Gaming with a cause! Wednesday night bingo at Robbinsdale Lounge

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) - According to a recent analysis, more than 100 million people play online bingo. While playing online is convenient, stopping out at Robbinsdale Lounge every Wednesday will give you more *BINGO* for your buck.

“It’s fun to give, and by having a little bit of fun Wednesday nights, we do everything we can to help the community,” said Nick Rottum, bingo host and owner of Colt 45 Entertainment.

Every Wednesday night, Robbinsdale Lounge invites people out to play bingo, where you can come, spend time with friends, and enjoy your night. While they offer an enjoyable experience, and you have the chance to win donated prizes, this bingo game has a twist. The money raised from the purchase of bingo cards goes back to nonprofits in the Black Hills area.

“They’re nonprofit organizations here in the Black Hills. For example, we’ve been working with like Meals on Wheels, Combat Vets MC Group, the Changing Lives Foundation, St. Jude, Black Hills Toy Drive, just organizations we believe in and want to make sure that the money that we are raising is going to a group that is in need of it and could really use it,” continued Rottum.

Most times, it’s not just one organization that Robbinsdale supports throughout the month. While money from bingo card sales goes towards one nonprofit, they also hold raffles for another. This month, a raffle is being held for a handmade quilt.

“Yea the quilt is something my sister put 105 hours in, all made from Crown Royal bags, and what we’re going to do is give that money to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Dakota. Once again another local nonprofit. We try so hard to keep everything in the local area,” said Steven Fuelling, owner of Robbinsdale Lounge & Lanes.

Every month, the nonprofit being supported changes. That means for an entire month, the money raised from bingo card sales, along with ticket sales, goes back to one organization. In some cases, the sales can raise thousands of dollars to support the community.

“Our average check every month is anywhere from $2,500 to 3,000 a month, that goes to that nonprofit organization. It really depends on the months, winter time, of course, a lot busier, nothing to do outside. Summer it slows down a little bit, there’s more to do outside, but we still raise as much as we can to give to those organizations,” Rottum continued.

For February, the Viet Nam Vets/Legacy Vets Motorcycle Club is being honored, with the money raised going back to support Operation Zero, a mission to address suicide attempts within the veteran community. If you would like to get out, have fun, and give your money to a good cause. Bingo starts at 7 p.m. every Wednesday and should wrap up around 10 p.m.

“It’s fun to give. You know you don’t have to give once a year during Christmas and the holiday, you know you can give every month. It’s kinda fun to do that and help organizations that really need the help,” Rottum concluded.

Robbinsdale Bingo is open to anyone 21 years or older.