Last week the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned four individuals and four businesses in Guatemala accusing them of drug trafficking and money laundering. Amazingly, The Treasury thinks that a Guatemalan woman with an online bingo site is one of Central America’s prolific drug traffickers. The drug trade has gotten increasingly violent in recent years and law enforcement officials in the US are going after some of the top figures behind the violent drug cartels. Marllory Dadiana Chacon Rossell has had her US assets frozen.

Chacon conducted business on two fronts; facilitating the shipment of thousands of kilos of cocaine through Panama, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico and into the US; laundering tens of millions through her ‘family oriented’ bingo website, Bingo Millonario. It may be interesting to see how the Guatemalan government handles the sanctions. Recently elected Guatemalan president Otto Perez Molina handles this situation since he recently suggested decriminalizing drugs in the country. US law enforcement officials say that Chacon’s drug trafficking and money laundering organization is based in Guatemala and has operations in Panama and Honduras.

The move by Treasury officials bars US citizens from doing business with any of the front businesses operated by the group. Adam Szubin, director of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, told reporters “Marllory Chacon’s drug trafficking activities and her ties to the Mexican drug cartels make her a critical figure in the narcotics trade. By designating Chacon, OFAC is disrupting those activities and closing off from the U.S. financial system the network of companies aiding Chacon’s illicit activities.” Treasury officials say that Chacon is responsible for the transshipment of thousands of kilos through Central American each month. Treasury officials said “Chacon Rossell is also believed to launder tens of millions of U.S. dollars in narcotics proceeds each month, making her the most active money launderer in Guatemala.”

Officials say that Chacon’s husband provides logistical support for the drug shipments. Chacon has laundered millions through her bingo site. According to the bingo site’s Facebook page Bingo Millonario is a “family lottery” that uses its revenues to benefit maternal-infant health and education for poverty stricken Guatemalans. This is the only case in history where online bingo has been used to facilitate criminal activity. In most countries online bingo operations are subject to strict regulation and close scrutiny. Most players at Bingo Millonario would probably be shocked to learn that the site was used for nefarious purposes.

In Great Britain bingo is more than a game and has become a beloved British institution. In the not so distant past hugs garish bingo halls operated throughout the country. Even the smallest hamlet had its own High Street bingo hall. More UK residents attend bingo games than go to premiere league football matches or attend the cinema. Throughout the country bingo halls provided residents with the opportunity for inexpensive entertainment and socialization. Many people still view bingo as a pastime for the elderly and pensioners but the demographics of bingo have changed during the past decade.

The game’s popularity has not prevented many bingo halls from closing. In Preston the Gala bingo hall will close its doors in February 2012 and 22 jobs will be lost. The operators blame ‘difficult trading conditions’ for the closure. Since 2006 the UK has lost 76 bingo clubs including 12 that closed this year. If the game is so popular then why are bingo halls closing? A spokesman for the Bingo Association told reporters that bingo is “most highly taxed form of gambling in the UK” and that the tax rate for other forms of gambling, including online bingo, is 15%. The unnamed spokesman went on to say “This seems grossly unfair, particularly bearing in mind it’s a very safe form of gambling. They’re taxing it in such a way it limps along in a disadvantaged state, in comparison to other parts of the gambling sector.”

Local licensing fees have also taken their toll. Recently the government gave individual towns and cities the right to set their own licensing fees. In many cases fees tripled and even quadrupled. Even worse the government imposed higher taxes on electronic slot games and fruit machines and some bingo halls earn 70% of their total revenues from the popular gaming machines. Machines are taxed individually and several bingo halls have hundreds of slot machines. Recently Mary Portas, one of London’s leading retail experts, said that bingo halls are a good way to kick start community regeneration.

Paul Talboys, chief executive of the Bingo Association, stated “We very much welcome Mary Portas’ endorsement of bingo as a brilliant way to bring people together. Some may wonder about Mary’s reference to bingo as a possible means of re-building communities and increasing social interaction, however, as many bingo players will testify, this is very much on target. Talboys went on to point out the importance of bingo halls to local communities and told reporters “Bingo has long been, and continues to be, a bedrock of many communities across the UK, providing both a social centre and community, that is open to all.”

