Bingo Is in Its Glow Up Era at Local Vegas Casinos

^{Rock Shot Bingo has led the "glow up" bingo scene at Las Vegas area hot spots like Durango Casino & Resort. (Photo: Durango Casino & Resort / X.com)}

Las Vegas bingo has changed a lot since the turn of the century. There are new ways to play, experiential games, and bigger prizes.

Depending on which Las Vegas casino you choose to play bingo at, there could be a drastically different experience. Traditional bingo is still around, but there are new evening events that bear almost no resemblance to the game most people grew up with.

There are only 17 bingo halls in Las Vegas, and the only one on the Strip is at Circus Circus. The rest of the bingo rooms are located between three and 25 minutes from the main tourist corridor at local casinos.

Most of the bingo games around Las Vegas are the same as usual. Players gather in a bingo hall or room and daub their cards by hand when a number is called. When someone gets bingo, they yell so someone can verify the win, and the player wins the prize.

Depending on the casino, things change after the sun goes down or on the weekend. There are new ways to play, bigger prizes, along with special tournaments and events.

Not Your Grandma's Bingo 

Station Casinos has been trying to flip the game on its head by focusing on younger players looking for a new and different experience for almost a decade. In the 2010s, the company started experimenting with theme nights at its bingo halls.

There were dress-up nights in the spirit of The Rocky Horror Picture Show or themed music nights for country, disco, and rock. The relatively new Rock Shot Bingo by Station Casinos takes this to another level.

Rock Shot Bingo started at Red Rock Casino and is now in five Station Casinos, and occasionally at Durango Casino, which doesn't have a dedicated bingo hall.

The evening bingo sessions include live DJs, drinks, prizes, and all games are played using electronic cards. Some of the extra special events might include food, costume contests, raver gear like neon necklaces, complimentary shots for winners, and more.

This is pricier than the old-school games during the day, which could cost less than $5 for paper cards. A dauber will cost a couple of bucks more. Electronic cards are used less often for these games since there's an extra fee, and these are often low-roller games.

The minimum buy-in for Rock Shot Bingo is $35 for 10 games and 30 cards. The price includes the electronic bingo cards, which always cost more than daubing paper cards.

It would be too difficult for players to focus on the numbers called while dancing and partying with others. The electronic bingo card machines automatically track the numbers called so players can focus on the spectacle. Besides, dealing with not-sober daubing could get sloppy.

These changes and special events are drawing younger players to the game, leading to a different way to play bingo. The concept has become so popular that Boyd Gaming launched Bingo Gone Wild at some of its casinos.

The times I've played bingo in a casino have been to hang out with friends in a relaxing environment. It's a different and inexpensive way to spend an hour gambling.

When I first moved to Las Vegas, I heard younger guests at Red Rock Casino say they would go to a bingo session to grab a couple of drinks before going to the movies and starting their weekend night out. Rock Shot Bingo seems like it's the next step in the evolution of bingo for younger guests.

Traditional Bingo, Supersized Prizes

While Station Casinos is changing the bingo experience, independently operated casinos Plaza and South Point have kept the traditional games that their players prefer. The big differences are more ways to play and larger prizes.

Both casinos offer six or seven sessions per day, with a variety of traditional and alternative games, including cashball jackpots, progressive prizes, and bonus coveralls. The low cost and consistent prizes keep players coming back.

There are special events during the year that give players the chance to win big. Of course, this comes with a larger buy-in than the daily games.

The Plaza's biggest bingo event this year has $160,000 in prizes. Hundreds of players will pay the $160 entry fee to participate in the largest bingo event in the only downtown Las Vegas casino with a bingo hall.

South Point's biggest $2 million extravaganza in October and November is already sold out for this year. This event costs $495 per person, and each weekend has $1 million in prizes. The next $2 million bingo event at South Point will be in March 2027.

Is Bingo Worth Adding to Your Vegas Trip?

Bingo in a casino isn't for everyone, but it's worth considering. These newer offerings could be compelling to those who thought it was only a game that old people played.

Sure, the daily games still draw mostly an older crowd. Those looking to give the game a chance have more options than ever.

Bingo games at night with a party atmosphere will appeal to some gamblers. Meanwhile, others will consider the special events with huge prizes. There’s something for anyone looking for something different:

• Players who love the relaxed low-roller games in the morning and afternoon can stick to what they like.
• Those who have never played and are looking for something different at night can choose from nearly 10 casinos with party-like environments.
• High rollers looking for a new way to gamble can visit Las Vegas for those special events.

There seem to be more group trips to Las Vegas than ever. It’s rare that a large group can gamble together, but bingo is one way for everyone to spend time together while gambling.

Will you play bingo next time you're in Vegas?