'It's not taking away from space we need for other games. It's not huge, but we have enough room to accommodate the game,' Diver said of the band's Black Bear operations.

'There's a very loyal audience for bingo. While bingo has a reputation as an old person's game - more specifically, an older woman's game - Diver said bingo crowds often contain young and old alike.

She said bingo wasn't 'cost-effective' in the downtown casino but noted Duluth customers still can catch a shuttle to play bingo at Black Bear. Still, the band's gaming operation continues to offer bingo at Black Bear Casino near Carlton, said Karen Diver, tribal chairwoman. The Fond du Lac Band of Chippewa Indians ended bingo altogether at Fond-du-Luth more than five years ago, mostly to make room for more slots and blackjack tables. But the casino wasn't profitable until slots were added in 1989. In downtown Duluth, Fond-du-Luth Casino was known as 'the bingo hall' after it opened in 1986. 'We have to make the right business decisions, which include how to best use the space for guests.' But after much discussion, it was decided that we simply couldn't offer this gaming activity any longer,' said Norm Adams, Fortuneīay Resort Casino general manager, in a prepared statement announcing the change.

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