Bingo Facts

Bingos have been a popular form of fundraising for organizations and charitable groups while providing an entertainment venue in our First Nations communities for decades.

The origins of Bingo can be traced back to the year 1530. In 1929, a game called "Beano" was played at a carnival near Atlanta, Georgia. The bingo game's tools consisted of dried beans, a rubber number stamp and some cardboard. A New York toy salesman named Edwin Lowe, observed the game where players exclaimed "BEANO!" if they filled a line of numbers on their card. Lowe introduced the game to his friends in New York where one of them mistakenly yelled "BINGO!" in her excitement. "Lowe's Bingo" was soon very popular and Lowe asked competitors to pay him $1 per year to allow them to call their games Bingo as well.

By the 1940's Bingo games had sprung up all over the country with thousands of games being played every week. In Canada and in Saskatchewan, Bingos are one of the major and most popular charitable gaming activities. With the introduction of VLT’s and casinos in Saskatchewan in the early 1990’s, Bingo revenues have decreased significantly over the years, and numerous Bingo Halls have been forced to close their doors.

IGR has developed a model for licensing and regulating on-reserve bingo operations taking into account the special circumstances on reserves and the related challenges. IGR hosted a province-wide symposium in Saskatoon to discuss charitable gaming, specifically bingo. Approximately 50 participants representing various First Nations attended the event. IGR followed up on this symposium by contacting bingo operators with a questionnaire designed to gather operational and administrative information on current charitable gaming activities. Through these consultations, communities provided IGR with input to guide the discussions for the development of the First Nations bingo model, and terms and conditions for the conduct and management of bingos.

The symposium and the responses to the questionnaire gave IGR a better understanding of the way First Nations currently operate. IGR has developed 4 bingo models based on the valuable feedback received. The models are significantly different from the current bingo models in Saskatchewan and uniquely First Nations based. Highlights include:

• Structure of charities more suited for First Nations
• Flexibility in the distribution of gross revenue
• Different volunteer/paid worker criteria

We are proud of the progress and are committed to continuing to work with First Nations to ensure the transition to IGR regulated gaming is as easy as possible for First Nations charities.

Regulation of on-reserve gaming activity means the continued success of many charitable organizations that receive the much needed proceeds. To be successful leaders in First Nations gaming industry, IGR needs to ensure the credibility and integrity of all licensed on-reserve gaming activity.

Bingo Licence Types

“Licence” means a Charitable Gaming Licence as issued by IGR for the conduct and management of a Bingo Lottery Scheme and includes:

• Class “A” Management Licence - is a licence issued to a charitable or religious organization to conduct and manage Bingo Events at a Class “A” Bingo Hall where not less than 15% of the Gross Revenue is distributed to a Class “B” licensee at the end of each event.
  
• Class “A” Pooled Licence - is a licence issued to a charitable or religious organization to conduct and manage Bingo Events at a Class “A” Bingo Hall where not less than 15% of the Gross Revenue is accrued and distributed on a monthly basis to Class “B” licensees, to be pro-rated based on the number of events conducted by each Class “B” licensee during the month.
  
• Class “B” Licence - is a licence issued to a charitable or religious organization to participate at a Bingo Event in conjunction with a Class “A” licensee at a Class “A” Bingo Hall.
  
• Class “C” Regular Licence - is a licence issued to a charitable or religious organization to conduct and manage three Bingo events, or less, per week, at any premises specified in the licence (including licences issued for Media Bingo). –Media Bingo means a bingo which is transacted via media of mass communication, including but not limited to, radio, television, closed circuit, satellite and cable transmission, newspapers, magazines or periodicals regardless of the duration.
  
• Class “C” Umbrella Licence - is a licence issued to a charitable or religious organization to conduct and manage three Bingo events, or less, per week, at any premises specified in the licence (including licences issued for Media Bingo) where the Class “C” Umbrella licensee conducts and manages bingo for the benefit of itself and its member groups.