great-grandmother,
who was wheelchair-bound, had
suffered a heart attack.
“I had to run through the woods
(in the middle of the night) to a place
that had a phone, down a path I wouldn’t go down in daylight. Everything is
scary to a 5-year-old,” he recalls.
“I don’t think my feet ever touched
the ground. I remember every footstep ...”
he said, of an imprint from his childhood, that’s taken permanent hold.
Thankfully an ambulance came and
his great-grandmother survived. Tough,
yes, but what he gained in return,
proved to be an invaluable experience.
“We had to rely on our ourselves.
I learned inner strength,” he said.
Pilot/See Page 7
Thethe
SPRING 2013
Pilot ––––––
And, a lifetime fascination with the
Great Outdoors, where as a young boy
he dreamed of becoming
an astronomer,
which perhaps set
him on his course,
to shoot for the stars
and venture out in
the world.
Although he
knew the distance
to all the planets, he
hasn’t fully grasped
all he wanted to
learn about the universe, but his career
would definitely soar ...
From 1967 to 1971, he served in
the Air Force, where he worked as an
air traffic controller. Later he became
a flight instructor and charter pilot in
none-other-than Alaska, also deemed
the last frontier, to explore.
And, once again he was surrounded
by the wilderness and all its magnificence – and privy to a different kind of
cosmic event, nature’s own neon light
show.
“Our control tower faced north,
and we could see the Northern
Lights with great frequency in
the winter. The sky would just
be dancing, an incredible
sight,” he recalled.
But perhaps the most
mystical, the time his family
viewed the lights across a lake in
Minnesota, and by the time they got
out of the car, it surrounded them
forming a giant tepee, shimmering
above the Earth.
“It was the most beautiful thing
imaginable,” he said, understandingly
mesmerized by such a majestic, yet
symbolic, vision.
Expanding his horizons further,
he also graduated from the University
of Minnesota, majoring in American
Indian Studies, eventually opening two
Native American craft stores, among
other business endeavors.
He also took the Law School
Admission Test and scored well enough
to be recruited by the University of
Minnesota and by Marquette University
for admission to their programs.
But his first stint with Bingo
wasn’t until 1982, when, unemployed,
he was hired as the marketing/business
manager at the Little Six Casino in
Minneapolis/St. Paul.
From there he went to Leech Lake
to operate their Bingo business.
“It was a small facility, actually a
renovated bowling alley. They soon
moved to a larger facility though,
attracting up to 900 per session. It
was successful for years,” he recalls.
When Bingo added the casino
to the building, he became general
manager of the Palace Casino & Hotel,
owned by the Leech Lake Band of the
Chippewa, back home
amid the woods.
Although many of
these early halls
were small,
they
proved
to be
mighty,
becoming a
stronghold in the
gaming
world.
“Bingo is the backbone of Indian
gaming,” he said, a subject he clearly
holds near and dear.
“Without its success, casinos on
Indian land just wouldn’t exist. It’s that
important. It is something all tribal
leaders need to look at and
give it the respect that is due.
Sometimes they think they need
more casino space or
want to eliminate Bingo.
It’s not smart. Bingo does
so much more.”
Think he’s passionate
about Bingo? Like Bingo
to Indian Gaming, he’s
also that and so
much more.
Just ask Charlie Holte,
from Mr. Ed's Bingo & Casino
Supply, Inc., who first met Larsen
as a vendor back in the ’90s.
Now great friends, she’s
watched and has been
witness to his rising role.
“Bob’s job has evolved a lot.
Much like Bingo. Bob’s the kind of
guy who has a lot of passion, lots of
patience, especially back then.”
And here’s the reason why she’s
chosen these words ...
“Bob began working in Indian
Gaming in its infancy. Indian Bingo was
the forerunner of the casinos. It started
off as Bingo/casinos. Now it’s casinos/
Bingo. Not only were there challenges in
developing Bingo as an entertainment
event, but there were huge challenges
in staffing the Bingo operation. There
were no applicants with a background
in Bingo.
“At that time there were very limited
employment opportunities, so for many,
this was their first job. Bob did an out standing job developing educational
tools to bring his staff up to speed,”
she said, watching it all occur.
And show them he did.
Exhibiting creative flair, he dreamt
up novel concepts, such as “Let’s
Make A Treaty,” a spoof on the popular TV game show, “Let’s Make A Deal,”
where his players could choose between
the jackpot, what’s was in the box, or
what was behind the curtain.
His ideas, he seemingly plucks from
the ether, have been copied many times,
but according to Holte, he hardly
seems to care.
“He’s fully invested in the future
of Bingo. He has a group of people he
stays in touch with, trying to develop
ways to improve the game.
“That’s Bob. He listens. He shares
his ideas. He’s very generous with helping other people out. In fact, people
from the Palace, his former employers,
do not hesitate to ask Bob for advice on
issues. That’s his M.O.”
Asked which showbiz celebrity he
most resembles, just to get a better
picture, here’s what she’d offer ...
“There’s no one quite like him.
He actually is the big personality. He’s
Bob. He’s unique. He has a great sense
of humor and a lot of fun to be around.
He has the voice of radio. He’s an excellent public speaker. Has great command
of the English language.”
Which also bodes well for his players.
“He’s constantly tweaking his Bingo
programs and promotions, and the
Bingo operation stays very profitable.
“Hence he is able to negotiate
improvements for his staff and the total
operation within the casino,” she said.
A gesture, which Larsen whole-heartedly acknowledges and appreciates.
“The resort listens to us and supports us. They advertise everything. In so
many other locations, the Bingo hall may
be on the second floor or in the basement. The marketing department doesn’t
support them. (Turning Stone) is not
afraid to spend money to keep us going.
They encourage people to come to the
casino and enjoy everything the Nation
has to offer, including Bingo,” he said.
So it’s really no surprise, he has
managed to raise attendance from
450 to nearly 700 people per session,
with 14 sessions per week, since he took
over the reins there.
Then the question remains,
why Bingo, considering every
endeavor he’s been involved in.
“It offers me a release for
something I like to do. I like to
organize. I like to be creative. I
enjoy the challenge.
“I also like working with the
people in the Bingo hall and the people who play Bingo,” he said.
Pilot/See Page 14
7
Plunge –––
just a fun time to live in. Also the
way they dressed in that era was
nice. You didn’t have to be going
to a special occasion for a man to
wear a suit or a woman to wear a
nice dress. The style is iconic, and
I still think it resonates today.
Also family values were still a
large part of society then.
n What Super Power Would You
Like To Possess? Ability to fly.
I hate getting stuck in traffic.
n What Would You Like to Do
Before Life Is Through? Take one
of the Alaskan trips where you
take a cruise to Alaska and then
ride the train back to the States.
n If You Could Change One Thing
About The World Or Your Life?
I know it’s a beauty pageant
answer, but ending childhood
hunger. Nothing bothers me more
than seeing or hearing about a
child that hasn’t eaten in days.
What bothers me the most is how
much of this happens locally and
in the United States. This isn’t
just a Third World issue.
n What Are You Most
Proud Of: My family.
n Happiest Day Of Your Life:
Seeing my children born healthy.
