Bingo Donations
Bingo Conscience
Some people perceive the charity bingo as primarily a charity donation (which may even be tax deductible!) where the fun of the game and any winnings incurred are completely incidental. This raises a significant problem when larger sums are won. Such a problem is exactly what some of my friends raised during my last big bingo win. Isn't winning such large sums a sort of canceling of the charity already given (since the win is deducted from the charity income)?
My Standard Answer
My standard answer to all such queries has already been voiced in my blog more than once. I don't think that there is anything wrong with winning at charity bingo games (otherwise, why play?). I see the winning as G-d's way of instantly awarding a good deed and encouraging more such good deeds. The charity fund does not see the win as impinging upon their funds because the win is part of the pre-calculated expenses which are automatically deducted from the total income of the bingo event. In fact, winning can be seen as the L-rd's own personal endorsing of the worthy charity.
Appeasing the Conscience
For those people who for some reason must appease their conscience when winning large sums, I have several possible recommendations. First of all, I must point out that despite my previous paragraph, I am one of those whose conscience must be appeased. Therefore, my recommendations stem from my own personal coping with the issue. My basic recommendation is that a certain fixed percentage of all earnings should be donated directly to a well established, worthy charity. A good sum is about 5%-10%. Such a sum is good for several reasons. It is small enough not to significantly impact a big win while it is big enough to not seem like small change. Finally, such donations are cash deductible which becomes of extra importance when considering a big win.
