Fair Bingo
Bingo Stays Smoke-Free in Marquette County
The West Branch Community Center has started a smoke- free bingo night on Thursdays, which has been ongoing for more than a month now.
Although Marquette County instituted a smoking ban in public areas and workplaces a year ago, some locations were allowed to be exempted if they have a gambling night, like bingo, specifically.
But West Branch deliberately chose not to take advantage of a potential exemption, saying it would be its very edge in contrast to others - that their bingo venue is smoke-free, and non-smoking players can enjoy the game minus the distraction of second-hand smoke, and they can go home not stinking like an ash tray.
For further reasons Bingo Chairperson, Doneen Ferris, told the media: "We started the bingo here at the West Branch Community Center because we're supporting health and fitness and youth programming, and we want to make sure this facility continues. We want to make sure that no child is turned away."
Ferris admitted to the difficulties involved in collecting good revenues on a smoke-free bingo night. Their activity, after all, is still gambling and smoking in gambling venue seems to be the best thing to do as proven by some states where smoking has also been banned in public places.
In fact, Ferris discloses that bingo costs are barely covered right now. Still, Ferris expressed hope that more people would come to play bingo with them in a smoke-free environment.