OMNI ––––
But did you know, the payment
process is also a breeze. No cash
on hand, not a problem, helping
to further generate sales.
Our first hall has taken full
advantage of OMNI’s integrated,
credit-card system, according to
Free. “OMNI meets the latest creditcard processing industry standards,
ensuring your transactions are not
only fast, but secure,” he said.
It’s just another example
of how we place our customers
first, above all.
So, if you’re looking for the
premier Bingo hall management system on the
market, look no further
– we’d be the
first to call!
Follow us on
Facebook for
more updates
& promos!
8
Life’s Become
A ‘Circus’ For
Hall Manager
H
er job has become a circus
of sorts. Mainly
because she
wants it to ... In an attempt to
liven things up at DAV Bingo
in Portland, Ore., Cat Robinson,
who wears three manager hats –
building, kitchen and Bingo –
was busy creating a carnival
atmosphere, hoping to draw in
more people by making the hall
Social Networking Rounds Up Players ...
Bingo BIG Business For Texas Family
I
n Texas, the second largest
and second most populous
state in the union, we reckon they do just about everything BIG, including Bingo.
Fact is, in 2011 alone, 16.7 million
people played Bingo in the “Lone Star
State,” winning more than $533.8 million in prizes and awarding $29 million
to charity, according to Anita Blanks.
Not too shabby for one of the most
inexpensive forms of entertainment
around – with cards costing as little
as $2 per session, she said.
And Blanks would know.
She serves as the unofficial promotional director of Bingo Winners
Circle of Texas, meaning everyone
within this family-run organization
plays a hand in striving to make this
business boom.
DAV
Cash prizes are just one way
they like to please players at
DAV Bingo in Portland, Ore.
itself “a more fun and festive
place for customers to hang out,”
she said.
A monumental feat in itself ...
“The hall is 15,000 square
feet, it’s hard and very expensive
to fill with props. I’m just doing
campy, spontaneous and player
interactive games ... ” she said.
Although most eyes will be on
the “prize,” winning isn’t the only
thing there that counts.
“The players love to be entertained. They don’t even care what
they win, as long as they’re having fun. Not an easy task, but
worth it.
“Most sessions last anywhere
from 2 to 2 1/2 hours, and unless
the customer is winning, it’s a
challenge to keep them interested and happy,” she said.
Which, considering their
hours, can require quite a bit
of ingenuity ...
“The DAV stays open seven
days a week, mostly from 7 a.m.
to 10 p.m., but some nights as
late (or shall we say early as)
5 a.m.,” she said.
In addition to programs for
Disabled American Veterans,
the Bingo hall generates funding
for several other community-
Circus/See Page 9
SPRING 2013
Bingo Winners Circle
Special promotions, such as
Grandparents Day, are a big hit
among Bingo Winners Circle fans.
“Marketing,” said Blanks, a
Missouri transplant, armed with a
business degree, keen sense of promotion, and prior sales experience with a
major airline, “is a group effort.”
And, one that has stood the
test of time ...
Bingo Winners Circle of Texas,
with premier halls in Hurst and Fort
Worth, has been operating charitysponsored Bingo since 1988, with four
locations now offering games seven
days a week, she said.
Crowd favorites include Black Out
and Speed Ball, with an average of
125 to 150 players per session.
And their gaming device of choice:
Video King’s TAB-e, our latest portable
gaming tablet.
“We offer both paper and electronic,”
she said, keeping close
watch on what pleases the
players. “They love paper,
but play electronics
to increase their
In addition to various Facebook promotions, where nearly every day is
a special occasion, Bingo Winners Circle of Texas holds special events,
with grand-prize giveaways – much to the delight of their players.
chance of winning, since they can
play more cards more easily.”
Which is actually a win-win
for everyone.
“Proceeds support many within
our community through youth, educational and social programs, scholarships, food drives, enhancing the lives
of the disabled and more,” she said.
These organizations range
from the Knights of Pythias to the
Mexican American Educational Advisory
Committee, Riding Unlimited, Inc.,
(which provides horse therapy for
disabled children) to the San Mateo
Catholic Church, Tarrant County
Emergency Squad, Texas Girls
Choir, Inc. and Texas
Nonprofit Theatres, Inc. –
just to name a few.
“The key,” she said,
“is that halls are managed
by the same, friendly, professional team, since the
doors first opened.”
But it hasn’t been
an easy feat.
Now down from six
halls, Blanks admits,
despite their best efforts,
they have lost players over the
years.
She attributes the decline to the
introduction of the lottery in the late
1990s and the expansion of landbased casinos, offering unlimited
prize winnings.
Whereas Texas law caps Bingo
winnings at $2,500 per session, allowing only two sessions per day, she said.
But that’s been no cause for them
to throw up their arms and run for the
hills. Instead of getting mad, they just
got more creative, hoping to draw
more players back in.
And the best way, claims Blanks,
who could be called a frequent flier of
sorts, but aboard the social network,
is Facebook, where anyone with
access to a computer can chime in.
In fact, free Internet access is
even offered at all of their halls.
“It gets players active, participating and involved in our Bingo community. It’s fun and it
doubles as an
advertising tool,”
she said.
Established
a few years ago,
their Facebook
page, which ties
into their main Web
site, now has more
than 750 likes.
And, after
scrolling through
her highly imaginative, player-friendly
posts, one can see why it’s become
such a popular site. Not only can play ers earn multiple points, redeemable
at halls for various discounts –
Texas/See Page 9
load
Thethe
SPRING 2013
Circus ––––
Texas –––––––––––
but nearly every day is a celebration, be it Extra Dessert Day ,
Drink A Beer Day, Left-Handers Day, National Margarita Day
or Home-Made Cookie Day ...
Here’s just a sampling of her recent Facebook posts:
n Today is Grandparents Day! They let us eat all the
ice cream we wanted, even if we didn't finish dinner .
They undermined our parents' rules
at every turn, and that is precisely why we love them! So
spend time and honor your
grandparents today ...
Bring them in to play
a couple of sessions of
Bingo. Everyone who
mentions this post will
receive a FREE HALF PAY
with any other purchase in
honor of all grandparents, and be sure to “Like” this if you
love your grandparents!
n TODAY is National Pink Day! Oh you may think pink's
just for girly girls, but fashion savvy men know how to turn
heads by rocking some pink. Set aside your pink pretense and
show your love for this color today by wearing a pink shirt.
It'll earn you a FREE HALF PAY if you tell the cashier that
it's National Pink Day, and you saw this on Facebook! AND
don't forget to CLICK, PRINT and SAVE $5 with our Facebook
coupon!
n Today is National No Housework Day! “Like” this if
you think housework is overrated. You can spend your whole
weekend making your place look spotless, but by W ednesday
you're right back to where you started. Today just put down
the broom, pick up your keys, and do something a lot mor e fun
... come and PLAY BINGO! First session starts at 2 p.m. at the
BingoPlex in Fort Worth and Texas Bingo in Hurst.
n Today is Backwards Day! On Backwards Day the
theme is obviously to do everything in reverse or perhaps in
a different way. For example ... eat breakfast for dinner, walk
backwards, put your coat on before you shirt, say good night
this morning. How crazy is that?
