Every month, dozens of local groups are getting a boost from Jackpot City Timmins.
Service and cultural clubs, sports groups, high schools are among the list of charitable organizations receiving a portion of the net revenue at Jackpot City (Timmins Gaming Centre).
The money is distributed by the Timmins Charitable Gaming Association.
Its coordinator Marlene Smith said on average 76 charities receive $1,700 each a month.
She said there is still room for about six or seven charities, who have to apply for a permit through the City of Timmins.
"They have to have been in operation for over a year before they can even apply,” said Smith.
Right now, volunteers for the groups aren't allowed in the centre located on First Avenue.
Smith said the OLG and Ontario Charitable Gaming Association are taking another look at the volunteer situation in January. She doesn't think there will be changes in the near future, though.
"But the charities have to do something to earn their shares and three-quarters of that is awareness — to let the public know what they’ve spent their money on, post on Facebook what they’ve done with the Timmins Charitable Gaming funds and that has to be done monthly,” she said.
During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jackpot City was closed.
It reopened in July and new safety protocol is in place. The bingo hall is still closed.
Everyone has to wear a mask or face covering and sanitize their hands going in.
At the entrance, general manager Trudy Proulx explained people have to answer screening questions, give their name and phone number, and have their temperature taken. There is also a spot to remove your mask and look at the camera so there is a face to match the name.
“Right now we’re offering free coffee and pop, we have a very limited menu in our kitchen, but there is stuff there. And then they can go through and pay our TapTix machines," she said.
The maximum capacity is 50 people and 53 machines are available, she said.
After someone is done using a machine, it is disinfected by staff and a marker is put on the machine to say it's been cleaned.
Since the centre reopened, Proulx said business has been steady.
"It’s worked out very nicely with the coming and going where we haven’t had to ask people to stand outside and wait,” she said.
With winter coming, Proulx said they have beepers so if capacity is reached people can wait in their car to warm up.
Changes are also on the way for the centre.
Proulx said they've been working on rebranding to Jackpot City from Timmins Gaming Centre for a couple of years and when COVID hit, everything shut down.
Phase one of the renovations is expected to start in January and be done by spring/summer 2021.
With the bingo hall closed, Proulx said they're taking advantage of the situation.
For the renovations, the gaming side will temporarily be moved to the bingo hall.
“We’re renovating the whole inside, from end to end it’s all going to be redone and then a bit of outside work,” she said.
