jakdedert wrote:
Ron wrote:
jakdedert wrote:
Ron wrote:
Arfa Daily wrote:

The blower and ball system is a lot more random than the current
computer system, which generates very definite patterns, no matter
what the bingo clubs would have you believe to the contrary.

Actually Arfa, it`s very easy for an experienced bingo caller to
manipulate games using the old blower machine. He can make games
last longer in slack periods or get them over quick when it`s busy,
and in bingo halls or stalls with fixed cards, a good operator can
direct the wins to various areas of the house - possibly even to
individual players. It was even easier to manipulate a game in the
earlier days of the game, where wooden balls were rolled down a
chute directed by the stallholder.

Ron(UK)

Listening to you teabags (I use the term affectionately) discuss
this, it's obvious that Bingo--however it's played there--is a lot
more mainstream than here. Here, it's played mostly by little old
ladies at church socials. That said, many casinos have Bingo rooms,
but I've never bothered to peek in. Possibly it's a different
demographic, but somehow I doubt it.

Oh well I come from a fairground family, I spent my childhood and
teens working on a fair. My grounding in electrickery was maintaining
slot machines, later manufacturing them on a small scale. As a yoof, I
spent many hours 'geeing'[1] on the various stalls, including several
bingos.

Ron

[1] playing for nothing, pretending to be a punter to encourage others
to play. " Another Winner!"

Do they have the term 'carnie' over there? I think that's the closest
term to describe it. Unfortunately it has a somewhat seedy
connotation...no offense.

None taken, AIUI that`s a leftpondian term for an unsavoury travelling
fairground or carnival person.

My ancestors were 'travellers' tho settled down and became 'flatties'
when my Dad was a boy. My fairground days were spent on a seaside fixed
ground.

Ron