Page 4
The Battalion
Tuesday, April 17,19;
W,
•I ST G O
E veryone wins at Brazos Valley Bingo,
Although players can win up to $500
per game, there is more to gain from
bingo than something monetary.
Those who don’t win money get an inex
pensive night of fun and the satisfaction of
helping three worthwhile non-profit organi
zations in the Brazos Valley — the Brazos
Valley Council on Alcohol and Substance
Abuse, the Boys Clubs of Brazos County and
the Child Placement Center.
Jack Greve, the caller for Brazos Valley
Bingo, said each charitable organization
raises funds from three designated bingo
sessions per week. The money generated at
the particular sessions pays for the organiza
tion’s wages, rent and other expenses.
Two sessions of bingo per night are con
ducted Wednesday through Saturday at
7:15 and 9:00 p.m. and one early session on
Tuesday night. Speed bingo begins at 6:45
every night but Friday.
Greve said speed, package and instant
bingo are all played throughout the week.
If spending time with friends and giving
money to charitable organizations is not
enough to draw you to the bingo hall, the
money given away will. In addition to the
$500 games lucky bingo players can win,
Greve said $2,500 per session in prize money
is allocated for package bingo and $ 1,500 for
pull tab or instant bingo.
This large amount of available winnings
causes people to take their bingo seriously.
In addition to a posted sign requesting
people to keep voices to a minimum, Greves
must ask that the noise be kept to a “library
quiet” during games so players can concen
trate on their bingo cards. This is an under
standable request since some players play as
many as 36 cards per game surrounded by
about 225 people each night.
Of the people who attend bingo, Greve
said about /0 percent are women. He said all
ages of people, including students, attend
the weekly seesions.
For people who want to share in the fun
and winnings of bingo and gain the satisfac
tion of helping local charities, go see Brazos
Jack at the bingo hall.
He’ll greet you every time with, “Brazos
Jack welcomes you back to Brazos Valley
Bingo.”
Story l>y
Stacy E. Allen
Photos by
Phelan M. Ebenhack
TOP: “Brazos Jack” Greve calls
out numbers to bingo players in the
Townshire Shopping Center. Nick
named by his players, he has con
trolled the flow of the game since
Brazos Valley Bingo opened in Au
gust 1988. ABOVE: Players con
tinue to play the game, even after
filling trash cans with losing cards.
Prizes range from $1 to $500.
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projects the number on to television screens around
the hall for players to double check the cards.