We also offer an introductory regularsession games, Bingo pack to customers,
bringing their buy-in down to as little as
$3. This pack has a low payout, but costs
very little. It allows people to experience
a session without worrying about price or
what style of session pack to play.
n What Bingo promotions in general
are most popular?
We have a ton of them, but I would
have to say that Hot Dog Day is one of the
best. Some folks have planned their week
so they can attend on that day. I purchase
a large, great-flavored dog, steam them up
and serve them to the Bingo players. YUM!
n Do you have any plans to expand
your Bingo program?
Yes. That is the desire of any hall.
Space is always a premium concern with
any casino. In order for us to expand we
must show that we deserve the space.
-oriented organizations.
(See sidebar, following story.)
Currently the hall averages
about 150 to 200 people during
the evening sessions, and many
more on a session having a
special, she added.
To bolster the fun factor,
they also use Video King’s
Champion II and TAB-e portable
gaming tablets, highly popular
among Bingo players.
Besides the carnival-type
promos, here are some of the
other games she likes to incorporate, known to draw a good crowd.
n “Dog Bone is a game we
play Friday morning and afternoon
sessions. A (chew) bone, tied with
balloons, so it can be spotted
easily, is given to the winner.”
But the “tail,” she added,
doesn’t end there ...
“The next time there is a
single winner, the bone gets
passed, and the previous winner
gets $5, with the last winner
receiving a $50-gift certificate in
free Bingo,” she said.
n Bingo Olympics is a game
where every DAV customer wins.
“Winners are determined by
what team gets the most Bingos.
The customers are assigned a
number at buy-ins: one to four
teams usually.
“If it’s a bigger crowd, more
teams will be added. Prizes are
awarded for the grand prize (cash)
2nd, 3rd and 4th,” she said.
“It started out a little chaotic
before we worked out all the bugs
and surprises that come with
doing something new, but I’m a
sucker for a little bit of chaos,”
she readily admits.
Throughout the year, the hall
also stages various events, such
as “Rock-Around-The-Clock New
Year’s Eve,” offering free dinner
and prizes, “Scratch-Off Ticket
Saturday” and birthday specials.
But making it successful is
definitely a team effort, and she
credits some of the other staff for
being much more creative and/or
savvy entertaining the crowd.
“You have to have buy-in from
the staff,” she said. “They have to
be excited, too. Some of the Bingo
managers have been working
Bingo for 20 to 30 years. They
know a lot of different games.
I’m the green one,” she added.
Sky Ute/See Page 11
Circus/See Page 10
If you follow them on Facebook, there is plenty of reason to “like” Bingo Winners Circle of Texas. In addition to special promotions, such as game day, fans can
also earn points, free coffee and many other perks!
n Happy Veterans Day! “Like” this to honor the more
than 24 million military veterans in the United States. Then
come on in and play with us and suppor t our Dallas Cowboys,
who play the Philadelphia
Eagles today at 3:25 p.m. ...
wear your Cowboy football
jersey, T-shirt or sweatshirt
TODAY at any Bingo Winners
Circle Hall, and we'll give
you a FREE HALF PAY!
1st sessions start at 2 p.m.
in both Hurst and Fort Worth.
But that’s not the only
way, they try to round up
more players.
In addition to special
events, such as Mystery
Madness, where details to
these grand-prize giveSample of their numerous, aways are only “revealed”
humorous Facebook posts! day of event, they also offer
free coffee, game specials,
event tabs, a rewards program and other perks!
To learn more, logon to www.texasbingo.com or better yet,
follow them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/texasbingo.
As they say in their latest catch phrase, It’d be
“pointless” to go elsewhere!
Sky Ute ––––
n Any customer feedback?
Yes. They like the size of the unit. It has
a small footprint so it allows them to play
electronics, paper, and still have plenty
of room for items they bring for luck. They
also love to customize their e-daubers!
They enjoy the units on auto daub
so that they don’t miss their Bingos, and
don’t have to daub so much themselves.
n How, if anything, did you or plan to
promote the TAB-es?
We just finished a kiosk promotion
where the top prizes were the use of a
TAB-e premium pack.
We have the units displayed on a
television monitor with info on the units.
All staff members encourage customers to
try them out. Word of mouth from our customers is probably the best promotion!
9
Sky Ute
The Sky Ute resort offers 140 luxury
rooms, with sweeping views of the San
Juan Mountains, spa, pool and RV
park, among its many amenities.
n How do you encourage people to
play Bingo at your resort?
Every day is an event in our Bingo hall
from Hot Dog Day to Bingo Olympics!
We like to always have that extra little
special something that adds to the enjoyment of the evening’s entertainment.
10
Circus ––––
But judging from everything
she’s got juggling, something tells
us, she’s inventive enough to pull
even more tricks out of her “hats.”
To learn more about DAV
Bingo, their schedule and upcoming specials, please visit their
Web site: www.davbingo.com,
e-mail [email protected],
call (503) 255-6002 or follow
them on Facebook and Twitter,
accessible from the main Web site.
About DAV Bingo
(Excerpted from their Web site)
DAV was created by veterans
of the First World War and chartered by Congress in 1932.
Judge Marx, an Ohio Superior
Court Judge, also a disabled veteran, was crucial in organizing the
nation’s disabled veterans in their
struggle to navigate the government’s myriad of disconnected halfhearted programs and red tape.
Here in Portland, Oregon,
DAV Chapter No. 1 has been helping northwest veterans and their
families lead better lives since
1929. To learn more about this
organization, visit www.dav.org.
Jumping forward some 80
years, DAV Bingo has been operated by Chapter No. 1 for more than
15 years.
DAV Bingo
Creating a carnival atmosphere, DAV Bingo hopes to
increase the fun and attract
more players to their hall!
Many of our customers have
told us how proud they are as DAV
Bingo proceeds help our vets in so
many ways.
Through Bingo we raise funds
to purchase vans to transport any
veteran to their medical appointments, support our National
Circus/See Page 12
SPRING 2013
Bingo Players Receive Warm Reception ...
Chinook Winds A Welcoming Respite
L
ike the warming winds,
its namesake, which
sweep across the rocky
shores, the Chinook
Winds Casino provides
a welcome respite to travelers and
residents alike, establishing itself as
one of the premier resort destinations
along the Oregon Coast.
Owned and
operated by the
Confederated Tribes
of the Siletz Indians
since 1995, the
157,000-square-foot
casino overlooks the
Pacific Ocean, with
Chinook Winds
breath-taking
views of the
rugged
coastline,
from the
Lincoln City
Shore.
In addition
to the full-complement of Vegas-style
gaming, the resort includes worldclass entertainment, surfside
dining, ocean-front lodging,
37,000 square feet of meeting
space, a ballroom to book your
special moments – all at a
place so unique – elk freely
roam the golf course, and you
may want to pack your wetsuit,
since snow, during colder
climes, laps up upon its shore.
In fact, they claim, the spirit of this
ancient tribe is even captured in its
decor:
“The casino includes a waterfall
flowing to a pond (designed to resemble
Euchre Creek, an important area to the
Siletz Tribe) where ‘wishers’ can toss
their coins for good luck and make a
contribution to the tribe's educational
fund.
“The round lobby and weave design
painted on the exterior give tribute to
the tribe's traditional basket-weaving
technique.
