Bingo Players Vying For Gas Money

by ABC-7 Reporter Stephanie Valle

EL PASO — Almost everyone is feeling the pinch of spiking gas prices this summer, but there’s another sideto the story. Managers at Bingo Plus on Montana Street are seeing an increase in business.

“I’ve been doing this for eight years and every year it’s been slow in the summer except for this year,” Francisco Pena, a Bingo Plus game operator, said.

The large bingo room was at about two-thirds full Tuesday morning. Employees said on average they count 90 players in the morning, but this summer, they’re catering to more than a hundred, with even higher numbers for evening games.

It’s not a scientific study, but employees think it might have something to do with the extra money people are paying for gas.

At least one bingo player says he plays bingo because he wants to cover fuel costs.

“To fill up my tank it’s $70-80 a week. Right now with the way gas prices are, we can always use that extra dollar,” Robert Luera said.

With a buy-in starting at eight dollars, bingo is a bargain for those looking for extra money for gas.