Whistle Blower Banned From Bingo Hall

Posted on August 7th, 2009

In the US bingo is used as a fundraising tool for churches, Veterans groups, and charitable organizations. The popularity of bingo clubs in the US is not as great as in the UK and bingo halls not sponsored by churches, charities and veterans groups are chiefly found on Native American reservations across the US. In some states recent changes in the law have allowed private bingo providers to open bingo halls. There are literally millions of bingo players in the US and many take the game very seriously.

One such woman in Conroe Texas who has been a loyal bingo player for over 30 years has just been banned from her favorite charitable bingo game for asking too many questions.
Veronica Smith who usually plays bingo at the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) post #4709 in Conroe Texas noticed something fishy about the frequency of wins by employees. Smith says she was kicked out of the bingo hall after she contacted the state’s Bingo Commission and filed a complaint. She told them she suspected cheating at the bingo hall.

She then received a one sentence from the VFW post commander Kenny Shelsteder, who runs the VFW Post 4709 in Conroe. The letter bluntly stated, “You are no longer eligible to play bingo in this hall or be on the premises per Commander Kenny.” Now Ms. Smith is not even welcome in the parking lot of the facility. In an interview with a local television station Smith said, “I feel terrible. It makes me mad. It makes me real mad because they have a lot of my money.”

One of Smith’s complaints is that employees get to play and then mysteriously win a lot of money. Said Smith, “On the pull tabs one night, she (an employee) won seven times. That is just unreal.” The local Television also found two more patrons who said they suspect cheating. The station also confirmed that the bingo hall is under investigation by the state.
The post commander says that Smith was not banned because of the complaint but for other reasons. Commander Shelsteder stated, “She can’t keep her mouth shut. People around her can’t play their bingo right. She accuses all my workers of stealing, lying and cheating.” Smith adamantly denies the allegations.

Like many bingo aficionados Smith says that life without bingo is just not the same. If Ms. Smith wants to avoid similar incidents she should consider internet bingo. Bingo websites are now offering players free bingo bonuses and huge jackpots and some pretty creative prizes. It seems that bingo players on both sides of the Atlantic take their bingo very seriously.