Rivers Casino Has Nothing On American Legion Post 964

It has been more than 35 years since the began hosting a weekly bingo night.

For the past four years, the post has added a Texas Hold ’em tournament, which it hosts four times a year.

“Texas Hold ’em is a great moneymaker for us, so we just keep hosting them,” said Mike Sullivan, junior vice commander and Texas Hold ’em organizer.

The weekly bingo night brings in more than 70 people, with most being regulars, said Lloyd Kalicki, bingo chairman.

Anyone older than 18 can play bingo for $12 for the evening — from 7 to 10. If they win, they get cash prizes.

P.D. Middleton, a 22-year Lake Zurich bingo player, won twice last Tuesday, totaling $84.

In addition to playing the various bingo games such as cover all, four corners, diamond, cross, evens, odds, etc., there also are raffles and pull-tab games for $1 to $2 each. The pots for those raffles have grown so significantly that it has been bringing in a larger crowd each Tuesday, according to Kalicki.

The Cross Fire raffle is now more than $13,000, the Downline Dog raffle is greater than $9,000, and Mountain Quest has exceeded $2,000.

“In May, we had someone win the Mountain Quest raffle for over $12,000,” said Kalicki.

Legion members donate their time to help run the weekly bingo night. Kalicki can be seen calling the numbers, while other members cook hamburgers and hot dogs in the kitchen to sell, serve drinks to patrons, and check cards when some calls out “bingo.”

There are the serious bingo players who are set up at a table with their good luck charms in front of them and armed with their colorful bingo stampers ready to go.

Marlene Bossard, Lake Zurich resident, has been coming to bingo at Post 964 for 35 years.

“It’s the only one worth going to,” she said.

McHenry resident Mike Teta is an occasional patron.

“We have friends in Lake Zurich so we come when we’re in the area and just love it,” he said.

On Aug. 20 from 2 p.m. to midnight, will host a Texas Hold ’em tournament. Doors open at 1 p.m. but games don’t start until 2 p.m. Participants must be 18.

Rockford Charitable Games was hired to run the event.

There’s a $25 buy-in, multitable early bird tournament at 2 p.m. Players start with 3,000 in chips and can take the optional 1,000 in bonus chips for a $5 add-on. Blinds start at 25/50 and go up in 15-minute rounds.

There will be $25, $50 and $115 sit-and-go tournaments going on all day long.

At 4:30 p.m., there will be a $60 buy-in, multitable tournament, where all players start with 4,000 in tournament chips and can take the optional 1,000 bonus chip at the table for just $5 more. Blinds start at 25/50 and go up in 15-minute rounds.

At 7:30 p.m. there will be a Custom Classic tournament with a $100+$15 buy-in and all players start with 7,000 chips and an additional 1,000 bonus chips.

Regular poker will be available throughout the entire tournament.

“We’ll have over 25 tables and several limits to choose from,” said Sullivan.

The kitchen and bar also will be open during the tournament and legion members will volunteer their time to run the event.

“All of the profits that we make are put toward the veterans that are sick and don’t have insurance, or for families that can’t afford much during Christmas,” explained Sullivan.

For more information, call at 1-847-438-9477.