Ohio smoking ban not the only factor in bingo decline

Ohio smoking ban not the only factor in bingo decline

Long a funding source for churches, veterans groups and other nonprofit organizations, bingo seems to be going the way of too many other institutions in the Mahoning Valley area — downhill.

The reasons are many and varied, but you can include smoking restrictions, competition for gaming dollars and increased costs to operate the large halls where bingo has flourished for generations.

St. Joseph the Provider in Campbell closed down its bingo game early this summer.

Chuck Zamary, who was involved in the church bingo for about 20 years at St. Joseph’s, said proceeds had been used to keep tuition costs down at the parish school.

Up until three years ago, Zamary said, the church bingo drew 175 to 200 players a night. But that number had fallen to about 115 players per session when bingo was shut down.

He noted that though Ohio starting enforcing its statewide smoking ban in May, the diocese had banned smoking in church halls such as St. Joseph’s three years ago because the halls were part of the parish schools.

Competition for gaming dollars and a declining economy also played important roles in the demise of St. Joseph’s bingo.

“You can’t blame it all on no-smoking. It was [only] a contributing factor,” Zamary said.

For the complete story, see Sunday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.