Bonanza is a special bingo game, not included in the regular buy-in packets. Bonanzas are purchased separately and during the bingo session. The Bonanza game is played like this:

The Bonanza game consists of two games - a "work-up" large frame (all sides of the bingo card are covered) and a blackout (all 25 spaces on the card must be covered). All bingo numbers that correspond to the date - an odd or even day - are posted on a Bonanza flashboard in the hall. Players cover all these numbers prior to the start of the Bonanza game.

When the Bonanza games begin, the caller asks if anyone has a large-frame bingo or a blackout bingo, using only the numbers that have been "called" -- the odd or even numbers. If someone has a large frame, that person is a winner, and the game continues to the blackout. If someone has a blackout, the game is over. If not, then the caller selects other random numbers until someone has a large frame and a blackout.

The Bonanza game pays between $150 and $500 to a single winner.