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| Big Money Bingo FAQs |
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Is the Charitable Gaming Division operating the Big Money Bingo game?
No. The Charitable Gaming Division is regulating the Big Money Bingo game. Scientific Games has been contracted to implement and operate the Big Money Bingo game.
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How do we sign-up for Big Money Bingo?
You may sign-up for Big Money Bingo by completing the Participant Agreement and submitting it to Scientific Games at the address or fax number referenced in the agreement. Additionally, if the location owner has not already done so, the owner or principal officer of the location at which you conduct bingo will need to complete and submit the Hall Authorization Agreement giving Scientific Games permission to install all of the necessary equipment.
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Do we have to sign-up for Big Money Bingo?
No. The Big Money Bingo game is strictly voluntary.
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Can we terminate the Participant Agreement?
Yes. However, if you terminate the Participant Agreement within the first year, your organization must pay a $150 early termination fee to Scientific Games to defray a portion of the installation costs.
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We have 4 bingo licenses. Do all 4 have to participate in Big Money Bingo?
No. You may elect to have any number of your bingo licenses participate in the Big Money Bingo game.
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What time of day will the Big Money Bingo game start?
The Big Money Bingo game is played at 8 p.m. daily with card sales ending at
7:45 p.m. An afternoon session will be added in the near future.
The afternoon session will begin at 12 noon Monday through Saturday, and at 2
p.m. on Sunday.
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How much does the equipment cost?
There are no up-front costs to either the bingo game or hall owner. Scientific Games will provide and install the equipment necessary to participate in the Big Money Bingo game. In return you will pay a fee of $0.135 for each bingo card (face) you sell. The only out of pocket cost you may have would be for a 24" television monitor required to adequately display the Big Money Bingo broadcast. The cost of the monitor may be paid by the bingo games and/or the hall owner.
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Can we play both Big Money Bingo and the Michigan Progressive Jackpot?
Yes. You may conduct two Michigan Progressive Jackpot games
provided one of the games is Big Money Bingo.
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What number will the progression start with?
Each new progression will begin at 49 numbers and remain fixed for 7 days or until the jackpot is won.
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What do you mean by a 7-day progression?
The number of calls required to win the Big Money Bingo jackpot will remain fixed for 7 days or until the jackpot prize is won. For example, if a new progression begins during a Tuesday afternoon session at 49 numbers, the progression would look like this:
| Session |
Number |
| Tue. afternoon |
49 |
| Tue. evening |
49 |
| Wed. afternoon |
49 |
| Wed evening |
49 |
| Thu. afternoon |
49 |
| Thu. evening |
49 |
| Fri. afternoon |
49 |
| Fri. evening |
49 |
| Sat. afternoon |
49 |
| Sat. evening |
49 |
| Sun. afternoon |
49 |
| Sun. evening |
49 |
| Mon. afternoon |
49 |
| Mon. evening |
49 |
| Tue. afternoon |
50 |
| Tue. evening |
50 |
| Wed. afternoon (jackpot won) |
50 |
| Wed evening (new progression) |
49 |
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What happens if we lose satellite reception due to bad weather?
The satellite dishes used for the Big Money Bingo game are more reliable
than the home television satellite dishes with which you may be familiar.
Loss of satellite reception for the Big Money Bingo game should be a rare
occurrence.
However, a back-up plan has been developed for such an occurrence.
Approximately 10 minutes prior to the Big Money Bingo broadcast, each
participating location will dial-in to a toll free conference call.
The audio portion of the BMB draw will be broadcast over the conference call
so that the BMB numbers can still be obtained in the event the location
loses the satellite signal.
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One of the eligibility requirements to participate in Big Money Bingo is an average attendance per bingo occasion of at least 30 players. What if we are a new bingo and therefore do not have a full year's worth of history to calculate average attendance?
If you play at a location where the Big Money Bingo equipment is already installed you will be permitted to participate in the Big Money Bingo game. If you conduct bingo at a location that does not have the Big Money Bingo equipment already installed, Scientific Games will look at these situations on a case by case basis.
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How do we send the required jackpot prizes and fees to Scientific Games?
Within 2 business days you must deposit the jackpot prizes and fees due into
your bank account. Scientific Games will conduct account sweeps of all
Big Money Bingo participants to collect the monies due.
