Bunco is back (or perhaps it always has been.)
Here in Sun City, many neighborhoods have a weekly game of Bunco.
Jan and Steve Burnett play a lot of Bunco. Jan said, “Because of the game’s popularity in the neighborhoods, not everyone could participate in the weekly game.”
According to the World Bunco Association, the game saw a resurgence in popularity in the United States in the early 21st century; in 2006, it was claimed that during the previous year, “over 59 million women have played bunco and over 27 million play regularly.” Neighborhood residents often take turns hosting and providing snacks, refreshments, and tables to set up the games.
Wendy Nicholson said, “We heard that the games were full in their neighborhood. And some residents were looking for something to do on the weekend.”
Bunco is a dice game in which players roll for three-of-a-kinds to score points. It was originally a confidence game similar to three-card monte. It originated in 19th-century England and appeared in San Francisco as a gambling activity in 1855. After the Civil War, the game evolved into a popular parlor game. Bunco saw a resurgence in popularity as a family game in the 1980s.
In Sun City, it’s been the talk of the town.
Jan said, “Steve plays Euchre, and Bunco came up, so we decided to start a game on the weekend. Many residents were looking for something to do on the weekend. We looked into the cost of getting a room in the lodge and planned a date. We posted the invitation on the Wildflower Facebook page, and twenty-four residents came for that first game.”
Nicholson said, “It was a great turnout. It was quite a success. We have quite an age span. We have residents who barely qualify to live here, along with some who are almost 100 years young.”
It started in July 2024 and is still going strong.
Kristen Lang said, “We might have to go to a bigger room.”
The Burnetts, Nicholson, and Lang have kept the game going each Saturday, reserving the rooms and adding festivities to the afternoon.
Lang said, “We will decorate for Valentine’s Day and have some door prizes. The residents bring in food and treats, and it’s a good time.”
Nicholson said, “For Halloween, we had a costume party. We ordered pizza, and Domino’s has even given us a few free pizzas. It just adds to the fun. At Christmas, I mailed Christmas cards to the Bunco players. We feel connected to all of them. It’s great to see the same faces every week, and the group is so welcoming to new residents joining us.”
There is always room for more Bunco players.
Lang said, “It’s an easy game to play, and our group has so much fun.”
Anyone interested in joining the group for an afternoon of Bunco can contact Lang at 612-701-3215.
