Profitable Bingo Initiative Crumbles in Guam

Sunday, 9 December 2012 | Written by Rachel Collins

All the way back in September, news media outlets were reporting that the people of Guam were considering whether or not they wanted to have bingo completely legalised. As things presently stand, people in Guam are able to play bingo but with the profits going to charitable causes. Over the subsequent months since September there has been considerable discussion on legalising profitable bingo in Guam. An organisation named the ‘Guam Japan Friendship Village Inc.’ has been campaigning over the past few months, rallying behind crowds of supporters apparently in favour of bingo for profit. However, a financial report has come to light in December which clearly shows that the organisation paid in excess of $60,000 to its supporters, casting major doubt on its activities.

The Guam-Japan partnership has since failed in spite of bringing hundreds of ‘paid’ supporters out to ‘support’ the bingo for profit initiative. The failed initiative had apparently paid each supporter $40, on average, to come out and show support. Further costs incurred by the initiative extended to $69,000 for two Japanese attorneys and $189,000 shelled out to an advertising agency to handle media requirements. The goal was to get a bingo facility erected in Tamuning, with 20% tax on all gross receipts promised to the government. At this point it is still unclear who exactly was behind the initiative.

Like a high proportion of states within the US, there are charity bingo games held regularly in Guam. Guam residents attend charity bingo games in high numbers to show support for worthy causes and to give back to the community. US states engage majorly in charity bingo because it’s the only way that they are allowed to operate and Guam is no exception, despite not being a state. Charity bingo games have long been a stop-gap between satisfying the appetite of the people of Guam while keeping gambling activities at bay. It seems that there are burgeoning groups within the population who want a higher level of quality from their operators.

Profit would, inevitably, go a long way to help improve the quality of bingo games in Guam. Large operators in the UK, such as Gala Bingo and Mecca Bingo, operate their bingo games to earn a profit. These operators then reinvest significant sums of their profits into marketing, bingo promotions and upgrades within their physical sites. Attendees will then come along to find upgrades performed and facilities improved, and all because these operators are permitted to earn a profit. Profit earning encourages bingo operators to get competitive and raise the level of their service. Charity bingo operators just don’t have the money to give as much back to their players, no matter how much they likely want to.

Completely legalised bingo is a luxury that is afforded to UK residents, whom have their pick of off and online bingo. Bingo sites are free to try and target new players through airing TV adverts, though these are subject to rules, regulations and practices laid out by the UK Gambling Commission.