John Ascuaga's Nugget History Made July 24, 2010

It was a great crowd at John Ascuaga's Nugget Bingo Blowout July 24, 2010. The folks were just getting into the flow of bingo numbers and patterns as the caller announced the next game: the crazy kite. This is a block of 4 in one of the corners and a tail. Hearts started pounding as a few numbers from the B and I row were called. Then the G row demanded to be heard.

"Wow," the lady across the way from me said, "I'm on! I could really use that thousand dollar prize." More blue, red, and green numbers appeared (the N row isn't needed in the small kite, with the exception of the FREE space in the center). Happy chirps from those needing a yellow O ball to show began turning to groans and then to stunned laughter as the Bingo Number Board was nearly completed with everything but an O.

If you've been to a bingo game before, you've seen the green tinge the caller begins to have as more and more players need a number from the row that hasn't been called, and that color just isn't in sight. Both players and staff were on alert by this time - everyone was aware a multiple winner game was on the way.

At long last, a yellow ball appeared in the camera. Several hundred people crossed their fingers and held their breath, hoping for a piece of the pie. When the number was shown, there were groans, but still lots of applause, as the waiting was finally over.

Tony Delesi, one of the casino managers and best known for checking to be sure the bingo sessions, be they the big events like the Blowout or the day-to-day games, are running smoothly and the patrons and staff are happy, announced there would be about a 20 minute break as they verified each bingo. The players were asked to stay at their seats if they had a winner. Staff members took each paper, called the winning card's number, and put the table number, seat, and name of the winner on the back of the card. At the end of the verifying, each staff member took up the sheets they had verified with the caller, and a count was done.

One hundred seventy-three was the count - a record number and a situation requiring a decision on what the players would be paid. A quick decision was reached - each winner would receive $10. Those lucky enough to have a winning card (the lady across the way was one of them) were asked to be patient. - that the players would be paid table by table. Tony also perked everyone's feelings by reminding them that they had just participated in a piece of Nugget Bingo history! Congratulations to all who attended!