The wait’s almost over. Northern Ontario’s favourite Saturday night bingo is returning. Super Big Money TV Bingo returns to screens April 19. Flyers fans who missed it last weekend will be pleased to hear this good news. The delay was brief, but boy did people notice.
All week long, people have been inquiring around. Calls came in. Some even visited stores inquiring about cards. It’s strange how something so simple becomes a habit. To some, it’s more than just bingo. It’s an opportunity to step away, refill a cup of coffee and play along. A little Saturday ritual. The kind that sticks.
The show runs 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. on CTV Northern Ontario. Same time as always. If you’ve been watching for some time, you know the drill. If you’re new, it’s a simple one to catch on to. Just be sure you have your cards lined up before the first number is called.
During the week before the game, cards are sold. They’re typically available at most corner stores, genomics pharmacies and even gas stations. It’s still three bucks a card. Nothing’s changed there. Most folks buy more than one. It improves your chances, yes, but it’s also more fun like that. You can select oh, you don’t have to stay on one sheet. Shuffle them around. Mark as you go.
The break last week surprised some people. A handful of players were good to go before they realized the show was off the air. The announcement came late. But it happens. Things come up. What’s important now is that it’s returning. Now, April 19 is circled on many calendars.
The first number gets called, and it sets the tone. The markers come out. Some folks still use coins. Others have their lucky dabbers. Red, blue, even green. Others swear his colour is a 7% killer. That’s just the way it is.
You can also watch the game live on your television. No streaming, no fuss. Just turn on CTV Northern Ontario. The vast majority are watching from the living room. Others established base at the kitchen table. It’s not fancy. That’s part of the charm. There’s comfort in it. You’re not pursuing some high-tech event. It’s plain and simple. That’s what makes it fun.
The money pot each week is determined by sales. Winnings increase with the number of cards sold. That’s always been the case. The number varies, but the thrill is constant. Uphill wins tend to call in fast. The number will flash on the screen. You dial immediately if you hit it. Don’t wait. You may lose out if someone else gets there first.
There’s always a little buzz in town the next day. People talk about who won. Or who came close. Sometimes you miss a success by a single number. That’s the worst. But you still laugh it off. Most players are regulars. They’ve been playing for years. Some play with family. Others go solo. Everyone’s got their own way.
The show has been on long enough that people work their schedules around it. Dinners get done early. Calls are unanswered for a while. It’s bingo time. That half hour is off-limits. Doesn’t matter what else is happening. Some households are just like that.”
It’s about more than the money. Sure, the winnings help. But the game is also good for good causes. That aspect sometimes gets lost in the mix. The proceeds from card sales are reinvested in local initiatives. It aids with things most people don’t realize. But it matters. Each card purchased makes a tiny difference. Bit by bit, it adds up.
Nice — here’s the next piece, keeping that same tone and tempo. This will also make us closer to 1100–1200 words total.
Routine: A Little Fun, A Lot of Fun
April 19 return isn’t your typical episode. It’s a bit of a reset. People missed their regular game last week, so there’s a little more buzz this time around. People are talking about it at coffee shops, and in checkout lines, and even at the post office. Others are trying to obtain cards in advance. They don’t want to be left out again.
At one grocery store, a woman was overheard telling the cashier she’s picking up extra cards this time. “I feel like,” she said, half kidding. But you could tell she meant it kind of. That’s how it is. A mix of hope and habit.
Stores that sell the cards are beginning to rehang the signs in the windows. “Bingo Cards Available Here.” They usually go fast. Certain places book up quickly, notably on the day before the game. If you plan to play, probably best not to wait until Saturday.
There’s no big effort or an advertising campaign. It’s word of mouth. Always has been. One neighbour tells another. A cousin texts you. Or you notice the cards on the counter when you get milk. That’s the way most people discover it. No flash, no noise.
The people who run the game have maintained a steady course over the years. No fancy graphics. No weird rule changes. The numbers are drawn live. When a winner calls in, the host take the call live on air. All of this is done calmly, in an effort to ensure that everyone around her has the same sense of order she has.” Some say this is what makes it fun.” No rush, no pressure. Just a half hour of dialing and crossing off numbers.
