Sand Springs Bunko controversy resolved

A game of Bunko goes bust in Sand Springs. The city shut down a group of senior citizens who played Bunko - because of concerns they were getting the city involved in gambling. <br/><br/>News on 6 reporter

Monday, October 24th 2005, 11:26 am

By: News On 6

A game of Bunko goes bust in Sand Springs. The city shut down a group of senior citizens who played Bunko - because of concerns they were getting the city involved in gambling.

News on 6 reporter Emory Bryan says an angry group of senior citizens surrounded Sand Springs' city hall, protesting the Bunko busting parks and recreation department. Cathryn Dupree: "I don't think it's fair, everyone else can gamble and scratch off." The ladies use a recreation center for their games. Sara Sherwood: "there's usually 40 or 50 of us." And a city employee to keep track of the prize money.

But last month, the city kept the money and told the ladies they've have to go somewhere else. Rozella Giddens: "So they took that money, and I hope they choke on it, I'm sorry, but this is a dirty trick."

The protest attracted a lot of support from passers by, though a couple of their spouses made sure to keep a comfortable distance. The ladies usually play the last Monday of every month at the Plaza Community Center. They've canceled this month's game, until they can figure out what to do.

The Bunko ladies took to the streets because they felt shut out with no alternative. The city responds that it can't have anything to do with gambling. Sand Springs' city manager Loy Calhoun: "State law doesn't allow us as a city to be involved in that activity."

For years, the ladies met to play and each one puts $3 in a pot for prizes. The attention to the controversy and the protest prompted meetings at city hall, and a compromise to allow the ladies to continue playing at the recreation center, if they handle the money themselves.

So after gambling with city hall, the ladies came away the winner. Shirley Pridgen: "If they had just come and talked to us, we wouldn't have to resort to this."

The ladies say for them, Bunko is just a night of socializing and for some of them; it's the highlight of their month. They didn't let the city shut them down and now it looks like they'll get to keep playing - though it's too late to reschedule Monday's game.