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Bingo makes a comeback in Turlock
Bingo sign pic
Bingo will return to Turlock on Jan. 2, with regular games played three days a week at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds. - photo by CANDY PADILLA / The Journal

After over a decade hiatus, bingo is set to return to Turlock thanks to the Assyrian American Kids Foundation.

Paradise Bingo, which is set to host its grand opening at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds on Jan. 2, will run on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Doors will open at 4 p.m. and games will commence at 6 p.m.

The game will return after a 2003 city ordinance that capped bingo prizes at $250 per game, which is half of the state-wide cap of $500. The ordinance also capped the amount an organization may charge per ticket and banned “supplementary games” with instant winners, more commonly known as pull-tabs or scratcher-style lottery tickets.

At the time, the Assyrian American Civic Club, which hosted bingo games through 2003, decided that the game was no longer profitable under the newly implemented ordinance. Since then, they have received constant calls for the return of the game.

Now, over 10 years later, the Assyrian American Kids Foundation hopes to bring bingo back indefinitely.

 “We’re going to be there as long as possible,” said Paradise Bingo chairman and Assyrian American Kids Foundation Vice President Sam Bebleh. “As long as we get the right crowd and the right amount of people, we’re going to be there.”

According to Bebleh, all funds raised from the games will benefit local schools.

“The business will be in Turlock, so the money is going to stay in Turlock,” said Bebleh. “We hope to help kids and schools who do not have enough funding.”

 The games will take place in the E-5 building in the fairgrounds. For more information, call 573-3195 or 605-8418.