Competition from online bingo has been a double edged sword. After the smoking ban many players switched to online bingo. Online bingo has attracted young players and many of these players have developed an interest in live bingo games as a source of entertainment. Hopefully the new generation of bingo players will ensure thwe survival of the game for years to come.

Just about every bingo player has wondered at one time or another where the bingo cards actually come from. Believe it or not one gentleman has made a fortune printing bingo cards and is known as the ‘King of Bingo’ among players and bingo operators. Cards are an essential part of every bingo game and without cards there would be no game. Although the demand for cards is decreasing thanks to online bingo cards, daubers and callers remain an essential part of any live bingo games.

Frank Cronin, the ‘king of bingo’ was born during the worst years of the great depression in 1933. In the early 1950’s Frank was working at a small family owned print shop learning the trade. One day a priest came to the shop and wanted to order bingo cards. The order changed Frank’s life forever when he realized that there may be a demand for bingo cards. Frank entered the bingo business at the right time. The popularity of bingo was rapidly increasing during the post war years and Frank was quick to spot the business opportunity.

Franks company began the production of bingo cards and soon Frank had several clients. The firm started to print more bingo cards and soon the company was struggling to keep up with the demand. The firm Frank worked for, Edward Thompson quickly became the world’s largest supplier of bingo cards. Frank enjoyed his work and told a biographer “There’s been great fun in my life. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I’ve never been bored in my life.”

Frank’s life, from a schoolboy math whiz to a global business success is the subject of a biography I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I’ve never been bored in my life.” Nigel said of his subject “Bingo is a game which has brought pleasure to countless millions, and Frank is one of the men who made this possible.” Frank’s company got involved in the bingo business at the right time. In 1959 the firm had 12 employees and by 1960 they employed 300 people. In the beginning the company was outsourcing the printing of a few thousand bingo cards every week. By 1966 the company was printing 50 million bingo cards every week!

The firm expanded and added mill to meet the soaring demand for bingo cards. Frank started a new company called Wearside Electronics. Bingo blowers and other electronic bingo equipment was manufactured by the new firm During those busy years Frank found time for love and married Teresa Martin in 1957 and is the father of four boys. At 77 Frank still takes interest in the firm which is now managed by one of his sons. Despite a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Frank continues to work and says “I am not worried. It’s part of ageing, of getting old.”

In January of this year one popular bingo blog made predictions for online bingo in 2011. 75 and 90 ball bingo games continue to dominate at most online bingo sites. 75 ball games are popular in the US and 90 ball games are popular in the UK and Europe. Several trends were noted such as customized daubers, customized bingo callers and customized bingo cards. While all of these may not be available at all bingo sites several major bingo operators are now providing these new services that add to the fun of the game.

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Here are the top five predictions made in January 2-011. It will be interesting to see just how many of these predictions came true. The first prediction was that buzzword bingo would become more popular this year. Players take cards with catch phrases and words to business meetings and mark their cards everytime they hear one of the words or phrases. Unfortunately no one has done any real research into the popularity of the game so it is impossible to know whether this prediction came true.

The writer predicted that charity bingo games would increase in number. This prediction came true and many online bingo sites host games where the proceeds go to a chosen charity. Charity bingo games have been popular at land based bingo halls for years and the online bingo industry has jumped on the charity bingo bandwagon.

The writer predicted that the US market would open in 2-011. Unfortunately this did not happen and the US government has actually seized one major online bingo sites. Many analysts predict that no federal legislation will be forthcoming until 2013 and say that because of the presidential elections next year bingo will or any other internet gambling will be a taboo topic for politicians.

The author predicted that social networking sites like Facebook would play a greater part in the online bingo industry. Facebook recently announced plans to launch gaming applications for bingo, poker and casino games. A pilot program will be launched during the first quarter of 2012.

