AREA CHARITIES BENEFIT FROM BINGO FUNDS

Riverboat casinos offer the glitz of gambling. Bingo isn't as showy, but it isn't penny-ante either.

Bingo generates big bucks in Cape Girardeau County, with the profits going to charitable efforts throughout the region.

Missouri has more than 700 bingo groups licensed to offer weekly bingo games. Another 525 organizations have special licenses that allow them to host bingo from one to seven days in a year. Statewide, bingo games and pull tabs, which are instant lottery games, generate about $180 million a year.

Bingo is popular in Southeast Missouri. Nine bingo organizations in Cape Girardeau County took in more than $1.25 million in net receipts last year.

The Cape Girardeau Kiwanis Club collected more than $800,000 in gross receipts in 1997, ranking it among the top money-raising bingo organizations in the state. After paying for prizes and other expenses, the club still had some $100,000 or more to give away to charitable groups and civic projects.

The other eight bingo organizations also spent their profit by donating the money to worthwhile causes. Some money went to Catholic schools to help further the education of young people. Bingo proceeds also pay for a number of college scholarships.

Make no mistake, bingo is a form of gambling. As such, it can be addictive. But most bingo players say they do it for entertainment and don't view it as a way to bankroll their retirement.

It's clear overall that bingo benefits the community and the region. The fact that Cape Girardeau doesn't have a riverboat casino is actually good news for bingo organizations and the charitable groups and projects that the bingo proceeds help support.

Missouri has some 200 fewer bingo organizations today than it did in 1995. State bingo officials blame competition from riverboat gambling.

After all, there's only so many gambling dollars to go around. But thanks to bingo, the region is getting its share for charity.