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Bunco (also Bunko or Bonko) is a parlour game played in teams with three^{[citation needed]} dice.

History[link]

Bunco was originally "8-Dice cloth" according to the World Bunco Association a dice game in 18th-century England. It was imported to San Francisco as a gambling activity in 1855, where it gave its name to gambling parlors, or Bunco parlors, and more generally to any swindle. After the Civil War the game evolved to a popular parlor game. During the 1920s and Prohibition, Bunco was re-popularized as a gambling game, often associated with a speakeasy. Law-enforcement groups raiding these parlors came to be known as "Bunco squads". Bunco as a family game saw a resurgence in popularity in the 1980s.^[1].

Renewed popularity[link]

Although re-released in 2005 with a tagline reading "The game that's sweeping the nation," sales were initially low, although senior citizens and young adults alike have found interest in the game.^{[citation needed]}

According to the World Bunco Association, in the early 21st century, the game had seen a resurgence in popularity in the United States, with a reported 27 million people playing regularly in 2006^[2].

As it is played today, Bunco is a social dice game involving 100% luck and no skill (there are no decisions to be made),^[3] scoring and a simple set of rules. Women who are part of a Bunco club take turns as the Bunco hostess, providing snacks, refreshments and the tables to set up the games. The hostess may also provide a door prize. Small amounts of money can be involved as well. The object of the game is to accumulate points and to roll certain combinations. The winners get prizes (provided by the hostess or pooled from the club resources) for accomplishments such as the highest score, the lowest score, or the most buncos. Prizes frequently center on themes associated with the game such as fancy dice, dice embedded in soap, t-shirts featuring illustrations of dice, etc.

Bunco fundraisers have become increasingly popular over the years, earning large sums for a wide variety of charities. Large groups of bunco players have come together to support their favorite charities by paying an entry fee into the game, holding silent auctions, and by selling raffle tickets; with all proceeds from the event donated to the cause.^[4]

Also, young adults use Bunco as a framework for social drinking^{[citation needed]}. In some circles, Bunco gatherings may jokingly be referred to as Drunko to reflect this tendency.

Rules[link]

Bunco is often played with house variants^{[citation needed]}.

Standards widely recognized are: There are six rounds, progressing in order from one to six, where the number of the round serves as the target for that round's rolls. Within a round, players alternate turns rolling three dice, aiming to obtain the target number. Players gain one point for each die matching the target. If the player gets three-of-a-kind of the target number (a Bunco), they get 21 points. The round stops when a player at a head table obtains 21 points. Whoever wins the most rounds is the overall winner and usually receives a token prize^{[citation needed]}.

Bunco World Championship.[link]

The Bunco World Championship was first held in 2006, airing on the Oxygen Network and sponsored by Procter & Gamble's anti-heartburn medicine Prilosec OTC, benefiting the National Breast Cancer Foundation.^[2] In October 2008, P&G discontinued their association with the Championship after three years.^[5].

References[link]

1. ^ Bunco history World Bunco Association official site, accessed 19 Jan 2010
2. ^ ^{a b} "Prilosec OTC, Actress Marg Helgenburger and Thousands of Women Roll the Dice to Raise Money for Breast Cancer Research". News Release /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network. Procter & Gamble. February 10, 2006. http://www.pginvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=104574&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=815622. 
3. ^ Michael Alison Chandler (February 4, 2007). "Suburban Moms Forge Bonds Over Bunco". washingtonpost.com. The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/03/AR2007020301274_pf.html. Retrieved 19 Jan 2010. 
4. ^ [1]
5. ^ "So Long Bunco". Bunco Central - Prilosec OTC. Procter & Gamble. http://www.prilosecotc.com/potc/bunco/. Retrieved Jan 18 2010. 

External links[link]

Look up Bunco in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Free Bunco Score Sheets, Roster, Recipes, from Bunco Game Shop
• World Bunco Association
• Detailed Bunco rules and FAQs