The author predicted that mobile bingo would be a big hit in 2011. This time he was right on the money. In fact experts say that mobile bingo will be the main driving force for growth in the bingo sector. Most major bingo operators have already launched mobile applications for iphones and Androids.

Although bingo is a random game of chance just about every bingo player knows someone who seems to win all the time. Although there is no real scientific explanation for ‘luck’ many bingo players credit their good luck to charms and talismans they carry with them to bingo games. Lucky charms are used by live and online bingo players equally. Gambling statistics show that three out of four bingo players carry some sort of good luck charms with them to games. Good luck charms can include such items as lucky socks, special jewelry, troll dolls, dice, gemstones, rabbit’s feet daubers and other items. Go to any bingo hall in the world and you will see lucky charms prominently displayed in the tables.

Some players swear that certain seats are lucky and woe to the player that tries to occupy someone’s ‘lucky’ seat. There have actually been physical confrontations over a lucky chair. There also seems to be a rule that all lucky objects must be displayed out in the open for all to see. Some people place lucky coins on their cards. Many players consider certain numbers to be lucky and will try to purchase cards with as many lucky numbers as possible. The use of lucky objects adds to the entertainment and fun provided by bingo games.

Recently a bingo player in Rochester, New Hampshire, brought a rather unusual good luck charm with her; her mother’s ashes. Diane Bozzi loved to play bingo games with her mother. Before her mother died in 2002Diane promised her that she would take some of her ashes with her when she played bingo. Her mother hoped her ashes would bring Diane Good luck. Diane made good on her promise and carried some of her mother’s ashes in an urn when she played bingo.

Unfortunately a thief was targeting parked cars in what police described as a crime spree and saw Diane’s bingo bag. Diane described the incident and told reporters “And I looked in the back seat and saw my bingo bag was gone, and that’s where all my paraphernalia was, and my mother was in that bag because I was planning on going to the senior bingo that day.” Diane is now pleading for the thief to have a heart and return her mother’s ashes and police are investigating the numerous thefts from unlocked autos.

Although criminality is not commonly associated with bingo there have been some isolated cases of bingo fanatics stealing large amounts of money to fund their bingo habits. In the UK one woman stole thousands to feed her online bingo habit and another woman stole from relatives to finance her bingo addiction. Both of these cases received widespread publicity in the British press and on many online bingo blogs and forums. In Arizona a 62 year old grandmother found a highly unique way to fund her bingo habit; selling marijuana.

Leticia Villareal-Garcia was arrested while transporting 200 pounds of cannabis from her Douglas Arizona home to a casino in Leticia Villareal-Garcia. Acting on a tip police stopped Ms. Villareal-Garcia’s and noticed a strong smell of fresh cut pot. Law enforcement officials said they found 214 pounds of marijuana in her trunk. Villareal-Garcia insisted that she had no knowledge of the pot in her trunk. Police did not believe her claim and arrested her.

At her trial at in Cochise County Superior Court Villareal-Garcia said that the day before her arrest her son’s long-lost godfather had visited her and borrowed her car. Her lawyer, Robert Zohlmann, said that Villareal-Garcia had been a ‘blind drug mule’ and had been tricked unwittingly into transporting the pot. During the trial prosecutor Doyle Johnstun built his case on circumstantial evidence such as the fact that Villareal-Garcia was driving with her car windows down in chilly winter weather.

A string of character witnesses for Villareal-Garcia testified that she played bingo almost every night. When Villareal-Garcia said her only income was from her bingo winnings and a $275 monthly welfare check she received for caring for her granddaughter prosecutor Johnstun thought he had a motive for the drug running. Johnstun told the jurors that most people who play bingo almost every night of the week end up losing in the long run. Johnstun told the court “The underlying issue is that she’s got a bingo problem, which explains why an otherwise nice person might get sucked into something like this.”

The jury deliberated for less than two hours and found Villareal-Garcia guilty. At sentencing Villareal-Garcia maintained her innocence and said “I never, never had any knowledge of that car being loaded when I went to Tucson.” The judge sentenced Villareal-Garcia to three years in prison and fined her $150,000. If she had played online bingo none of this would have happened!

