M’CHIGEENG—Wikwemikong resident and avid bingo player Donna Assiniwe is perplexed by the events at a September 7 bingo game at the She’ndwin Teg Bingo in M’Chigeeng on what she feels was an unfair call.
She explained that she travelled to the M’Chigeeng bingo hall for the 7 pm bingo on Sunday, September 7 specifically because the bingo that evening was advertised as a “double digit” game, meaning a larger than average jackpot of $2,000.
In the special jackpot game, the number 72 was chosen by the caller, meaning that all numbers on the card with the numbers 7 and 2 had to be covered.
After the ‘smoke break,’ she noticed that one number wasn’t lit on the board. “Number O67 wasn’t lit when it should have been because there was a 7 in it,” Ms. Assiniwe said. The number O74 didn’t light up either, the result of a board malfunction.
On the 58th number, Ms. Assiniwe called ‘bingo,’ which should have amounted to her being awarded the full $2,000 jackpot, she claims.
The runner (the person responsible for verifying the numbers), upon checking her card, said she did not win on the 58th number, but on the 59th number and would only be eligible for the consolation prize of $500.
The bingo caller, Geraldine Ense, said Ms. Assiniwe should be paid in full, but later recanted.
“I’ve called the M’Chigeeng Gaming Commission, the United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin Anishnaabe Police and the chief of M’Chigeeng (Joe Hare),” Ms. Assiniwe said.
Ms. Assiniwe, so entrenched in her convictions, even drove to M’Chigeeng to speak with the head of the Gaming Commission directly, Brenda Ense.
“I’m just so upset because I should have been paid (the full amount),” she told The Expositor. “I’ve been reading up on the Gaming Commission and all the equipment should be in good working order. They should be following the Ontario rules and regulations.” She said she took the $500 consolation prize that night, but is pushing for the remainder of the jackpot.
“I feel they disrespected me,” she added. “And I hear this always happens,” Ms. Assiniwe said of the machine malfunction.
Chief Joe Hare, speaking on behalf of the Gaming Commission, said while Ms. Assiniwe “has her opinion,” the Gaming Commission oversight committee looked at her complaint and determined that she was only able to win the consolation prize.
“The error on the board led her to believe that she won the full jackpot,” the chief added. While he said it was unfortunate that the machine malfunctioned, it was a rarity and not something that happens regularly.