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Do we have to pay a consolation prize? If so, how much?
Yes. You will continue to award a consolation prize of up to $100 out of your own funds.
You can base the consolation prize payout on card sales.
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Where do we buy the bingo paper? How much will it cost?
Scientific Games will provide the Big Money Bingo paper and monitor your paper inventory. When needed, they will automatically ship an adequate supply of paper to you with no up-front costs. The bingo paper and delivery is provided as part of the $0.135 fee for each Big Money Bingo card that you sell.
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What cuts of paper will we sell for Big Money Bingo and how much will we
charge?
Big Money Bingo paper will be sold only as a three-on. You will charge $1 per card, or in other words, $3 for a 3-on. Other cuts of paper may be added in the future.
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Who seeds the Big Money Bingo jackpot?
There is no seeding of the jackpot. Scientific Games will guarantee a minimum jackpot prize of $10,000.
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What happens if our equipment becomes inoperable? How soon will it be fixed?
If your equipment becomes inoperable you should immediately notify Scientific Games by calling their hotline number at (866) 866-5935. Scientific Games is required to repair or replace inoperable equipment within 48 hours.
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When someone yells "bingo", how does Scientific Games know we have a bingo?
If a player at your location yells "bingo" during the Big Money Bingo game, one of your workers will need to push the red button on the ticket checker. This will pause the game statewide until you have had a chance to verify whether the player has a valid bingo.
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How do we verify a Big Money Bingo winner?
Once you have paused the game, you will scan the barcode on the player's card. You will receive a message on the LCD screen either confirming that the player has a valid bingo or that the bingo is no good.
- How do we verify our consolation prize?
- Prior to BMB, the caller should make an announcement that when "bingo" is called for the consolation prize all players are to STOP daubing.
- When "bingo" is called a worker will take the card to the terminal to be scanned for verification.
- While the BMB numbers continue to be called, the record keeper will be recording them on the Michigan Progressive Jackpot Bingo Coverall form.
- If the bingo is good, the BMB game is closed at that location and the regular game program resumes.
- If the bingo is not good, the record keeper will call the numbers from the Michigan Progressive Jackpot Bingo Coverall form until a good bingo is verified.
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Do we have to drive to Lansing to get our prize?
Yes. Initially, winning players will need to come to the Lottery's main office in Lansing to receive their check. The purpose of this is to promote public awareness of the Big Money Bingo game through pictures, press releases, news articles, etc. After building awareness of the Big Money Bingo game, this requirement may change.
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How do we know what the jackpot is going to be for the day?
Scientific Games will broadcast the estimated jackpot prior to opening Big
Money Bingo sales for each session. You may also find this information
by visiting our website at
www.michigan.gov/cg, the Scientific Games website at
www.bingobonuszone.com, of by
calling the Scientific Games hotline at (866) 866-5935.
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Can we sell Big Money Bingo paper on the floor before the game starts?
Yes. You may activate Big Money Bingo cards and take them out on the floor to sell.
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What happens if we don't sell all of the Big Money Bingo cards we activated for floor sales?
You should activate only the Big Money Bingo cards you are reasonably sure you can sell. At the current time, you cannot deactivate unsold Big Money Bingo cards. You will have to pay for every card activated even if you do not sell it. This may change in the future.
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Can we apply for a license each day of the week and play only the Big Money Bingo game.
No. The Bingo Act requires that the Big Money Bingo game be conducted in conjunction with a large bingo occasion. However, you could play one quickie 50/50 game each day and then play the Big Money Bingo game.
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A number of our players receive some form of
government assistance. Will a player lose their assistance if they win
the Big Money Bingo jackpot?
A player receiving government assistance who wins the Big Money Bingo
jackpot may not automatically lose their assistance. Each recipient's
eligibility is determined by the actual circumstances of that person and how
the winning proceeds are used. If players have specific questions
they should contact their case worker.
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If a player has outstanding claims (e.g.,
back taxes, child support payments, etc.) will the State garnish the prize
money before it is distributed to the winning player?
No. All Big Money Bingo prize monies are collected, held, and
distributed by Scientific Games. There is no requirement that
Scientific Games conduct a check for outstanding claims before distributing
the prize money.
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Who do we contact if we have other questions?
You can reach Scientific Games at (866) 866-5935 or the Charitable Gaming Division at (517) 335-5780.
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