Within a roomy, brown-paneled building owned by the DeSoto Shriner’s Club, an appetizer of thrills and giddy fun happens six evenings weekly.
It’s Bingo Bonanza!
Around 100+ regular visitors to the Nesbit facility, close to the Lander’s Center, regularly stroll in with a desire to take their chances winning bingo cash prize payouts up to $7,500.
Hope and smiles abound.
The draw to play bingo, for some, seems to be to socialize with fellow players they’ve gotten to know over time. Many patrons know each other by their first name.
“I’m here to win! I feel good tonight,” said Mary, taking a seat in the corner.
Winner, Winner!
Visitors to Bingo Bonanza play the old fashion way, with ink stamps, or on digital monitors.
Some of the regulars like Mary know that every single cent visitors pay for a Bingo card funds a foster family support for special needs foster children in Mississippi run by the non-profit Apelah (translation: “Help”).
In 2023, funds from Bingo Bonanza provided over half-a-million hours of service to special needs foster children in Mississippi.
Unlike casinos, rules permit anyone, starting at age 18, to play.
Many players have no idea who or what manages Bingo Bonanza besides the game’s staff – from cashiers to table runners who, like restaurant servers, help customers with game cards.
What they do know is that it’s just fun, and the odds are favorable that they will leave with cash winnings.
As the saying goes, “There’s always a winner!”
At one end of the building, a Bingo Caller starts with a call to action from behind a microphone. A few seconds later, one of the colored ping pongs swirling in an air-pumped glass box pops up.
“B-10” is called.
With ribbons in her hair and fingers curling a card ink dauber, Betty smiles and jokes with her friend Darlene, who is one chair over and is optionally playing on an individual electronic monitor that instantly and digitally marks the numbers called.
A pair of electronic game monitors on the walls also keeps track of what bingo balls have been called.
“I want to hit the jackpot: Can you give me good luck?” Betty asks.
The Shriner’s Club is located at 2888 Gwynn Road. Learn more about the games that happen everyday minus Wednesdays here.