Since this article was originally written, the Online Bingo landscape has changed beyond measure. Land Based bingo halls have made their presence felt in online bingo, and some have even gone completely online. The popularity of online bingo has seen Gala Bingo transition to online exclusively. We have seen new bingo sites enter the market, some making it and most disappearing.
The major changes around online bingo from when this article was originally put together are regulation and taxation of the industry. Both of these have been challenges for the bingo industry. Regulation has focused on player safety and gambling responsibly. It heralded a new era making it impossible for fly-by-night bingo sites to take advantage of UK Bingo players.
Taxation has meant a tightening of bingo bonuses which has led to smaller bonus offers, but it has also heralded changes in the form of no-wager bingo sites. These are essentially sites that offer no-match bonuses and, at the same time, do not impose wagering conditions. There are now more Bingo Software providers compared to the initial handful at the beginning of the online boom.
Along with more bingo software providers, we have seen a huge increase in the types of games available. We are no longer restricted to 90-ball and 75-ball bingo. We now have 50 balls, 40 balls, 30 balls and speed bingo, to name a few. Bingo now comes with themes. Popular themes like Rainbow Riches Bingo and Fluffy Favourites Bingo are just two of the most popular themes.
Giants of the Casino industry have moved in on the bingo fad, and being a major success at online bingo does not translate to bingo success. Playtech bought Virtue Fusion and has been successful, whilst Microgaming has not been as successful with its bingo product. Irrespective of this, online bingo continues to be the most popular and played game in the United Kingdom.
To caption a popular advert, the future is bright; the future is online bingo. For interest’s sake, we have left the original article below, so we can see just how far we have come as a prominent playing bingo society.
Land-based UK bingo halls are now looking to make their online bingo presence felt. These include the likes of Gala Bingo and Mecca Bingo.
Land-Based Bingo Halls Move Online
Gala Bingo is reportedly selling a land-based bingo club in Nuneaton; it seems they prefer to concentrate on only larger bingo venues. Therefore, boosting their online bingo presence is critical for land-based bingo venues.
Why Play Online Bingo
It leaves the good people of Nuneaton & soon other communities with a choice of either going to a bigger town to play Bingo or converting to online Bingo. Online Bingo has become incredibly entertaining and very big business.
Online Bingo allows bingo players to play the game at their convenience. That means you can play anywhere, anytime you feel the urge. Prizes at online bingo rooms are also generally a lot more generous.
UK bingo sites are in a marketing blitz, with Sharon Osbourne appearing for Gala Bingo and glamour model Jordan posing for Foxy Bingo.
It is a trend set to continue. I wonder when we will get a male figure like David Beckham advertising a bingo room. Wink Bingo, that’s an idea for you.
Social Aspect of Online Bingo
Bingo is famous for its social aspect. Online Bingo is increasingly sophisticated in appealing to the social nature of Bingo. Players can chat in the rooms, and most venues either run chat games or offer a friendly chat area.
Wink Bingo, a favourite UK online bingo room, offers bingo players bingo social networking features. It purposefully built this into the bingo site. Socialising at online bingo sites is vital in what makes bingo fun.
Looking at the different bingo promotions and incentives for players is also an eye-opener. Bingo Rooms that are far away and above regarding generosity are Dragonfish bingo sites. Dragonfish bingo software, owned by the 888 Group, powers many popular UK Bingo rooms.
Dragonfish Bingo Rooms offer a 100% sign-up bonus and a 50% re-deposit bonus on each deposit, up to a maximum of £100. It is making sure that your bingo buck stretches a lot further.
Eyes Down Bingo will conduct extensive research into promotions at different online bingo operators and publish this for viewing.