Trendy South Beach offers visitors and residents of Miami many attractions. The old art deco hotels and buildings have been beautifully restored and attract visitors from around the globe. What was once a derelict section of Miami populated chiefly by drug addled lunatics is now a world class tourist attraction. South Beach is also home to many trendy night clubs and upscale entertainment venues. The area draws young people from far and wide and there is a new activity that is packing them in.
The upscale Standard Hotel is offering a new variation on an old game. For decades the game of bingo has been associated with little old ladies sitting in smoky church basements and VFW halls but as the Standard Hotel advertises, this is “Not your grandmother’s Bingo.”
Bingo has undergone a transformation in recent years and is attracting a younger crowd. Bingo players years from their first retirement check are gleefully drinking, dancing, and cavorting with some of the most colorful drag queens to be found anywhere. In recent years bingo has become immensely popular in the Gay community and raucous games such as those at the Standard Hotel attract a diverse crowd.
Although some may see bingo as a boring dated pastime, games like those held at the Stanford are giving new life to the game and insure its survival. Most of the players are in their 20’s or 30’s and the bingo callers can get pretty colorful as they call the numbers and add a little bit of sexual innuendo. In most bingo games when there is a tie the players simply split the money but not at the Stanford. If there is a tie the crowd yells “Dance Off” which immediately triggers an impromptu dance contest with the winnings going to the dancer who elicits the loudest response from the crowd.
The phenomenon taking place at the Stanford is being duplicated across the country. Almost every major American city has its own version of drag bingo and the popular games fill halls across the country with habitues. Many casinos are trying new innovations to attract younger players. In Minnesota the Mystic Lake Casino offers their own version called ‘Cosmic Bingo’ which takes place on Friday and Saturday nights. The games features dance music, lots of colorful neon lights, and spicy bingo callers. The casino’s director of operations says that attendance reaches 500 on many nights.
The addition of booze, drag queens, booty shaking, and dance music has breathed new life into the game of bingo and ensures its survival well into the next generation.
Anthony Wayne works as a marketing consultant for online bingo site BingoHouse. His articles may also be found at BingoLingo and at BingoSuite.
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