“Salmon, a fish that plays a special
and important role in the history of the
tribe, decorates many of the
interior and exterior areas.”
But, perhaps, there’s
even another great
One of the premier resort destinations along the Oregon Coast, the
Chinook Winds Casino is a Las Vegas-style facility, featuring Bingo, more
than 1,100 slots, keno, craps, roulette, blackjack and poker, lodging, surfside dining, world-class entertainment, a ballroom and convention space.
Chinook Winds
Guests aren’t the only ones who enjoy Chinook Winds’ 18-hole golf course
– where even the elk feel at home. The r esort also includes a fitness center,
Play Palace with secure, supervised childcare, party room for themed
birthdays and 4,000-square-foot game arcade for kids of all ages.
reason a million people flock each year
to this side-sea resort, just an hour outside of Salem and less than a few
hours from Portland, just down the
coast.
“Every day is Bingo Day at Chinook
Winds,” according to Chad McCormick,
Bingo manager for the last six years.
“We offer the largest Bingo
payouts in the area during our afternoon sessions, and we have the lowest
priced buy-in for $200 payouts.
“We also offer the $100,000 Super
Bonanza and $10,000 Super Double Dab
games,” he said.
And their equipment of choice:
Video King. In addition to our
PowerPlay™ Bingo consoles and the
Rover,™ our portable, point-of-sale
system, they also offer the Champion
II™ and TAB-e,™ our latest, portable
gaming tablets.
“The machines are more popular
than paper,” he said, of what appeals
to the players. “The reason is two-fold:
You can play more games, increasing
your chances of winning, and it allows
Chinook /See Page 11
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SPRING 2013
Thethe
11
Sky Ute ––––
Chinook ––––
our guests the ability to play their
favorite game without having to worry
about missing any numbers.
“The machines (with auto-daub
option) do everything for you.”
In addition, Video King’s screens
are twice the size of the ones they had
used before. “They can see the cards
Chinook Winds
better,” he’s been
told.
Owned and operated by the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians
Even the staff
since 1995, the 157,000-square-foot casino overlooks the Pacific Ocean,
prefers the Video
with breath-taking views of the rugged coast. Adjacent to the casino, the
King equipment
Chinook Winds Resort Hotel features more than 225 beach-front rooms.
they now use.
“They like the 2-way, portable POS,
where they can make sales out on the
floor. It helps increase revenue.
“Gives players more chances to win.
It’s an added convenience. You
can add on games and not
have to start over,” he said.
But getting the best equipment
available is only half the battle, when
it comes to keeping any Bingo venue
Video King
successfully afloat.
At Chinook Winds, Bingo is held
Chinook Winds offers the largest Bingo payouts in the area during their afterin the Bingo Theater, a 475-seat,
noon sessions and lowest priced buy-in for $200 payouts. Their equipment of
spacious arena, located right near
choice: Video King’s PowerPlay Bingo consoles, the Rover, our portable
the main entrance to the casino.
POS, the Champion II and TAB-e, our portable gaming tablets.
Their players receive a variety of
perks, such as deli discounts, free soft
drinks and a “lucky duck,” a highly
The convention center has 37,000
“But the best promo is discounted
sought-after item, collected much like
square feet of meeting space, with a
prices, it draws more people.”
certain charms or trolls.
20,000-square-foot ballroom, banquet
However, if it weren’t for the
Although the sessions, held
facilities and in-house catering service
warm reception they receive, chances
seven days a week, are well attended,
for events, as large as 2,000.
are some might just bypass this
McCormick noticed attendance did dip
The “Concerts by the Sea”
coastal resort. People come because
for a couple of years. But after a period
showroom seats more than 1,200 peothey feel welcomed. Many of the staff,
of stagnation, due to the recession, it’s
ple and features monthly headline acts.
he explained, are long-term.
beginning to re-emerge.
Entertainment runs the gamut from
“They’ve built relationships with the
“It’s starting to grow back to
comedy, events, such as classic car
players. They know their children. Even
the same number as before,” he said,
their grandchildren. They’re really engaged shows, and musicians as varied as
now more assured.
country legends, George Jones and
and involved in their lives,” he said.
To reward, as well as attract new
LeeAnn Rimes, to rock ‘n’ roll.
In
fact,
if
you
need
to
take
a
br
eak
players, they also stage special events
The resort is host to three dining
– much like Video King’s gaming
and promotions throughout the year.
venues, appealing to a wide variety:
tablets
–
they’ll
be
more
than
happy
to
Recent ones include:
n The Rogue River Steakhouse feadaub the cards for you.
Cosmic Bingo, held once a month,
tures casual fine dining, with a stunVIP
treatment
for
sure
...
with total payouts up to $1,400, and
ning, panoramic ocean view, with afterBut to see why their motto claims,
a frat party-themed, New Year’s Eve
hours entertainment in the lounge.
“It’s
Better
At
The
Beach,”
best
to
celebration, which included a buffet
n The Siletz Bay Buffet serves
contact Chinook Winds Casino Resort
dinner, drawing ticket, three
breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a
to
learn
more.
main session packs and other
special seafood buffet on Fridays.
For further information, call the
items for players to score ...
n The Euchre Creek Deli, open
Bingo
Hotline
at
(541)
996-5935
or
As far as games, he claims
24/7,
tucked behind the waterfall, dishthe main casino at (888) Chinook.
Bonanza/Super Bonanza as the
es up burgers, claim strips and more.
all-time favorite, with the possibility
In addition to an 18-hole golf
of a $100,000 payout and highly prized,
course and fitness center, the resort
coastal glass floats, once used by
also includes a Play Palace with
Enjoy The Lure!
Japanese fisherman, now used as decor.
secure, supervised childcare, as well
To keep things fresh, they also change
Chinook Winds Casino, open 24/7, is
as party room for themed birthdays.
the Bingo games about twice a year.
a Las Vegas-style facility with more than
“We swap it out. Keep it interesting, 1,100 slots, along with keno, Bingo,
Chinook/See Page 12
so players don’t get bored,” he said.
craps, roulette, blackjack and poker.
• • • • •
• • •
This is a mix of our hall revenue, and the revenue we help to
generate in other venues like the
restaurants, table games area and
the slot floor. I am confident we
can do so! The handsets are a nice
boost to revenue, and money talks!
Drawing A Crowd
n The Bus Tour programs have
hosted domestic and international
tour operators doubling each year,
since 2009.
n Tour operators from Paris
sent five groups in 2009, and today
we are confirming groups from Italy
and Japan last year and 2013!
n The “affordable luxury” of
our room rates, free meals for bus
drivers, the variety of dishes with
(four) restaurants to choose from
... to the cleanliness of the rooms
and best customer service has
been the constant remarks by our
motor-coach guest surveys!
n 2009 groups stayed for one
night ... Now groups are averaging
three nights, making the Sky Ute
Casino Resort the best hub for tour
groups riding the Colorado vintage
trains, Mesa Verde and hot springs
tourism amenities in the area.
n The new South Ute Cultural
Center & Museum packages have
increased our visibility and sales,
due to their 54,000-square-foot
museum and VIP tours.
n Membership with U.S.
