![]() ![]() With her oxygen tank in tow, she arrives each day to claim her seat. "I've been playing here since they opened in 1988," she said. Gilligan is like most bingo players - a senior citizen who comes here for the camaraderie. Some casinos, such as Arizona Charlie's, even have complimentary shuttle buses that pick up players at their retirement homes. But many casinos offer bingo in hopes that gamblers will wander over to the other games as well. I'd like to see them doing other things."īingo is one of the lowest-grossing casino games - only $2.6 million last year, compared with $2.5 billion on quarter slot machines. "It's more like a social club for them," said bingo manager Mary Sandlin. Some 2,500 people, mostly senior citizens, play bingo here every day. "I used to win quite often," she said wistfully.Įach day, the blur of silver hair fills the bingo hall at Arizona Charlie's, a popular locals' casino on the city's west side, and many others across the valley. But she will stay here for hours longer - visiting with her bingo-playing friends, sipping free drinks, just maybe winning a game. "Son of a gun," Gilligan, 79, said after the agony of losing yet another game. Then, a dreadful sound from across the room: "BINGO!" ![]() Mary Gilligan taps her frail fingers against the table, waiting, hoping this bingo game is hers. ![]()
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