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INUVIK - Town council will keep Wednesday nights free of bingo games for now.

"It looks like we're going to stick with the status quo and keep things the way they are," said Mayor Derek Lindsay.

Town council reviewed bringing back Wednesday night bingos, but it looks as if council will keep that night open for other community events. - NNSL file photo

He said council would not have to make any motions because the existing system is working.

Earlier this month, council decided to take a look at re-opening Wednesday nights for the community groups who run bingos.

The demand for bingo licences by groups in the town had Lindsay asking if the town needed to temporarily bring back Wednesday night bingo in order to clear up the schedule.

The town stopped allowing bingos on Wednesday night about four years ago because they felt holding bingo six nights a week was too much. Sundays have always been off-limits for bingo in Inuvik.

"We wanted to encourage people to stay home with their kids at least one night a week," said Lindsay.

All bingos are held on the local cable channel. Organizations such as the Legion Ladies' Auxiliary hold bingos on different nights. Occasionally bingos will be held in conjunction with events such as the Muskrat Jamboree and Delta Days.

Lindsay said the demand seems to be growing because bingos are a quick and easy way to raise money for groups and events.

"We've got a lot of different groups that are now coming to the table. The schools utilize a good portion of the bingo nights during the school year to facilitate their kids going out because the department of education doesn't supply enough money for kids going to tournaments."

The growing demand means it is hard to make a schedule that meets the needs of all groups.

"It makes it difficult when you've got long-term bingo suppliers who've got progressive bingos or long-term bingo schedules," said Lindsay.

Lindsay said the first step is to try and develop a schedule that suits everyone's needs.

But if that is impossible, bringing back Wednesday bingo will be plan B for the town.

"The possibility is there. We might want to bring it back for six months until we get everybody straightened away," said Lindsay.

Kirt Ruben at Ingamo Hall said bringing back Wednesday bingos would have a negative effect on Ingamo Hall's merchandise bingo, which are held once a month on a Wednesday.

"Right now we have a merchandise bingo for adults 16 and over. The only thing the adults pay is a $5 cover charge to cover the charge for our prizes. If you start to have bingos on Wednesdays, then we'll see a big drop in our participants coming in," said Ruben.

"Our first one in April we had 20 people show up, and we're expecting a big turnout for tomorrow," he said.

Ruben said Ingamo Hall gives out prizes such as small kitchen appliances, ornaments, food and gift certificates.

The merchandise bingos held at Ingamo Hall are not fundraisers but just-for-fun social events.

Earlier this week, Lindsay spoke about the issue after meeting with town council on Monday night.

Coun. Terry Halifax said keeping Wednesday clear of bingo will be good for any group who wants to hold a meeting or gathering and not have to worry about low attendance.

"It's the only night of the week to hold a meeting or gathering," he said.

"Personally, I don't have a big problem with it. The people I've talked to oppose using that night for bingo as well."

- with files from Brodie Thomas