Page 23 - INSIGHT MAGAZINE - NoBleed_Neat

“Since transitioning to a government “There were limits on how much you could business. Using touch screens and a ticket
gaming model, our demographic has pay out and over time, those regulations dispenser, the machines provided an even
changed quite dramatically,” he says, were lessened so we could offer bigger more interactive experience to break-
seated in his office of the Elgin Street prizes,” says Brian. “So, we slowly evolved.” open ticket games.
North business he has operated since But with evolution came significant “They (Province) wanted to get away from
1985. “Having gaming machines has hurdles, beginning with the arrival of the image of a bingo hall as a ‘smokey den
opened us up to quite a different clientele; casinos in Ontario when Casino Windsor of iniquity’ to a gaming centre,” he says.
we’re seeing a lot more men, and on the (now Caesars Windsor) opened in 1994, His agreement with the OLG allows for 120
weekends seems to be when we see a lot followed by Casino Rama near Orillia in TapTix machines, but currently he has 80.
of new faces.” 1996.
Expanded gaming rules and new “We started with 25 and got up to 50 or
60 when the pandemic hit,” says Brian.
technologies are just some of many “There was a huge market “And we were just starting to get good
changes the Cambridge native has here for it and the government traction and things were moving along
witnessed since opening his business identified that,” he says. “Under really great.”
at the age of 23, after briefly studying charitable gaming, we couldn’t
accounting at Conestoga College and Cambridge Bingo & Gaming Centre
economics at Wilfrid Laurier University. entice people like casinos shut down for five months during the
“I never finished either because this could.” pandemic, with the bingo portion being
closed for 18 months.
opportunity came up,” says Brian, The other hurdle surfaced in 2000 when
referring to the Centre. “But I still apply the Region of Waterloo went smoke- “For thirteen months we were able to
what I learned there almost daily.” free, five years ahead of the rest of the operate with just the machines and they
Since the age of 12 and while he was province which almost resulted in the basically kept us alive and well,” he says,
adding the TapTix machines also provided
putting himself through school, he had closure of the Cambridge Bingo Centre local charities with some cashflow during
been working part-time at a former bingo spelling trouble for the nearly 80 local a tough time. “When were able to fully
hall on Concession Boulevard and decided charities that count on its support. reopen, there was pent up demand, but
to take the entrepreneurial plunge and “Unfortunately, we’re not an island and it wasn’t like what it used to be. People
open his own hall after learning the owner our customers went elsewhere because were still cautious about being in close
was closing the business. we were predominately a smoking contact.” Prior to the pandemic, the
“It came down to regulations the AGCO environment,” says Brian, adding while centre ran 24 bingo sessions a week and
(Alcohol and Gaming Commission of he doesn’t miss the smoking, the change now offers 14.
Ontario) had in place that had made instigated a dramatic drop in attendance “I have no plans to add any additional
it very difficult for the existing owner from 24,000 customers a month to 7,000. sessions. The demand is just not there,”
to operate,” says Brian. “But I saw an “So, we had to reduce our sessions and says Brian, noting people’s gaming habits
opportunity about how I could run the prizes in order to adapt. But once the have changed which may mean making
business differently and more efficiently.” entire province went smoke-free, we more adaptions.
started to see a lift again.”
Putting together a detailed business plan, “Who knows. We may have to one day
which included selling shares to family However, the bingo hall industry took provide a full-blown restaurant, or even
and friends, he purchased the former another hit when the Province expanded live entertainment.”
Bowlaway Lanes at 255 Elgin St. North casino gambling to include slot machines
from the Dobos family who had opened at racetracks, resulting in only 65 bingo Regardless of what the future holds, he
the bowling alley in 1972 after purchasing halls remaining in 2010 in Ontario remains optimistic and has no immediate
Dickson Bowl (formerly located in the compared to 265 in 2000. plans to retire from the business he still
upstairs of Lutherwood Family Counselling “The decline continued again and the enjoys, noting his three grown children
Service on Dickson Street) in 1967. Dickson government realized the industry needed are following their own successful career
Bowl moved to Ainslie Street in 1978 where more than just one product to survive,” says paths.
it remained until 2017 before permanently Brian, referring to the arrival of electronic “I have this fault that nobody can do it as
closing. bingo which was rolled out by the Ontario good as me,” jokes Brian. “That has served
“I’m sure they (Dobos family) didn’t want Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) me well over the years, but it comes with
another bowling alley in town,” jokes in 2006 as a pilot project at five bingo a lot of sleepless nights.”
Brian, describing the work that went into centres provincewide. Despite this, he encourages
transforming the former bowling alley When he signed a deal with the OLG and
into a charitable bingo hall which opened brought it to Cambridge in 2013, he admits other would-be entrepreneurs
in June of 1985. “We had to renovate and it received a cool reception by many long- to always follow their dreams.
did the bare minimum.” time players who were more comfortable “Find something you love to do and be the
He says the biggest obstacle was obtaining using traditional bingo cards. best at it as you can be,” he says. “You will
the licensing from the City of Cambridge, “It started off slowly, but in the end, it had succeed for sure. That’s my golden rule.”
which could only do what the Province of marginal success,” says Brian, adding the For more on Cambridge Bingo & Gaming
Ontario allowed at the time, resulting in arrival of TapTix machines was the second Centre, visit cambridgebingo.com or call
strict gaming rules. component of the Province’s revitalization
plan and became a game changer for his 519-623-5517.

www.cambridgechamber.com Spring 2023 23