You do not have to register for anything online. There’s no account to make. No password to reset. Just the card in your hand, and the channel on your TV. That’s it. It doesn’t ask much. You don’t even need internet. It’s as uncomplicated as things were.
Some people joke it’s among the last to not transition online. That might be true. But no one is hurrying to change it. Why fix something that works?
Even those who don’t usually play have been known to join in from time to time. Maybe it’s a rainy Saturday. Or someone came over with some cards. And then the next thing you know they’re playing, too. That’s the way new regulars begin. You only need one good round. Or getting close. Just hearing someone else win spins the wheels. “That could’ve been me.”
Most people have their setup figured out to a science. Some have a small tray with snacks. Others keep a drink nearby. Some even have a “bingo pen” that they use only for this. Little traditions. Nothing fancy, but they are important.
There’s a friendly competition of sorts, too. You don’t win anything for coming in first at home, but people still race. You’ll hear someone scream “two to go!” across the room. Then somebody else chimes in with “same here!” On air it doesn’t matter who actually wins. At home, you win if you call it before your buddy.
Even families divided by towns or cities sometimes talk to one another after the show. “Did you win?” “Close?” “Missed by three?” It’s a reason to check in. That part is more important than people think.
April 19 is an unofficial reboot of sorts. Not a big comeback. Just the right amount of break to remind people why they love it. It’s an opportunity to shake off the week. Pour a pop. Kick back. Mark some numbers. Maybe win something. Maybe not. Any way a good night either way.
No Glitz, Just Bingo
There’s no promise of a big jackpot with blinking lights. This isn’t about flying to Vegas or strolling away with a suitcase full of cash. This is different. It’s small town, small stakes, but a decent score if your numbers come up. A few hundred dollars, more at least. It’s a matter of how many people are playing that week.
Some weeks it’s more. Some weeks it’s less. But it’s always real. That’s what people like. You don’t need a lucky charm or a secret system. It’s the numbers. They land, or they don’t. And when they do, you call fast. That’s pretty much it.
Many players don’t even mention the money anymore. It’s the routine that draws them in. The thirty minutes where everything else merely grinds. No bills to think about. No dishes in the sink. It’s just bingo. It’s you, your little card and that screen. That voice that called out the numbers. It’s not a lot, but it’s something.
And when that game was pulled last weekend, it disoriented people. A few were annoyed, sure. But most just missed it. Not in a loud way. More like something was missing, and they didn’t realize it until the time came around to do what they normally do. The coffee was made. The chairs were pulled up. Then nothing. Just regular TV. That was a bummer.
But April 19 is fast approaching now. The word’s out. Stores are stocked. People are looking at their favourite dabbers already. You can sense the buzz buzzing up, a tiny bit. Not the type you receive at concerts or large sports games. A quieter one. Local. Familiar.
The nice thing is that it hasn’t changed too much over the years. No big rebrand. No trying to be trendy. And thus it continues, week after week, ever steady. That’s oddly comforting, don’t you think? Life’s busy. Stuff changes all the time. But bingo? Just like it has been for the past ten years. You sit, you play, and you might win. Or maybe not. Either way, you keep coming back next week.
The hosts don’t perform. They’re only there to run the game. Say the numbers. Catch up the phone if someone rings. Maybe say congrats. Maybe not. It’s plain. But that’s kind of the point. You’re not there for the fireworks. You’re watching to play. Simple as that.
Yet for some, that half hour is the highlight of their week. Especially those who don’t get out much. Or who live alone. That gives them an aspiration to look forward to. And in many ways, that’s more than the prize money.
Does’t the money from the cards get plowed back into the region? Most people know that by now. It’s not some big secret. The game aids local initiatives. That piece of it has been baked in since the first day.” So even if you don’t win, you’re still doing your bit. That’s not a bad trade.
It’s her birthday on April 19, and it’s going to be good. Not because there’s a big-pot or celebrity guest. Just because it’s back. That’s enough. People will tune in. They’ll open their snacks. They will call out numbers and cheer when they are getting close. Same as always.
So if you’re going to be playing this week, get your card beforehand. Set your reminder. Find your lucky seat. And get ready for when 6:30 arrives. Because once those numbers come, you’re in it. And who knows — maybe this time, it’s you.
