Bingo in the Far North

Posted on June 15th, 2009

When most people think of the far north in Canada they think of deep snow, dogsleds, thick forests, and tundra. In villages and hamlets across the Canadian north bingo has become a popular form of entertainment. Radio bingo is a fast growing business in northern Canada.

In Edmonton Canada the expansion of a rural aboriginal radio station will provide radio bingo to more communities in the far north. CFWE-FM started in 1987 and originally served 10 aboriginal communities. The station’s signal now extends to northern Alberta. The station plays mostly country music with a focus on independent and aboriginal musicians. On weekends the station expands it’s repertoire to include contemporary rock and hip hop.

The station hosts radio bingo on Monday and Thursday evenings. The bingo show enjoys widespread popularity and bingo players purchase their bingo cards from a network of corner stores, native friendship centres, and pizza shops. The bingo cards cost five dollars for a pack of three bingo cards.

When a player wins they call the station, give their card number and the card is checked automatically when a verifier enters the code into a computer. The station has given away $1.8 million in prize money since 1996. Radio bingo is a big hit in northern rural communities. Many people make a party out of radio bingo and invite friends over for bingo and “Indian tacos.”  Radio bingo provides Aboriginal people inexpensive entertainment during those long sub zero northern nights.

Also popular in northern climes is internet bingo. Internet bingo can be played from anywhere in the world with internet access and has become popular in rural areas. Broadband coverage is extensive in Canada but at present there are no figures available for the number of online bingo players in the far north. These days no matter where you go bingo is sure to be popular.

Rural residents the world over who do not live close to a bingo hall can now play bingo online. Internet bingo has experienced astounding growth during the past decade. Internet bingo sites offer various inducements to attract players such as free bingo bonuses, bigger jackpots and several player perks. Players will usually be offered a bingo sign up bonus along with a bingo deposit bonus and players can easily triple the size of their first deposit. For those unfamiliar with the online version of bingo most bingo websites have a free play option so players can familiarize themselves with the online version of bingo before wagering real money. Best of all internet bingo provides hours of entertainment with the chance of a substantial win.