Travel Association, National
Tourism Association, American
Indian Alaskan Native Tourism
Association, Grand Circle, Denver
Asian Chamber of Commerce and
Destination and Travel Foundation
has played a major role in sales.
n Attending major tourism
conventions has increased our visibility, sales and working relations
with national and international
notable tourism companies.
n Tour group bookings have
increased, due to the confirmation
of the prestigious “May Flower
Tours” and “Western Leisure Tours”
for 2012 and 2013.
n Day trips have increased due
to the “Young At Heart & Bingo”
packages for guests from Alamosa
to Grand Junction, Montrose and
the Farmington area.
“Great promotions spell great
attendance for our one-day trip
motor-coach guests,” he said.
• • • •
For more information, visit:
www.skyutecasino.com or call
(970) 563-1695 or (800) 876-7017.
12
Chinook –––
SPRING 2013
Line Formed To ‘Tango’ With Tony ...
Video King
Palm Plaza ‘Promotes’ Major ‘Player’
The Chinook Winds staff
use the Rover, Video King’s
2-way, portable point-of-sale
system, where they can make
sales on the floor. An added
convenience, the POS helps
increase revenue, giving
players more chances to win.
Fun for the entire family,
the 4,000-square-foot Games
Galore Arcade offers more than
80 games, air hockey, pinball and
pool – for kids of all ages to enjoy.
Adjacent to the casino, the
Chinook Winds Resort Hotel
features more than 225 beachfront rooms, including pet-friendly, junior suites and ocean views.
Amenities include an indoor,
heated pool, sauna, spa, guest
laundry, full-service restaurant
and lounge, meeting space and
complimentary casino shuttle.
The area surrounding Lincoln
City encompasses seven miles
of easily accessible shoreline, art
and blown-glass galleries, a
tax-free outlet mall, and a variety
of fishing opportunities.
Caught your interest ...
Please visit the Chinook
Winds Casino Resort online at
www.chinookwindscasino.com
if you’d like to learn more.
Circus ––––
Service Officer program that
files and pursues claims on
behalf of veterans, develop
adaptive recreation and other
therapeutic programs to help
our returning vets transition back
into civilian life.
Here are just a few of the
programs they support:
n DAV Winter Sports
Clinic, which coaches the most
severely disabled in winter sports
like skiing, snowboarding, sledge
hockey and much more.
www.wintersportsclinic.va.gov
Circus/See Page 14
O
f all the ways to
bring people into your
hall, this has got to
be one of the more
enticing – at least
for the single ladies – or anyone for that
matter – in need of a lil’ lovin’ ...
In case you missed it, get a load of
all the “action” at the Palm Plaza
Bingo Hall in Sarasota, Fla.
There’s a “Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin'
On” – at least according to some of
their more “suggestive” Facebook posts.
How else would you call it ...
Here’s just a sampling of what’s happening within this rather steamy hall ...
hey, it’s down in Florida after all ...
“Friday Night Bingo. It is cold outside and warm inside Bingo. Tony is giving away free hugs tonight for everyone
that comes in. Time to play and win
some Big Money ... Friday Night Bingo.”
Palm Plaza Bingo
Although they jokingly advertised free dates with “Tony,” celebrating his
40th birthday at the Palm Plaza Bingo Hall in Sarasota, Fla., to attract
more players, he is not their only lure. It’s the hall’s fun, friendly atmosphere
and entire staff, who have worked together and teased each other for years.
Palm Plaza Bingo
Tony perhaps reliving his “youth,”
photo-bombed by Lil’ Champ, Video
King’s cartoon, canine mascot.
And ... “It is time for Bingo – Tuesday
and Wednesday ... $25 All You Can Play
... Lucky Charm is close to $5,000 ... Who
can use $5,000 ... and Tony has a free
night coming up ... who wants to be the
next Mrs. Tony Nigro or at least date him
... call and ask for speed date times ...
Or better yet ... “Shamrock
Progressive is way over $4,000 Right
Now ... Played at 4:00 Monday thru
Saturday ... Come Play and WIN ...
Tony works also ... He is Sarasota’s
Most Eligible Bachelor ... He should
not be around for long ...”
But before anyone gets too heated,
this was all meant as a harmless joke,
according to Michael Bloom, manager
of the hall for nearly 20 years.
And, although “Tony” is now
officially off the market, he was known
somewhat as a Casanova, which didn’t
exactly hurt business, according to at
least one “anonymous,” yet well-placed
source, who frequents the hall.
Nor does Tony, the hall’s assistant
manager for eight years, suffer from
an overly inflated ego or were any
women for that matter, trampled, trying
to claw their way in ... to the hall
to play Bingo ... of course ...
“I started advertising ‘Tony is
available this Friday evening at Bingo,’”
said Bloom, as any wingman, worth his
weight, would.
Palm Plaza Bingo
Although Tony is no longer available,
he still has plenty of hugs to give.
“I wanted to hook him up. Get him a
girlfriend. It was all in good fun. Just a
joke,” he said.
And the fun it generated – even if it
were at Tony’s expense – was had by all,
judging from all their Facebook photos.
“It’s a family atmosphere.
Everyone has worked together for a long
time. The players all know him,” Bloom
said, of the “love” they feel for Tony,
many complicit in the romantic ribbing.
Although Tony is extremely popular,
truth be known, he’s really not their only
draw. It’s more the way the entire crew
“conducts” business.
One of Sarasota’s premier charity
Bingo halls, Palm Plaza offers Bingo
seven days a week, averaging 100
players per session, during their peak
season.
In addition to the PowerTouch
fixed-based units, they also offer
Video King’s portable gaming tablets,
with the QuickShot games, among the
players’ favorite, Bloom said.
Proceeds from Bingo generate
funding for a wide variety of community-oriented programs, such as the Child
Protection Center, Chabad Lubavitch,
Boy Scouts, National Council Of Jewish
Women, VHS Music and Boosters –
just to name a few, he said.
But like many businesses hit by
hard economic times, they’ve had to
Player/See Page 14
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SPRING 2013
Diamond –––
Casino Inc. in December
2011. Since then it has
undergone roughly $5
million in renovations,
including an extensive
security system, mechanical retrofits and
an updated, more stylish decor – before
making its maiden voyage under the
new command.
Offering both day and evening sails
most days of the week, the Black Diamond
is Florida’s only full-scale, non-smoking
casino, with full-sports lounge and
separate quarters, reserved for smokers.
Although South Florida had become
awash with gaming venues over the
years, many felt adrift.
For more than 20 years, coastal
gaming fans had the luxury of boarding
these high-seas gambling excursions,
humorously pegged
“same-day cruises
to nowhere.”
But when the
last of these ships
ceased operations
a few years back, the Port of Palm Beach
never stopped receiving calls as to ... well
... when their “ship” would come in ...
“There is quite a bit of demand for
coastal gaming,” according to Stephen
Flood, COO of the ship.
Flood, who has been in the gaming
industry for nearly 30 years, spent the
last 15 in coastal gaming, including time
logged as manager of Palm Beach
Princess, a similar cruise ship.
“With land-based casinos, you
have limited gaming opportunities,” he
explained, privy to all the ship-to-shore
differences.
