Bingo Returns to The Strip at Circus Circus
The return of bingo to The Strip was not on our bingo card, but here we are.
Circus Circus is bringing back the beloved game by “opening a bingo hall that embraces the true vintage Vegas bingo experience, built around paper cards, ink daubers, cheap eats and live gameplay.”
The new bingo hall at Circus Circus is slated to open in February 2026, and nobody is really sure why.
Why is bingo so rare on the Las Vegas Strip?
Bingo isn’t offered on the Las Vegas Strip for one simple economic reason: It doesn’t make enough money to justify the space.
Bingo rooms are considered an amenity, much like buffets and poker rooms and sportsbooks and spas.
Bingo rooms tend to have big footprints, along with hundreds of seats, dedicated staff, equipment and fixed session times. They produce only a fraction of the revenue a casino can earn by filling that same square footage with slot machines.
Bingo rooms are fairly common at locals casinos, but that’s because they have more space and tend to cater to older customers, otherwise known as the ever-dwindling pool of people who play bingo. Yes, it’s awkward.
There’s another reason bingo rooms aren’t common on The Strip: Customer value. You thought the awkwardness was done? Do you know this blog at all?
Bingo players tend to be locals, value-seekers and low theoretical gamblers who aren’t likely to spend big on slots, tables, bottle service or upscale dining before or after their bingo session.
Casinos want high-spending tourists, not locals looking for a $12 session and free drinks.
Why, then, is Circus Circus bringing back bingo?
We asked this very question of Shana Gerety, General Manager at Circus Circus Las Vegas, in an exclusive interview, by which we mean the quote was included in the official news release: “We’ve seen a lot of success leaning into nostalgia as we continue to refresh and update Circus Circus Las Vegas. It started with Slots-A-Fun, the only coin-operated casino on the Las Vegas Strip and enhancing the food and beverage options, by offering cheap beer and bites. Our customers loved the experience, and we’re excited to continue to lean into nostalgia on property and offer the Strip’s only bingo hall, with affordable pricing, great food and beverage options, and a true bingo experience without a tablet doing the work for you.”
Hear, hear for the value and nostalgia stuff!
We love to get our hands a little grimy, and the coin-operated slots at Circus Circus are wildly popular. Of course, we wrote a story about them. This is just one of the reasons we are a natural treasure.
In our exclusive interview, wink wink, we also got additional specifics about the Circus Circus bingo room you won’t find anywhere else except news outlets that received the news release: “Designed as a nostalgic bingo experience, the hall will accommodate 255 players per session, and feature six sessions daily at the start. Each session will feature 10 total games, including traditional bingo games, a bonus game and a coverall, all played on paper with daubers. Guests will be able to purchase a full session package for $30, with the ability to purchase additional cards. Prizes will be paid in cash, with payouts starting at $50 and reaching up to $1,500, giving guests a chance to win throughout each high-energy, exciting session.”
Here’s some additional flair related to the new bingo room: “Located on the Promenade level and steps away from a new concession stand serving classic favorites, including hot dogs, pretzels, nachos, beer and a selection of cocktails. Circus Circus will also debut a new gaming space outside of the bingo hall with popular coin-operated slot machines, creating a throwback experience that pairs bingo, slots and value-friendly food and beverage.”
While bingo isn’t common on The Strip now, it has a long and storied history in Las Vegas which we are too busy to write about.
Let’s face it, the only interesting thing about bingo in the last decade was an April Fool’s story we wrote about Station Casinos banning the bingo call of “O-69” because the olds were offended.
You thought we were kidding about the “natural treasure” thing? Boy, they were mad. We feel just terrible about it.
Fun fact: The most popular bingo dauber color is purple.
That’s right, there are still people who use daubers.
These are the same old-timers who use encyclopedias, landlines, watches, Rolodexes and local TV news weatherpersons.
Our biggest gripe with bingo is you can’t talk. The olds are very serious about their bingo, and being in a bingo room is a lot like being at a librarian convention. You will be shushed non-stop if you try to be social. Joy is prohibited.
Shout out a fake “Bingo!” and you will be drawn and quartered.
For our fellow youths, “drawn and quartered” is a kind of punishment or torture, much like having to listen to a boomer explain what “drawn and quartered” means.
As mentioned, there are lots of bingo options at locals casinos. Downtown, Plaza still offers it.
We will absolutely check out the bingo hall at Circus Circus when it opens. Everything old is new again as Las Vegas casinos try to find ways to convince visitors they haven’t been priced out of the world’s most exciting destination.
Circus Circus prints money appealing to a market that the big guys have largely ignored, resulting in a tourism dip in Las Vegas. The pivot to high-end business has paid off for a handful of luxury casinos, but others have suffered.
Circus Circus quietly keeps its eyes on the prize: Budget-conscious, price-sensitive customers who prefer gritty over flashy, family-friendly over us going there despite the fact we love the place.
Will bingo move the needle for Circus Circus? Nope. Will it further cement the casino’s reputation as a value-driven throwback appealing to the folks left behind by the snooty, elite resorts? Yep.
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