Living in Eastern Connecticut, you are bound to visit one of the two large casinos, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. Whether it is to eat, shop, or gamble at many games like Texas Hold’em or Blackjack, the casinos have a lot to offer. If the big casino scene is not for you though, then there are many small bingo halls scattered throughout Eastern Connecticut. One of the best halls is the Elk’s Club bingo in Willimantic, Connecticut.
Held every Thursday night at the Elk’s Club, this small bingo hall holds around a hundred people and features wooden or plastic tables that seat four to six people. While most bingo halls are non-smoking, this one allows it, so if you are uncomfortable with that, sit near the corners or the windows.
Many regulars attend this game and arrive early, so if you want the best seat, arrive early, or you may be forced to seat somewhere you do not like.
Buying bingo packages is a quick and easy process. Simply choose from the six dollar six card package or the twelve dollar twelve card package. There are also different daubers for sale, in a wide range of colors and designs. After buying your package, there are “special” games available for purchase like a “Bonanza”, Quickies, and others that are scattered throughout the night. Most specials are only a dollar each, except the quickies, that cost fifty cents each.
The itinerary for the night is filled with nineteen to twenty five games. About halfway there is also a short intermission where a door prize raffle is drawn and every player receives a ticket. Two games are usually played on one card, for example a single bingo is followed by a double bingo, all dabbed on one card. To stop the games from going too long, instead of just a line for single bingo, players can get either the outside or inside four corners.
The bingo display screen itself is nice, with few errors on the lights, and visible from all parts of the room. There are also ball monitors scattered throughout the hall to help see what the next ball will be. There are usually the same callers every week, and the quickie caller may be the worse, calling the slowest quickie game in bingo history.
There is a small concession station, offering a variety of food, including great french fries, donuts, candy, and sandwiches. Some nights there are even specials like stuffed shells and sauce. Prices are very reasonable and cheap for the food.
While not every player may be friendly, the staff is, offering help and guidance with any questions a player may have. They roam the bingo halls selling extra games, pull tabs, and chat with the players.
Bingo usually lasts two or three hours and is a lot of fun. Because of the smaller bingo hall, chances of winning become greater than a bigger hall like Foxwoods. The payouts are not as big though, ranging from $50 to $100 dollars. Bingo starts at 6:45 and doors open at 3:00.
