Carl Horst sells additional Bingo cards during Friday night’s game. Horst said the majority of the game’s proceeds help local charities.

Although they have been involved with the game for years, the best advice Carl Horst and Dave Metzger can give new Bingo players is the same advice a new Bingo player would give to another novice.

Get there early.

Horst and Metzger are past Knights of Columbus officers who join several other volunteers every Wednesday and Friday to host Bingo nights at the KOC Council 4913 building on North St. Augustine Road.

During the events, Horst said 80 to 200 people crowd the Bingo hall to stake out their seats, buy Bingo cards and try their luck at winning it big.

“It’s good, cheap entertainment,” said Horst. “You can come for two hours for a minimum of five dollars. Some people spend 20 to 25 dollars, but you can spend 5 or 6 dollars, buy a hot dog and a drink and have a good time.”

And everyone, even newbies, are welcome. Sure, there are more than a few seasoned players at each table, but Horst and Metzger said the events are designed so everyone, no matter how experienced, will have a good time.

“We are family friendly, and we do draw people from all ages,” said Horst. “About 50 percent are seniors, but we get 15 to 20 college kids per session. And when new people come in, we try to help them out.”

Children are welcome to play, but their parents have to collect their winnings. And depending on the night, the potential prizes can be huge.

On regular Bingo nights, the prizes vary. Hard cards can be bought for $1 and can be used all night. A trio of printed bingo cards can be purchased for a dollar, but they are only good for one game.

On the first Friday of every month, things get a little different.

“All of this is heavily regulated by the GBI (Georgia Bureau of Investigation). All of our volunteers have to go through background checks, and the state limits winnings to $1,500 per day,” said Horst. “On the first Friday of every month, we have Bingo-Rama when we guarantee to give out the maximum amount allowable in prizes.”

Bingo-Rama nights are especially popular, and the largest prize for a single game is $500, said Horst. And with so much on the line during those sessions, every eye and ear in the room focuses on one person: the bingo caller.

“I’ve been working as a caller since 2003, so it’s been 11 years,” said Metzger. “When I first started, it was very stressful. I had to learn about the people in the room and how to work with them.”

Metzger started as a floorwalker, someone who, as the name suggests, walks the floor during games to sell paper bingo cards to anyone who wants to increase the odds they will leave a winner.

“That’s how I started, but now the only time I floor walk is if they really need someone,” said Metzger. “The only job I want to do now is call Bingo.”

Metzger learned early there is a right way and a wrong way to call Bingo, and the room will let you know quickly if you are doing it wrong.

“The first time I called, I started telling jokes,” said Metzger. “I learned that they don’t want to hear it. They are there to play Bingo.”

Despite the crowd putting the kibosh on his jokes, Metzger said he still feels like he puts on a show for people, and he enjoys being in that position.

The origins of the Knights of Columbus Bingo nights can be traced back to St. John the Evangelist School 38 to 40 years ago, said Horst. The events started as fundraisers with manual equipment.

“Over the years, the Bingo equipment has evolved with a programmable computer and television monitor,” said Horst. “We’ve had our current equipment for two years.”

“It has definitely increased our participation, said Metzger.

While a number does not count as being official until a caller calls it out, Bingo players can get a jump on marking their cards thanks to wall-mounted video monitors throughout the hall that show the ball the moment it pops up out of the tumbler.

“From the time you see it to the time I call it is about 15 seconds,” said Metzger.

“It’s not how you envision Bingo as a kid. It’s more sophisticated,” said Horst. “But it’s still a family-friendly Bingo.”

The proceeds from each event help the Knights of Columbus fund several charities in the area. The charities rotate out every year, but this year Bingo funds will go to fund projects at Habitat for Humanity, The Haven, Teacher’s Harvest, the St. Francis Center and many more. Funds are also donated to Relay for Life, the Special Olympics and a state program for children with disabilities, said Horst.

Every year, fun nights of economical entertainment generate thousands of dollars for local charities, said Horst.

“The majority of the proceeds go to charities. You can get two hours of entertainment for just $5,” said Horst. “And you might get lucky.”