South Dakota
What is a bingo hall?
A bingo hall is any venue that hosts a game of bingo! Sometimes bingo halls only run bingo games, and other times, a venue with its own purpose is loaned out as a bingo hall once or twice a week. For example, many churches, temples, fire stations, and veterans' clubs host charity bingo games, making them occasional bingo halls! You might walk past your local bingo hall all the time and have no idea bingo is even held there. A bingo venue could be big or small, busy or chilled, there really is no one kind of bingo hall! Each one will have its own personality and each game will be in support of a charity if you're playing in South Dakota. Playing bingo locally is a great way to get to know your local community, and you can have fun while supporting a great cause at the same time! Bingo is beloved by communities the world over, and it's easy to see why. Fun, friendly, and feel-good, all in one game? Count us in!
How does a game of bingo work?
Not played bingo before? Or maybe it's been a while and you'd like a refresher? Don't worry, that's exactly what BingoPort is here for! Let's run through how your typical bingo game will go, as well as the basic rules, so you'll be brushed up and ready for your first game in a bingo hall. When you arrive, you may have to pay a fee to enter, or you may not, depending on the hall. Once you're in, you'll get yourself some bingo cards and find a place to sit. The bingo cards have a grid on them, with random numbers from 1-75 filling it. Once all the players are ready, the bingo caller will usually welcome them, and often announce which charity the current game is supporting. They will announce the prize to be played for, as well as the pattern you will need to match to win. This is basically which boxes on your card's grid need to be marked for a win. When the game begins, the caller will shout out numbers that are drawn randomly. If you have the number on your card, daub it to mark it off. If you match all the boxes for the winning pattern, you must quickly shout BINGO to claim your prize!
How do I know which bingo hall to pick in South Dakota?
Choosing a bingo hall to visit might seem like a big task, but BingoPort is here to make it easy. First of all, you want a hall in the right area. It's no good finding bingo halls in Florida if you live in South Dakota! On this page, you can select your nearest town in SD to see the bingo halls closest to you. There's your starting point! Once you've got the list of halls near you, it's time to choose one or two to visit. You can go with any that stand out (perhaps a venue you already visit is on there!) or you can see what each hall offers. Each bingo venue is slightly different, so it's fun to see what each one has available. Take a look at the facilities, game times, and entry fees to find a hall that's a good match for you. You can always try out more than one!
What makes a bingo hall great?
When there are plenty of halls to choose from, you're bound to wonder which of them is going to be the best. The thing is, there's no such thing as a perfect bingo hall, because every player wants different things from their bingo experience! What makes an ideal night for one player might not suit another, so the best thing to do is find YOUR perfect bingo hall. What do you love about playing bingo? Some people like to socialize, so choosing a chatty, relaxed bingo hall would be a great choice. Others like a snack and a drink as they play. Sometimes the facilities a hall offers can endear it to you; would a parking lot, smoking shelter, or disability access make your experience more comfortable? If so, look for a hall that offers those! A great bingo hall is ultimately one that suits your needs and provides you a fantastic time!
Is gambling permitted in South Dakota?
South Dakota has gambling ties going way back through its history; the town of Deadwood could have been just like Vegas had things gone differently! As a result of this long history, there are a number of ways to gamble legally in South Dakota. There are more than 20 casinos in South Dakota, both tribal and operating commercially. Many of these are located in the town of Deadwood, and they offer games like slots, blackjack, and poker, though roulette and bingo are not offered in casinos. Poker games are also permitted at non-casino venues, providing the prizes add up to less than $50 and the venue is a business. Private poker games, or private gambling games of any kind, are not legal. There are tons of racetracks in South Dakota, and betting on races is widespread. Race betting is particularly popular with tourists coming to visit South Dakota. Great news for all you bingo lovers- bingo may not be held in casinos, but it is legal to play in the state of South Dakota. Bingo and lottery games are permitted if they are run by a registered charity, and the games are submitted for approval in advance. The maximum prize available for charity games is $2,000, which is pretty good!
Interesting Facts
- Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote several books about her life in South Dakota, which were later adapted into the hugely popular TV series 'Little House on the Prairie'.
- Mount Rushmore is located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, hence the state nickname 'The Mount Rushmore State'.
- The state's highest point is Black Elk Peak in the Black Hills, at 7,242 feet high.
- Tourism is a big part of South Dakota- almost 3 million people visit Mt Rushmore every year!
- A memorial to Crazy Horse, a Lakota war-leader, has been in progress in the Black Hills since 1948. When (if?) the carving is finished, it will be the largest sculpture in the world.