Media members are invited today from 1pm to 3pm to the Barrie Charity Bingo on 52 Bayfield Street in the city of Barrie, Ontario, the first of five bingo halls taking part in a bingo rejuvenation initiative.

Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, Boardwalk Gaming Centre Barrie and the Barrie Charity Bingo Sponsors Association have teamed up together for this project, which will lead five bingo revival nights in various locations across the province of Ontario, today's event being the first. Other events will be held in Kingston, Peterborough, Sudbury and Toronto. Charities are also welcome to visit the project.

"Charities in Barrie and elsewhere are glad that the province has responded to our calls to modernize the business and turn around years of decline in bingo fund-raising," reported Darla McPherson, President of the Barrie Charity Bingo Sponsors Association. "We're eager to see how well players react to the new environment and new ways to play."

Today will feature the Barrie Charity Bingo Hall's renovations to the building itself, the testing of various electronic bingo games, new customer service and more. The electric bingo will give customers the ability to play the games through computer platforms or hand held devices instead of the classic bingo cards.

The bingo project was first announced in January of this year as part of the provincial government's new gaming strategy, which will focus on the development of a responsible gaming industry. Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation was picked to take the lead in the project.