However, once the Black Diamond
enters international waters, they are
allowed to offer craps, roulette and sports
wagering, in addition to the slots and
table games, offered at the land-based
casinos, he said. (See “Ahoy” story box,
top right, for gaming/dining options.)
But that’s not the only reason one
boards these ships, given the choice of
all Florida’s gaming options.
“Gaming has increased dramatically,”
he said. “We’re just a small piece of the
pie. We offer something different.
We believe there’s a market for it.”
Coast gaming appeals to a special
niche, catering to a certain type of person,
he’s observed, over the years.
“It provides a great environment.
There’s no better
place to be.
It’s very much
a social setting.
T
Ahoy ... Bingo On Board!
he Black Diamond is
Florida’s only full-scale,
Las-Vegas style, nonsmoking casino, offering
both day and evening cruises. Proper
dress is required and passengers must be 21 to board.
The ship includes two
levels for gaming and one for
dining, with a bar on each level.
Passage includes a high-end buffet,
brunch or gourmet dinner, depending
on when you set sail.
A deli is also available between
scheduled meal times.
The Black Diamond’s casino
will open once the ship has reached
international waters, 3 miles off shore,
after about a 30-minute sail.
In addition to Bingo on the top
deck, the ship offers wagering on all
major sports with live satellite feed to
the sports lounge, complete with eight,
50-inch screen TVs.
Wager Options Include:
n Side Wagers
n Parlays
n Teasers
n Over/Unders
n NFL/NCAAF/NBA/NCAAB/MLB/NHL
“To borrow a cliché, it’s a place where
everyone knows your name. Other places
are more impersonal. You generally walk
in, you play, there’s really no interaction.
End of experience,” he said.
In addition, the Black Diamond is a
U.S. Flagship, meaning the entire staff
are U.S. citizens, many locals, helping
strengthen its ties, further anchoring it.
So don’t be surprised by the warm
welcome, designed to put you at ease,
if you book passage on this ship.
“You come onboard and
you’re greeted with, ‘How’s
family?’ ‘How’s your dog?’
That’s what draws you to it.
It’s very nice. But you’ve
got to have the
right place, the
right vessel and
offer the right
things,” he said,
pleased by all the
amenities, such
as complimentary
cocktail service
while gambling,
offered on the
ship.
Which brings us back to
why add Bingo to the mix?
“Coastal gaming has always had
Bingo. But the low-key, manual style with
punch-out cards,” he said.
n Boxing, soccer & other sports.
The ship also includes 12,000
square feet of casino space.
Gaming Options Include:
n Nearly 230 slot machines,
ranging from 1 cent to $5.
n All favorite styles of play,
including Video, Spinning Reel,
Video Poker and Progressive.
n More than 25 gaming tables,
with $10 minimum, including
Blackjack, Craps (3/4/5 Times Odds),
American Roulette, 3-Card Poker,
Let It Ride Bonus Table, Mini
Baccarat, Poker and Bar-Top Poker.
n Poker Facility, featuring
Texas Hold ’Em (structured and
no-limit), Omaha, 7-Card Stud
and tournament play.
For more information or to make a
reservation, please visit their Web site:
www.blackdiamondcruises.com.
Or contact: Black Diamond Casino
Cruises, 1 E. 11th St., Riviera Beach,
Fla. 33404. (561) 845-2559 (office),
(561) 623-1848 (reservations) or
email: [email protected].
13
Treasure ––
For those not familiar, best
cast your worries away ...
QuickShot Bonanza is merely
an electronic version of the highly
popular Bingo paper game, arrg
... most everyone, worth their sea
salt, loves to play.
Available in a variety of
themes, these Class II, creditbased games are played with
24 pre-called numbers, with a
scalable pay table that ebbs
and flows, along with the
player’s wager.
Happy Sails!
“We wanted to add it, but wanted to
do it properly.” Which meant efficiently
and electronically, with
the advent of jackpot
games, which is when
Video King was invited
to board ship.
“I was impressed
by their system,” said
Flood, who met with Jeff McIntosh of
Bingo King of Florida, a division of
Video King, to demo the equipment.
And, so will the Bingo players, once
they board the ship – if they enjoy gazing
under a moonlit sky or the fresh sea
breeze, all at a gentle rate of speed ...
Customizable for military,
tribal and charitable organizations, Video King’s QuickShot
games can be played on the
Champion II and TAB-e, our
portable gaming tablets, and
PowerTouch, our fixed-based
units.
And, much like the churning
tide, Video King – lo and behold
– has even one more surprise.
A new QuickShot game, with
a medieval theme, magic potion
and more bonus features, will
soon materialize ...
Diamond/See Page 15
Don’t let someone ... er
... thing else discover
your sunken treasure ...
’Tis a mystery to what
these games unfold!
14
Player ––––
think outside the box, to well,
appeal to more players. So in
addition to a big birthday bash,
when Tony turned 40, they’ve also
staged Disco Halloween parties,
where customers dressed in costume, including some Dancing
Queens, and Karaoke Nights –
anything for a chance to dance
with Tony ...
And their generosity doesn’t
stop there. Palm Plaza also gives
away turkeys on Thanksgiving and
stages a Christmas party for their
players.
“We used to give away trips to
Vegas, Biloxi or a cruise,” Bloom said
of their various prize give-aways.
“But people want different
things. We change it up. Now we give
away TVs, laptops, computers, as
well as good ole-fashioned discounts
and half-price nights,” he said.
But there’s one thing that
will probably never change.
Although he’s no longer single,
everyone is still definitely allowed
to hug Tony, he said.
To learn more about Palm
Plaza Bingo, please call (941)
378-1160 or follow them on
Facebook, especially if you still
want to try to “tango” with Tony.
But keep in mind, there may
be a line ...
Circus ––––
n Project Healing Waters
is dedicated to the physical and
emotional rehabilitation of disabled
veterans through fly-fishing and
fly-tying education and outings.
www.projecthealingwaters.org
n Team River Runner, which
brings health and healing through
the form of whitewater recreation
to veterans. This past summer
we sponsored a Deschutes rafting
trip helping more than 30 blind
veterans to realize that being disabled doesn’t have to mean inability, it just means doing things differently. www.teamriverrunner.org
In addition, the DAV shares
space with the following charities:
• Mount Hood Academy • Oregon
Amateur Sports Foundation •
Oregon Action Sports • Willamette
Valley Track & Field.
For further information on DAV
Bingo or any of these organizations,
visit: www.davbingo.com.
Pilot –––––––
But even for this seasoned veteran,
it doesn’t come easy ...
“It’s the most difficult part of the
casino to operate, all the things that
make it successful. I like to stay active,
busy. After all this time, people say you
can do it in your sleep. That’s not the
case. I work hard at it every day,” he said.
And challenging – the economy
almost flat-lining not withstanding –
if you ask ’most any recent Bingo
operator, it is.
“Bonanza cards were $1 to play
in 1982,” he explained. “They’re still
As a young boy, Bob Larsen
$1 a card. I don’t know another industr y
dreamed of becoming an
like that. If we raised the price, players
astronomer. As an adult, his career
would blow the roof off. So you have to
would soar – becoming an air trafbe creative, make the games attractive
fic controller for the Air Force, then
and pay out more, without charging
charter pilot and flight instructor,
more,” he said.
before his Bingo ventures.