Most people would never make a connection between American football and bingo but recent news reports suggest that several NFL players may face discipline because of their investments in an Alabama electronic bingo operation. Although bingo is looked upon as a harmless ‘soft’ form of gambling the NFL is extremely sensitive regarding any kind of gambling. It should be noted that sports gambling is responsible for a major part of the NFL’s high television ratings. Those who bet on football games usually watch the games they have bet on and the NFL likes the large number of gamblers watching the games.

While the NFL acknowledged the existence of sports gambling by creating the injury reporting rules which give the false impression that there is no insider information gamblers can obtain. The NFL has very strict rules in place when it comes to possible owner, coach, executive, and player involvement in any form of gambling. Sportswriter Jason Cole of Yahoo Sports reported that 25 NFL players could be required to give up any interests they may have in an Alabama bingo operation. The electronic bingo and entertainment operation was shut down in 2010 as part of an ongoing battle over legal gambling in the state.

In his new book lobbyist and now ex con Jack Abramoff said that he poured millions from Indian gambling operations in Louisiana into anti gambling organizations in Alabama. His efforts were partially successful and he even donated gambling money to ‘Christian’ groups opposed to gambling in Alabama. He was aided in the effort by Christian Coalition chairman Ralph Reed. The gambling operation in question is located 10 miles south of Dothan, Alabama and is known as Center Stage. The gambling operation previously went by the name Country Crossing and received extensive news coverage during the bingo controversy in the state. State authorities forced it to close when “electronic bingo” halls were ordered to stop using slot like bingo machines.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told Yahoo writer Cole “If it were to be determined that an NFL employee had made an investment in violation of league policy on gambling-related activities, that individual would be directed to withdraw the investment and it would be reviewed for potential discipline.” Some of the players involved include Terrell Owens, Santana Moss, Santonio Holmes, Gerard Warren and Adalius Thomas. The players have invested about $20 million dollars into the project. If the players are forced to sell before the bingo hall reopens they may lose millions and could face disciplinary action by the league.

There is overwhelming evidence that playing bingo has many benefits particularly for the elderly. Earlier in the year a study done by the National Health Service in the UK showed that playing bingo and engaging in other social activities can significantly shorten hospital stays.  Another study showed that playing bingo can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms. Most of the research has been done in the UK because of the deep attachment UK residents have for bingo. In fact the United Kingdom is now the world’s largest bingo market.

New research done in the United States indicated that playing bingo can prevent certain forms of disability among seniors. In addition to playing bingo other social activities are important. The research was done at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and involved 1,000 subjects. Attending church, going out to a restaurant with friends, doing volunteer work and taking trips have also been shown to delay or prevent certain disabilities associated with old age. All of these activities help seniors to be mentally and physically fit well into old age. The study done in the Unites States focused on participants in their eighties. Basic activities studies included feeding, bathing and dressing and physical activities such as walking up a flight of stairs, walking a half mile and doing household chores. The study concluded that seniors that engaged in social activities such as bingo were twice as likely to remain independent and mobile. A statement from the study says “Results showed that a person who reported a high level of social activity was about twice as likely to remain free of a disability involving activities of daily living than a person with a low level of social activity.”

Today more seniors are learning basic computer skills. Many seniors have discovered the joys of online bingo. In the UK Mecca bingo halls hosted sessions to teach people basic computer skills. The sessions were part of a nationwide initiative to promote computer literacy in the UK. Of course it was in Mecca’s best interests to host the programs because Mecca operates one of the most well known online bingo sites in the UK.

Playing bingo has been shown to promote hand eye coordination. Players must mark cards quickly building hand eye coordination. Bingo requires a certain level of concentration and provides players with plenty of mental exercise. One important study done in the UK showed that the mental and intellectual stimulation provided by bingo games can keep the mind sharp well into old age. In the UK there are several centenarians who still play regular bingo games.

