Cheating At Bingo

When run by charitable organizations, the game is relatively free of the crookedness that accompanies many other forms of gambling. A few professional operators who run Bingo games at fairgrounds, amusement centres and other public places are not always satisfied with their percentage take and cheat the players of the big jackpot prizes which they have advertised.

It's a simple dodge. They plant a house player, usually a woman, in the crowd who wins the big prize and later returns it, receiving only a fee for her day's or night's work. She wins because she is given a couple of game boards whose numbers have been recorded on a sheet of paper which the announcer keeps within view. Or sometimes identifying marks are placed near the numbers on the master board which correspond with those on the house player's cards. Then, as the owner draws the balls from the cage, the announcer miscalls one or more numbers. If, for example, they sees that the house player needs B-8 and G-47 to go the game they pretends to read these two numbers from the next two balls drawn. The house player shouts "Bingo." The announcer goes through the motions of confirming the numbers as the usher checks the player's card and then nonchalantly replaces the miscalled balls in the cage. The plant collects the jackpot and the other players are none the wiser.

Bingo players can protect themselves from this method of cheating by selecting one player to sit beside the announcer and check the numbers on the balls as they are drawn. A random choice of a player could easily be made by having the announcer, his back to the audience, throw out a Ping-Pong ball, the person catching it being the one to act as checker. This checking would only be necessary when the Big Special or Big Jackpot is being played. If you suggest this procedure to your Bingo operator and he welcomes your recommendation, he's honest. If he doesn't, then you would be wise to find yourself another Bingo parlor.