Besides Cosmic Bingo, here are
some other promos, he likes to stage:
went to a robot, who spent three
n The
months making his costume.
$10,000 quarIt keeps it entertaining,”
terly games,
he, understatedly, said.
which will
n New Year’s Eve,
be raised to
an automatic sell-out, with
$1 million
advance tickets sold two
June 29, in
months prior to the celebratory
celebration of
event, offering three levels,
Turning Stone’s
triple prize amounts and
20th anniverchoice of prime rib or
sary, coincidchicken dinner.
ing with the
“We see everything from
Majoring in Native Ameriproperty’s
can Studies, Larsen, a member suits to T-shirts. At intermismajor expanof the Chippewa Tribe, strives sion, an oldies band plays, at
sion plans,
to preserve his cultural heritage. midnight there’s a free drawincluding
In addition to writing a book ing for $2,013 or whichever
new country
year it is,” said Larsen,
regarding Native American
and rock
tuxedo-clad at the door,
leaders, he has owned craft
music venstores, is an avid woodsmith, where he personally
ues, he said.
likes to greet the
does beadwork, drums and
n The
players.
dances in pow-wows.
Greenest
But when it
Person Contest, held on the Saturday
comes to opening any Bingo
closest to St. Patrick’s Day, where
venue, be it big or small, he
$1,199 is given to the three first-place
offers the same friendly bit of
winners, who are the most green, along
advice to all:
with prizes for those who come in
“First remember, it’s a business
second and third.
and operate it like any other business.
“People decorate anyway they want.
Spend less money than you make.
From green hair to green toes. I tend to
Be good to your employees and your
decorate myself, from
customers. The facility, keep
time to time,” he coyly
it clean and in good repair,
added.
and follow the rules. Just
n Halloween
these basics. Of course,”
Costume Contest,
he added, “we have to also
where the players vote
remember what business
on the best costume.
that we’re in – the enterFirst prize is $3,000.
tainment business.”
“We’ve had 14-foot
That said, not everyone
aliens and a man sitwill always welcome someting in an outhouse.
thing new ...
Everything you can imag“Sure some people will be resistant
ine and beyond. Last year, first prize
to change. It disrupts their way of life.
SPRING 2013
“You have to find ways to satisfy
them and slightly alter it, to bring new
life into situations. Know your players
well. Know your staff well. Do the change
without exceeding the foundation.
“Cosmic Bingo is not for every
situation, and $1 million payouts are
not for every location,” he added.
But to make any venue successful,
it all boils down to what he jokingly
refers to as the Circle of Bingo, much
akin to the Circle of Life:
“If you increase the prize structure,
you get more players. You get more
people playing, you get more income
to make larger prize payouts,” he said.
But there is one significant
different, at least for him.
“If it weren’t Native American
establishments, I probably wouldn’t
work in gaming. It becomes a matter
of what is done with the profits.
“Gaming is a successful business
for Indian nations and the accomplishments they want to set forth,” he said.
Take the Turning Stone Casino
as example ...
“The Oneida people were part of
the Iroquois Confederacy, which helped
the colonists during the Revolutionary
War, which put them at odds with the
rest of the confederacy and the British
of course. Without their help, the
colonists may not have won their
independence,” he said.
In exchange, the Oneida basically
lost everything, including ceding the
majority of their land.
“As time went along, their influence
diminished. Their nation dwindled to a
few acres. Now with gaming, they are
rebuilding. It’s a start in the right direction. In 35 years, they’ve gone
from having absolutely nothing, a cow pasture really, to
building a beautiful resort.
That’s powerful motivation for me as an Indian
person. Indian Bingo
opened the door for Indian
casino, and all the money
goes to benefit tribal life,
giving them more than they
were able to do previously,” he said.
Despite his contributions – trying to
keep the Bingo flame glowing – there is
one thing that he is even more proud of.
“The best thing I have ever made
are my kids. They aren’t movie stars,
nor are they working for major corporations. However, they are all good people
with great hearts who care about life
and about people. We are also a very
strong family,” he said.
He’s especially amazed by his
granddaughter, avid in music, sports
and school. This year, the 10-year-old,
Pilot/See Page 15
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SPRING 2013
Wolf –––––
And, they couldn’t be happier, said
Waddilove, who along with Crystal Abram,
Bingo manager, whom he credits for much
of the hall’s success and also had a hand
in the design.
“The customers love it,” he said of the
silhouette of a lone wolf, howling against
a full moon above the Paradise Hall logo,
displayed largely
across the front of
the console.
“And it
provides a little
advertising. The
first thing people
look at is the caller.
“It’s definitely a
new symbol for our
Bingo hall and our
source of pride.”
And, it seems
that it’s this same
sense of pride that has helped these
people survive.
“Although much of our history has
been lost over time, the Munsee Delaware
were considered the thinkers of The First
Nations. Very progressive. A lot of people
came to us for advice,” he said.
From an early age, Waddilove and
his brothers and sister were encouraged
to venture forth, out in the “world,” then
come back and apply what they learned.
Located in “the middle of nowhere,”
children on his reserve don’t have the
same opportunities others may take for
granted, such as a library, computers,
places to do research, programs like that.
Drugs and alcohol can become an
issue, he said.
He credits his parents, who broke
their own cycle of addiction, for setting
them on the right path.
Although they had little education,
they rose above adversity, becoming highly
active in the community.
His father is heavily involved in social
work within the reserve. His mother, a
Pilot –––––
a serious golfer, urged the family to refuse
buying each other Christmas gifts, so they
could send the money to Third-World children or to others who are in need of daily
necessities and health care.
“She was the first to give. She had
saved all year to amass $149.50 to buy an
Ipad. She donated every penny of it to the
cause. She’s a wonder. She’s a very loving
girl, that is the total package,” he said.
But if you think Larsen loves to bask in
limelight, that’s also a far cry, think again.
Once away from the spotlight, the avid
woodsmith, who built the majority of furni-
In tune with
changing times, the
Munsee Delaware
Nation is tapping
into solar power
and the emerging
green economy to
protect the environment and help their
people thrive.
nurse, taught pre-school.
“I had big shoes to fill,” said Waddilove, who was the youngest manager
ever, hired to run the hall.
Two of his brothers served on the
Munsee Delaware Police Service, one
a captain.
His sister, a lawyer studying to become
a Supreme Court judge in Canada, received her master’s degree in England and
offers legal advice to tribal members.
All are outspoken and give back
as a sense of duty.
“Education was key,” he said.
“Our parents put us out in the world
to protect us. The world is different from
The First Nations Reserve they (reasoned).
We were groomed to be leaders.”
Which
may
explain
much
of the
progress
these people have
made.
“The Munsee Delaware Nation is
making great strides in developing a
sustainable and self-sufficient economy
once again,” according information posted
on their newly developed Web site.
“Where once the Munsee Delaware
Nation developed an extensive trade
network with neighbouring communities
and Nations, today, we are creating jobs
for our youth by tapping into the emerging
green economy,” they said.
One such initiative is the Munsee
Tree Corp., a tree farm, which will
generate carbon credits and supply
the emerging bio-mass industry.
