Bingo goes before the cameras

Kimberley McGee

Wednesday, Sept. 22, 1999 | 1:37 a.m.

TV BINGO

To play "TV Bingo," which airs Monday-Thursday at 10 p.m. on kTVY Channel 63 (Cox cable channel 61), contestants must obtain cards that are available at these locations:

It's 10:20 p.m. Do you have your bingo card?

To awaken the valley to KTVY Channel 63 (Cox cable channel 61), the fledgling station is using one of the oldest and most popular games of chance -- bingo.

To play the game, viewers tune in to "TV Bingo," which airs at 10 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, and mark off their cards -- as many as they can bring home from locations including Chicago Hot Dogs (1078 N. Rancho Drive), Comfort Inn, (910 E. Cheyenne Ave.), Desert Outfitters (2101 S. Decatur Blvd.) and Smoker Too (700 E. Sahara Ave.) from the balls called over the air.

The players at home are looking for a traditional bingo of five numbers in a row, a coverall in which the whole card is checked off, and a progressive bingo, in which five bingos are on one card. They're playing for prizes and a progressive jackpot that is up to $420 and gets bigger every week if someone doesn't win. The first player to call in with a computer-verified bingo wins.

And people are loving it.

"I've been playing it four nights a week since it's been on," says Marge Weingardner, a viewer and winner of a Bowdabra bow maker on a recent evening. "I like to play bingo (anyway) and (playing at home) is fun."

The show's host, who goes by the one-name moniker of Drew, is a Bellagio cabana host by day. He does a sit-down comedy act behind a desk that features a clear cut-out side where the balls bounce in a glass case.

He calls out the number, careful not to make a mistake, lest the "Bingo-God," a booming voice from above, catches it and needles him -- about his clothing ("How many dashboard covers did it take to make your vest?") or when he drops the ball, literally. The "Bingo-God" is unforgiving and sees all, from his perch in the control room.

KTVY airs only local shows from 6-10:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday with religious programming 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. Sundays. But how could the station lure viewers while being nestled so far out on the cable box between the pay-per-view listings and Bravo channel? It needed a hook. Bingo.

Darwin Paustian, general manager of KTVY, hopes the show will earmark the station for viewers.

"It gives us a weekly identity," Paustian says. "(The channel) becomes a must-stop destination."

The TV bingo genre has been successful in California markets, he says, as well as in the Midwest. Although there is a lot to distract Las Vegans when it comes to gaming, KTVY hopes its bingo niche will be a hit.

"With the bingo culture that we have in Las Vegas it became natural for us to get involved," Paustain says.

But why b-i-n-g-o?

"I think that game shows, first, are fun. And it's a fun game, everybody enjoys bingo," he says.

So much so that the game is featured not only on this small station, but the Internet is also crammed with bingo sites such as America Online's Slingo and, locally, at www.accessnv.com/bingo, where you can play with the Las Vegas Bingo Club.

The allure of bingo, KTVY management hopes, will be strong enough to keep the audience tuned into the station's other shows -- including a talk show, a seniors show, and health and sports programs -- which focus on local issues.

"There's a local bias to what we do," Ed Winfield, owner of KTVY, says. "Every show we do is tied to Las Vegas."

Valerie Goetze, officer manager and receptionist at the tiny studio, has been handing out prizes to the bingo denizens -- everything from a night's stay at an area spa to an amethyst bracelet valued at $900 and to dance lessons.

"We've got some crazy personalities here, it can be pretty exciting," Goetze says.

She greets a half-dozen people each day looking for their rewards, most of whom are itching to get their gifts, although one winner of 10 dance lessons was a bit displeased.

"She was a double amputee and told us the prize was nice, but wouldn't do her any good," Goetze says. "We substituted another prize."

Bingo is a simple little game that has been around seemingly forever and it makes a lot of money for local casinos and players -- anywhere from a fistful of dollars to thousands. Throw in other prizes, such as television sets and jewelry, and bingo becomes one of the most popular games in town.

"Look at the history of Vegas -- bingo was the front to every casino on the Strip," Donald Carrier, editor of the Nevada Bingo Bugle, says. "It just brings people in."

The monthly tabloid also carries "Bingo Astrology," which informs players what day of the week is more auspicious to get that TV, what color dauber to use and what numbers to be aware of. This helps the bingo lover get ready for their hot date by wearing charms or their favorite lucky shirt to give good fortune that extra nudge.

"It's the most social form of gambling that there is," Carrier says. "People talk to each other, they become bingo buddies. They get away from their home problems and meet people. You don't really look at people around a poker table, you don't communicate or pass the day at a poker table or craps."

Bingo helps in the development of a casino, he says, especially one that relies on weekly repeat business, such as the Station Casinos.

"In Vegas, there are two things that get people to play bingo: it's a social thing and it keeps them away from the (slot) machines," Carrier says.

And the winnings in bingo are nothing to sneeze at.

"You can win lots of money, I've seen hundreds of thousands of dollars (won)," Carrier says.

"It's the fastest way to get fast cash," says Janet Caspay, a bingo player and tourist from Youngstown, Ohio, who recently played bingo at Palace Station.

"And make your money last," Becky White, from Kentucky, chimes in.

The two women met at the Palace Station bingo room. White went to every bingo session at the Palace Station bingo room during her weeklong vacation in Las Vegas. She won $50,000 a few years ago and although she may not see prize money that big again, the hundred dollars here or one thousand dollars there are scintillating enough to keep the 20-year bingo veteran satisfied.

Dan Rosenzweig, from Israel, happened to sit next to the two women and the three became fast, if not fleeting, bingo pals.

"It's a friendly place," Caspay says.

"It's very social," White says.

"With lots of jokes flying through the air," Rosenzweig says.

"I love bingo. I don't know why, but I do," Caspay says, her smile wide and eyes bright. "It's the best place to meet people."

Caspay, as well as quite a few other players, brought a trinket for luck to the session -- a small, yellowed, plastic St. Anthony figurine -- to watch over her cards. White chose a green dauber for luck.

"People bring in bracelets, charms, you name it," White says. "People have certain seats and if you sit in them, they get very upset."

Aside from the social aspect, "TV Bingo" is not much different from its traditional counterpart. It gives the player the thrill of daubing and winning, in the comfort of a favorite chair at home, with a few giggles thrown in for good measure.

"Mostly (viewers) say they like (the show) because it's free and ... they think Drew is very funny," Goetze says. "They can sit at home and be entertained ... and win something."