Best Places To Play Bingo In The South Bay
Bingo (credit: ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP/Getty Images)
Bingo is enjoying a renaissance for lots of folks, from boys and girls to seniors at Bingo halls where hundreds of dollars in prizes are regularly up for grabs. Some have a favorite seat or a good luck charm. From churches to county fairgrounds, Bingo halls are back. Here's where they call out the numbers and letters until someone shouts "Bingo!" Good luck.
Orange Park Clubhouse
201 W. Orange Ave.
South San Francisco, CA 94080
(650) 589-7090
www.theclubs.org
Homework all done? Kids can play in the Bingo program meeting up every Sunday and Monday evening at the Orange Park Clubhouse in South San Francisco. The nonprofit organization, founded in 1953, is proud of the clubhouse dedicated by Herbert Hoover in 1961. The doors open at 4:30 p.m. and Bingo begins at 6:30 p.m. Every month features special themes and prizes for a $20 buy-in to support South San Francisco and Pacifica children in need.
1795 Space Park Drive
Santa Clara, CA 95054
(408) 727-2185
www.vanguardbingo.org
Play on machines three afternoons and nights a week from 3 p.m. (Tuesday, Friday and Saturday) or come along for the old-fashioned play on paper Bingo on Sunday when they open at 10 a.m. Flash and strip games are popular. There's free coffee, tea and hot chocolate, as well as a cafe offering everything from three-course dinners to burgers and salads or snacks like popcorn and nachos.
1600 Martin Ave.
Santa Clara, CA 95050
(669) 238-0601
www.aquamaidsbingo.com
Operating since 1964 in support of the Santa Clara Aquamaids sychronized swimming team, which feeds into the U.S. Olympic team, this is where to go midweek when some of the other nearby Bingo hall locations are closed. Eight giant LCD monitors mean that fans can enjoy their favorite programs while playing Bingo. Open Tuesday through Friday, six early bird games paying $250 begin at 6:30 p.m. Stay awhile, as the cafe opens at 5 p.m. and play continues until 10:30 p.m. weeknights and until midnight on Fridays. They claim to pay out $100,000 every week.
344 Tully Road
San Jose, CA 95111
(408) 494-3100
www.fairgroundsbingo.com
Normally held on Tuesday and Thursday, the doors to off-track betting at Gate C open at 5 p.m. for bingo. Early bird games begin at 6:30 p.m. and regular games at 7 p.m. Bingo features pay outs of $250 and paper games until 10 p.m. with lots of big screens to see the numbers. The snack bar opens at 5:30 p.m. and there's free coffee and free patrolled parking for everyone. Register for the Birthday Club to make it a celebration night with friends on your special day, available to anyone 18-plus. All bingo proceeds benefit County Fair Youth Programs.
10110 N. De Anza Blvd.
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 252-7653 ext. 37
www.stjoscup.org
It's a social church Bingo, just like in the good old days. Bring your good luck charm and come along on a Saturday evening for the bingo nights hosted by SJC Holy Name Society or on Monday evenings hosted by Knights of Columbus. Forty-five minutes of early bird specials and warm up games begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by the main event until 10 p.m. It's recommended as a place where first-timers can easily and quickly learn the game with assistance from the friendly volunteers. Proceeds from the games support the SJC Parish School and the host organizations.