Bingo is a totally random game of chance and there is really no system or strategies that can increase the odds in favor of the player. Online bingo sites use random number generators to pick the random numbers that are called during online bingo games. Random number generators have made online gambling possible and most reputable bingo sites have their software tested by independent testing companies. There are actually people promoting ‘systems’ that they say will result in win after win but the bad news is that there is actually little bingo players can do to influence the outcome of any individual bingo game. By sticking to some very basic gambling rules players can minimize their losses.

Money management is very important. Players should have a separate bingo bankroll. Never use money set aside for bills and necessary living expenses to play bingo games. At many bingo sites players can set spending limits and problem gamblers can self exclude themselves. Players should set a bingo bankroll and budget and stick to it. Learn to live with losses and know when to quit. This rule applies to any form of gambling whether it’s online slots,  bingo, betting on the ponies, craps, or Sportsbetting.

One of the few ways players can actually increase their chances of winning is to play multiple bingo cards. The more cards a play has the greater the chances of the right numbers being called. Thanks to the auto daub feature available at most online bingo sites players can literally play dozens of cards simultaneously. At many bingo sites cards can be purchased for as little as a penny. Cards for mega jackpot games are usually quite expensive and playing multiple cards in these games may not be an option due to the cost.

Players should stick to smaller games. Games with just a few players offer the best chances of winning. While the jackpots may not be as large these games can result in more wins. A series of small wins is better than no wins at all in the long run. Of course players should always stick to their budgets.

If possible players should always choose their own cards. At many online bingo sites this may not be possible because the cards may be randomly generated. The ability to choose the cards will give players the illusion of control which can lead to a more positive attitude. Some people believe that a positive mental attitude can lead to better luck.

Some bingo experts believe that it is better to play games with higher prices cards. There are two schools of thought on this. As most experienced online bingo players know; the higher the card cost the higher the payout will be. Because of the game’s random nature the odds do not vary from room to room.  The opposing school of thought believes that it is better to play more cards in lower priced games. They believe that several small wins are better than one large win.

Studies and surveys of bingo players have shown that a large majority of players value entertainment and socialization more than financial gain. Online bingo can provide players with hours of low cost entertainment and a chance to make some easy money at the same time.

Bingo is one of the most popular and played games in the world. Bingo games are available in just about every language known to man. Online bingo games are available in most major languages such as English, Spanish, French, German and many others. Many countries have their own version of bingo and games can vary from country to country. Everyone familiar with the game knows that 75 ball bingo is popular in North American and that 90 ball bingo is the most popular game in Britain and other European countries. In Sweden multi line bingo is the preferred game. Since the internet is global in scope all three bingo variants are widely available online.

Online bingo sites targeting players in the United Kingdom host a wide variety of bingo games. At most UK bingo sites 75 and 90 ball bingo are available. Some sites offer unusual variants such as 80 ball bingo and 30 ball bingo commonly known as speed bingo. Some software providers only offer 75 and 90 ball games while software providers such as VirtueFusion offer a complete selection of bingo game variants. Sites targeting Sweden will usually offer the multi line 75 ball games.

On online bingo sites targeting an American audience the selection is usually limited. 75 ball bingo is the dominant game and some US sites will also offer 90 ball bingo. In live bingo halls in the United States only 75 ball bingo games are played. Unfortunately, thanks to ill advised anti online gambling laws, players in the United States have a very limited number of bingo sites to choose from. Recent actions by US law enforcement have forced many online bingo sites to exit the lucrative American bingo market. There are still a few online bingo sites accepting American players but many American players have reported difficulties depositing and making withdrawals at some online bingo sites.

Bingo is wildly popular in Spain. Spanish players have a choice of 75 and 90 ball bingo games. Some Spanish language bingo sites also offer 80 ball bingo and multi line 75 ball games. Online bingo was slow to gain a foothold in Spain but once bingo operators worked out the language difficulties the Spanish bingo market grew rapidly.

Bingo is a game that transcends all ages and nationalities. Even better online bingo games are affordable to just about everyone and most online bingo sites are offering players very generous bonuses and player incentives.