Big Money Bingo, a new statewide progressive bingo game, is facing rejection by some Michigan charities, despite its huge jackpots and bigger profits. The game, which links several bingo halls electronically, has already been discarded by a dozen charities during its first three months of operation.

Bingo players say they are not happy with the higher cost of the game’s cards and charities and churches that host Big Money Bingo want it to make bigger contributions to their organizations. Paul Gareau, who works for the Sterling Heights Lions Club, explains the reasons for dropping the game in a simple way: “We weren't making any money with it.”

Asked about the issue, Michigan authorities said they are working with the Georgia company in charge of developing the game to announce changes and new features soon. “It's a learning process,” Todd Garner, spokesman for the state Division of Charitable Gaming, explained. “It's never been done on this scale or in this way before.”

Gardner further said that many groups are happy with the bingo game and that charities are signing up for it constantly. He explained that Michigan authorities expect the popularity of the game to increase as soon as the current problems are solved.