There you are.... sitting on your chair, seemingly in utter discomfort..... fidgeting. Beads of sweat forming on your face (despite the fact that the room is centrally air conditioned), breath held, and hands trembling with need. A need so urgent, a need so incomparable.... the need to raise your hands in the air and shout BINGO as your last remaining number is called! Seriously people! It does happen!
I often see friends grinning widely, faces open, minds and bodies relaxed as they strutted merrily home, like Snow White's happy helpers, from a Bingo game. My first question, naturally, is "Did you win?". And with a hearty laugh, one would often answer "No, not a game!". Then they would launch into a full, detailed, delivery of their day at the hall. The near wins and misses as well as anecdotes picked up from the average six hours they spent in there. I've heard of the "frog lady", the one who brings a miniature frog figurine with her whenever she plays. There's Mr. Buddha for the Buddha statue that accompanies him in every bingo hall across the country. Yes, across the country. For even in his business trips, he brings it, for he is sure to scout the place for bingo halls! A cousin has a disco pig in her pocket that lights up when pressed. It has never left her pocket since she won the big jackpot on the day she bought it!
Myths? Facts? Hmmm. Good luck charms? No one's really sure, but one thing I know, it's a matter of believing. And who are we to judge them when they're the one's hauling the big payouts?
Here are a number of myths/facts observed in bingo halls!
It's good luck to bring your children to bingo halls. This definitely varies. If you are bringing an infant/toddler (Oh no!) who's crying and fussing constantly and who doesn't understand the sacred rules of bingo halls (Shhhhhhh!), then you are bound to be evicted with your lady luck. Out! Not that they would tell you, but the not so subtle signs coming your way from other players will do it. Someone is probably going to spell it out for you if you don't get it the first time!
Increased heartbeat, sweating (etc) is a sure sign you will win. These are called the symptoms of bingo. It's true that you will feel your heart beating faster, hear blood rushing to your ears especially when you are "on" (with one waiting number in the card before a bingo) but it's actually secondary to the sudden rush of adrenalin due to excitement. Not always a sign that you will win. Remember, there are hundreds more sharing that game with you.
Location is important in winning. There's really no scientific basis involved here. I do know of a person who sits on the same place everyday and oddly enough she always wins. Well, it could also be attributed to the fact that she's a seasoned player who can handle numerous game cards thus increasing her chances of winning or to the fact that she has excellent view of the electronic game board (electronic bingo board mounted on the wall, displaying called numbers, game pattern, cash payout) and is near the caller ( a non player who randomly selects a numbered ball).
The greater number of cards, the greater chance of winning. This is a fact. For seasoned players at least. If you are new to this game of chance, and you buy more cards than you can handle then you will either loose your mind trying to catch up or miss your bingo. A sleeper (term used in failing to shout bingo on your last number called, assuming that the last number is you bingo ball) on the first day!
The list goes on. For now, just enjoy the game and don't forget to shout BINGO!