Bingo, one of the tried-and-true staples of the gaming world has survived right up to the present because of its incredible ability to reinvent itself. In fact, its popularity is on the rise because a whole new generation is beginning to discover its seductive charms. As Baby Boomers age, they are turning to bingo as a favorite form of recreational activity. So much so, that Market Pathways, a financial public relations firm that specializes in the representation of small-cap public companies, had this to say in a June 28, 2002 profile of a manufacturer of bingo products:

�Over the past few years the demographics of bingo players has dramatically changed, Baby Boomers now make up the largest group of bingo players. Baby Boomers are considered to have the most disposable income and the highest ability to access the Internet.�

So what's the cause for all of this excitement? It can be summed up in two words: �new games.� Sharon Smith of Palm Springs, California-based Bingo Solutions offered some observations about trends in game design. She explained that halls could play anything from traditional one-line games to intricate patterns, depending upon the area and the player preference. �A lot of pattern games are designed by the local managers to fit a certain area, i.e., �deer in the headlights', �cactus', etc. Many games, also, are designed to offer a big prize, but realistically give away only the consolation until such time as the big prize is covered. Still other games are player funded, giving back a percentage of the take to the players, and seeded with house money.�

Linda Toomey of Lansing, Michigan-based Melange Computer Services agrees with Smith's assessment of the popularity of pattern games. She pointed out that Melange designed a special pattern game for the Potawatomi bingo casino located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin using their mascot the B-13 Ball. The game is designed to play through the eyes, hands and feet and finally, the full body. Its popularity has made it a real draw for the casino.

But it isn't only bingo vendors who believe the future of the game is diversity. Don Damond of Mystic Lake Casino Hotel based in Prior Lake, Minnesota, had this to say:

�Some of our senior players are some of our more sophisticated players, requesting variety in the program. We also experience a large variation in age differential and want to appeal to those segments. Finally, many of our players are what we call regulars who have been patronizing our hall for many years. We want to mix it up and give them variety and continue to make it fun and challenging.� At Mystic Lake, they offer blackout progressive games that have three or four parts on their way to the blackout starting with 4 corners, letter �L�, full round robin, and then full card.

Jan Linkhart of Spirit Mountain Casino based in Grand Ronde, Oregon agrees the game has to be interesting. For the price of $1 per bingo session, players at her casino have the chance to win 5 jackpots in addition to the regular payout. Spirit Mountain will soon be offering three different Bonanza blackouts. They will also have a Planet Bingo $100,000 blackout in addition to their Wheel of Fortune blackout. In Wheel of Fortune, single winners get to spin the wheel and win from $500 to $10,000. In the case of multiple winners, the caller spins and the players divide the winnings.

And while land-based bingo halls have been marching to the beat of a different drummer, Internet bingo has sent shock waves throughout the gaming world. Casino Fortune (www.casinofortunebingo.com) recently launched the first large-scale online bingo parlor and received considerable consumer interest. Dennis Rose said that the success of his company's bingo was due to the creation of new games like 90 ball bingo, assigning a larger percentage of funds to progressive jackpots than land-based casinos do, and allowing players to have real-time chats with fellow players online.

So no matter whether you like classic bingo, or whether you find Internet bingo to be your cup of tea, you'll always find lots of variety of play and big prizes. The image of the little blue haired lady holding a cardboard numbered card and a handful of red plastic chits has been archived in the national culture along with other treasured pieces of Americana.