Video Bingo Craze

But people in the video bingo business say thats nonsense. They point to the millions video bingo pumps into local charities and governments. From programs for northeast Louisiana senior citizens to high school athletic booster clubs- video bingo has become a bonanza. Business is booming at Bayou Bingo in Rayville. And not just there. at five different bingo halls spread across northeast Louisiana the machines are chiming and the cash is piling up. But much of the money goes right back out the door. Tammy Fautheree of Louisiana Video Bingo LLC, "We contribute 45% of every dollar that goes into these machines to local non profit charities". And that money adds up fast. In 2008 Louisiana video bingo has paid over one point three million dollars to dozens of local charities. Such as: "Council on Aging. The Rebel Classic Club. The Arts Council. The Franklin Association of Retarded Citizens, the list goes on and on". Griffin Scott in Rayville "And attached to the video bingo halls are traditional bingo rooms where you know, people get pieces of paper and the stampers and that sort of thing. One hundred percent of the money made in these rooms goes straight to charity". Kriss Hollis volunteers with the Rayville High School Booster Club. One of many organizations receiving money from video bingo. She says, "We have been able to donate money to the ROTC rifle team, track team, football team, buy digital video equipment". And charities and non profits arent the only ones cashing in. Tammy Fautheree tells us, "From $5,000 up to 20% going straight to the local government". Close to 355 thousand dollars paid directly to northeast Louisiana cities. Kriss Hollis says, "We still benefit even if you dont play". And the state gets in on the money train too. Over 86 thousand dollars this year alone. So charities get major cash donations, governments are making money, everybodys happy right? Griffin Scott, "Not everybody is so crazy about video bingo. Some groups are opposing it on religious grounds and another opposition group to video bingo, you might find surprising". Tammy Fautheree explains, "We had some very powerful opposition from riverboat gaming this year through their lobbyist". Despite that- Tammy Fautherees company is planning to build a sixth location soon. She reveals, "West Monroe charities... theyve asked us to please try and get it in West Monroe". The cash cow that is video bingo continues to be a big boom in a bad economy. Tammy Fautheree says, "This is a great thing for charities, it beats the heck out of car washes and cookie dough and bake sales". Some states pulling the plug on video bingo. Recently Maryland banned them. And similar measures are being entertained in California and Alabama.