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Ditching the dabber

The future of bingo has landed in Greater Sudbury. Photocutline: Andy Szanto (right) and Dave Johnston try their luck at the new touch-screen electronic bingo terminals.

The future of bingo has landed in Greater Sudbury.

Photocutline: Andy Szanto (right) and Dave Johnston try their luck at the new touch-screen electronic bingo terminals.
Electronic bingo terminals were unveiled Tuesday at the Boardwalk Gaming Centre Sudbury at Bingo One (formerly Bingo One), designed to breathe new life into the bingo industry and to increase charitable support for the dozens of non-profit grassroots organizations dependent on bingo revenue.

"We're trying create an atmosphere of entertainment for the customer," said Denis Sivret, manager of Bingo One. "They can still play bingo on traditional paper but they can also play bingo if they choose, on an electronic terminal which is a step in the right direction."

Sudbury is the fourth electronic bingo launch in Ontario. Other cities that have made the leap to electronic bingo, including Barrie, Kingston, Peterborough and Toronto, have all experienced success with the new system.

Sivret said he had concerns that the majority of his customers, which are elderly, may be intimidated by the technology but says the terminals are user-friendly.

In addition to the touch-screen terminals, Bingo One has also undergone major interior renovations.

"Basically, we kept the four walls," Sivret said.

The idea was to move away from the traditional bingo hall towards an entertainment and gaming destination, he said.

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the Boardwalk Gaming Centre Sudbury at Bingo One, the Bingo One Charity Association and the City of Greater Sudbury have partnered to launch the electronic bingo project.

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