If they can help us improve this community that's enough for me. Drawings for the hall, which is being refurbished and is scheduled to open for bingo in October, show areas for counting money, a stage, a kitchen and parking for 9,000 cars. Such games can only be run by, and benefit, a charity. Also on May 8, Lester signed a separate license application for his church to run charitable bingo. Records from the state's charitable gaming division show he has been approved for two licenses, which would allow his church to run the bingo and get the proceeds twice a week.
More bingo is possible there.
2 a.m. Licensing isn't complete, so it's not yet clear how many days bingo will be played at the hall. In addition to Lester, the Rev. Jim Holley of Little Rock Baptist Church and the Rev. Johnnie Jordan of Greater Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church have backed the racetrack and fairgrounds development. Holley said Friday that Lester was working with other churches, including Greater Mt. Olive, to run the bingo hall at the fairgrounds. Jordan couldn't be reached. Thirteen bingo games operate in Detroit now, most run one morning or evening weekly in a church or organization's hall.