Another is The First Nations Forestry
Training Program, which will train First
Nations students from across Ontario for
highly skilled jobs in the sustainable
forestry industries.
And, with their eyes on the horizon,
they are also exploring opportunities in
solar energy, studying the feasibility of
creating a 5-megawatt, community-owner
solar farm, which would generate revenue
for The Nation, through the generation of
green energy for Ontario.
Together with their key partners,
TD Bank, The Southern First Nations
Secretariat, Seven Generations Education
Institute and the Ontario Trillium
Foundation, the Munsee Delaware Nation
is working toward securing a prosperous
future that will also benefit the environment, they said.
So, not only are they helping their own
community, but at the same time the land
on which all peoples now live.
• • • •
Paradise Bingo is located at
271 Jubilee Road, Muncey, Ontario.
Bingo sessions are held Wednesday
through Sunday at 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m.
and 10 p.m.
For a schedule of daily games and
jackpots, please call the Paradise Bingo
Hotline at (519) 289-2503 or the hall at
(519) 289-0004 or visit their Web site:
www.munsee-delawarebingo.com.
• • • •
ture in his home, does beadwork, dances
in pow wows and drums, although admittedly not well, likes to be alone, often
gazing up at the stars or with a
family member.
In fact, when the lights do dim on this
aspect of his career, he’s ready to shine the
light on another group of people in the next
chapter – or should we say chapters ...
“When I retire I’m writing a book to be
entitled, “Giant Indians.” It will be a reference book. Each page will be devoted to
a different Native person, who has been
significant to our history or to our present.
“There are many, many who have done
so much, most of whom are rarely recognized with any frequency – if at all,” he said.
Diamond –––
That’s because Bingo,
played on Video King’s portable
gaming tablets, is held in the
ship’s dining and entertainment
area, which opens into an
outdoor deck.
“People really like Bingo,”
said Lindsay Greene, marketing
director for the ship.
“Especially the day cruisers.
We wanted to offer something on
the top deck, so people could
enjoy the outside,” she said.
Played para-mutual style,
Bingo will be offered, using the
Champion II and TAB-e tablets,
at 2 p.m. each day and in the
evening, whenever the band
takes a break, they said.
And judging from initial
comments, they’ll be back.
The most common comment
Flood heard, was how much their
passengers actually missed
the ship.
Adding Bingo was a good
call, according to McIntosh, who
helped install the gaming equipment for the launch of the ship.
“I’m very glad they’re offering
it. I’m extremely happy. If people
are getting up away from the
slots to play Bingo, when they
have a limited time to gamble,
it proves how popular it is.”
But unlike gaming, they’ve
left nothing to chance ...
The Black Diamond Casino
has gone to great lengths to
make everything – from the
gourmet dining, elegant decor
and entertainment to the gaming
offerings and premier equipment
– well, as they say on board –
simply ship shape.
•
He cites the Code Talkers, instrumental in World War II and others, making it
possible for the United States to prosper.
“For students, it will serve as a quick
reference. It will be a perfect fit for libraries
as well. For Indian children, the characters
will be role models. When the book is a
success, I will follow it up with speaking
engagements. The profits of both will
all go to a scholarship charity that
I will begin,” he noted.
But as they say, to everything there is a season ...
And, for right now, Larsen is
fully vested in being Director of
Bingo, and of course,
Grandpa, he said.
15
Just minutes from
downtown Reno, Nev.,
John Ascuaga’s Nugget is
one of the region’s largest
and most successful casino resorts. Throughout the
year, The Nugget holds
highly popular $100,000
Bingo Blowouts. Call
(800) 468-4388 or register
online: www.janugget.com.
The next Blowouts will
be held May 25, July 27,
Sept. 28, with a $50,000
Bingo Blitz on Nov. 9!
16
Company
Contacts
VKGS LLC
Video King/VKGS LLC
2717 N. 118th Circle, Ste. 210 • Omaha, NE 68164
VideoKingNetwork.com • Facebook.com/VideoKingNetwork
SPRING 2013
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE PAID
OMAHA NE
PRINTCO GRAPHICS
Video King
Company Headquarters
VideoKingNetwork.com
2717 N. 118th Circle, Ste. 210
Omaha, Neb., 68164
Toll Free: (800) 635-9912
Local: (402) 951-2970
Fax: (402) 951-2990
Manufacturing Division
7270 Pacific St.
Omaha, Neb., 68114
Toll Free: (800) 525-8380
Facility: (402) 951-2970
Fax: (402) 315-3496
VKGS Florida Affiliates
Bingo Tech Division
9940 Currie Davis Dr., Ste. 122
Tampa, Fla., 33619
Toll Free: (877) 746-6087
Local: (813) 628-4020
Fax: (813) 628-4013
Bingo Video 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
BingoKingFlorida.com
Video King Gaming &
Entertainment Canada Ltd.
Research & Development
1475 Chevrier Blvd., Ste. 100
Winnipeg, MB R3T 1Y7
Local: (204) 452-0100
Fax: (204) 452-0600
Help Desk: (888) 246-4609
Newsletter Editor
Carla Chance
[email protected]
Cruise Top Prize ––––
Bingo board, and the third, the other game infor mation, including
game name, pattern, ball called, ball count, or even the ball image.
n FlashPoint Bingo Display: A simple solution for small-scale
venues, Video King has combined gaming ingenuity with computer
know-how, developing software, which can display a 75-number
Bingo board onto a touch-screen PC.
And, for an
even bigger
bang for your buck, the
computer also has an
HDMI and VGA output,
which means the same
Bingo board image can
be displayed onto one or
more large-screen TVs.
n TAB-e and
Champion II: Video
King, among the world’s
largest providers of electronic gaming systems,
game designs and Bingo
hall equipment, has a
wide range of electronic
gaming devices, including our portable gaming
tablets, fixed-based units
Video King
and handsets.
n OMNI: Our multiple- The Corona Integra II,
functional, MICs compliant, our crown jewel, will be on
Bingo hall management
display at various tradeshows
system, continuously
across the country. The
updated with new features, deluxe, hands-free
now includes credit-card
chrome Bingo conprocessing, marketing
sole, with glassintelligence, gift certificate encased chamber,
module and the ability to
offers unhindered
offer sales to multiple
views of the balls in
sessions. (See OMNI
motion from every
story, Page 3.)
facet in the crowd.
n Game Galaxy:
To learn more,
Demo our
please give us a
Class II,
call at (800) 635credit9912 or (402) 951based
2970 or simply e-mail
games,
us at [email protected].
including Crazy Quarters™ and new
QuickShot Bonanza themes, now loaded
with free play, bonus rounds and even
more captivating animation.
Again, just a lil’ something to wet
your whistle – so do be sure to stop by
Booth 923 at the show ...
For further information or to arrange
a private meeting or Web demo, please
call (800) 625-9912 or (402) 951-2970 or e-mail
us at [email protected].
In the meantime, be sure to visit our Web site:
VideoKingNetwork.com, and follow us on Facebook for even more
updates and promotions. To learn more about BingoWorld, log on
to www.bingoexpo.com. Hope to see you at the show!
Video King

- Video King

Transcription

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