Cigarettes vs. Bingo--and Bingo Loses

Everyone knew that with the appearance of new “No Smoking” signs, things might get ugly.

They knew that when a state law took effect on Jan. 1 banning smoking from bars and pool halls, pack-a-dayers would stay away in droves, and bar receipts would nose dive.

But some didn’t realize that the law, which also applies to bingo parlors, would drive away many of those players--mostly senior citizens--who tend to puff when they play.

Or that the restrictions would unintentionally hurt bingo games at schools, churches and lodges, which fund charities and athletics, arts and music programs for kids.

At bingo games that benefit the Los Alamitos Youth Center, revenue is down 30% this year and attendance is half of the 200 it was before the center banned smoking, said Tom Stretz, executive director. Normally, bingo profits account for 16% of the center’s $340,000 budget.

The center actually banned smoking on July 12 in anticipation of the law, in hopes players would get used to it. They didn’t.

“We did it six months early, because we really felt if we got the jump on it, it would put us at a competitive advantage before Jan. 1,” Stretz said. “And it got really bad.”

In Huntington Beach, parents who voluntarily operate some school bingo games balked at banning smoking, but finally did so Monday, nearly two weeks after the ban took legal effect, at the urging of lawyers for the county school board.

“There was some grumbling, but I think a lot of people were also pleased that they don’t have to be in a room with a lot of smoke,” said Brian Garland, principal of Edison High School in Huntington Beach, which reaps part of the $750,000 a year raised in that school district by bingo games.

But for volunteer parents who run the games, the threat of losing smoking customers is worrisome.

“From a volunteer standpoint, after donating hundreds and hundreds of hours to raise money for kids, it’s frustrating for us,” said Mary Anne Fritzsche, who oversees Edison’s bingo nights and doesn’t like bingo games being lumped in with bars. “It’s too soon to tell what’s going to happen, but in the past, bingos that have been nonsmoking have folded.”

Elks Lodge 1952 in Garden Grove had one of the county’s larger weekly games, averaging about 275 people throughout 1997 and counting 390 at a pre-holiday game in December. Since New Year’s Day, attendance is off more than 20%, said Robert Holliday, bingo chairman.

“I’ve had people say they’re not coming back next week--longtime people, and that really hurts us,” he said. “Even more than that, I’ve got people who have been friends all their lives who are fighting with each other now. We’re trying to take breaks to allow the smokers to go out and smoke, but the other people want to keep playing.”

Last year, Elks 1952 gave more than $100,000 in bingo proceeds to charities that benefit handicapped children, Boy Scouts, Little League, war veterans and others.

“The charities are what’s hurt the most,” Holliday said.

On the other hand, some places are reporting the return of nonsmokers to the games.

“We had people come back this week we hadn’t seen for two years,” said Newt Seal, 72, of the Mission Viejo/Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge. “You get some of the smokers complaining because bingo players are gamblers and gamblers like to smoke.”

The Buena Park Knights of Columbus advertise their Thursday bingo game, with the $3 dinner special, free coffee and a special invitation: “Smokers welcome.”

But they have to light up outside, said hall member Chuck St. Duran. In the two games so far, attendance has been slightly above the average 50 to 60 people.

“Before the holidays, some of our regulars commented that they might not be back,” St. Duran said. “But we’ve been pleasantly surprised. We just hopes it continues this way.”

At Elks Lodge 2068 in San Clemente, members said the bingo room has been smoke-free for years. Still, the new law is hurting liquor sales.

“We don’t have smoking in the bingo room itself, but it’s definitely affecting my bar,” said Ralph Youngs, a lodge member and bartender. “People can’t believe that being a nonprofit, private organization that we would be under that [smoking] ban. It hurts.”

Still, it may be too early to judge. Customers slowly returned to restaurants when the ashtrays were taken off the tables for good.

“Our numbers have gone down, and we can’t put our heads in the sand and say that nonsmoking hasn’t contributed to that fact,” said Los Alamitos City Councilwoman Marilynn M. Poe, who sits on the youth center’s board. “Whether we’re going to be able to overcome that, well, time will tell.”