Posted July 15, 2009 and tagged as Bingo.
‘No Restrictions’ can be such motivating and uplifting words. None of us like to be restricted but all too often life soon teaches even the youngest of us that it is full of restrictions, safeguards, guidelines – whatever you wish to label them, restrictions are part of our lives and they make us feel very limited at times. So when something comes along that either has very few restrictions or none at all we embrace it.
And one of the world’s most popular games – Bingo of course – has few if any restrictions with regard to who plays the game – when, where and how. Bingo is definitely what you would term an “Open” game. Often played for the simple love of the game rather than any deep expectation of prizes – it’s largely about the socialization (land-based or on-line) involved, i.e. the fun, the laughs, the sheer enjoyment – and the wonderful warm people players meet along the way. Often forming life long bonds with.
The increasing popularity of online bingo is a big plus for many people who are housebound or restricted. Yes, you need a computer but access to one is normally easy enough and ultra powered computers are not necessary. These days usually even the poorest homes have a computer – they are often viewed as necessary as electricity and water.
Bingo is gender neutral – men, women, the young or old – all can play, all can enjoy and many come to love the game as well.
Bingo is currently suffering even more than the usual challenges to its ongoing prosperity, especially with the Labour Government’s anti-bingo stance (eg. the tax increase to 22%) and the lack of any real support from the Conservatives (yes they talk about the injustice of the tax but when it comes to voting against it – they abstain!). Yet this game has fought through and past obstacles thrown in its path before. It will win through again but does need the ongoing support of the ordinary players – in addition to that of operators of course.
The growing popularity of the online version of bingo is not just down to players whose attendance at land-based bingo halls is restricted either. Often it can be the sheer convenience of online play. For instance some one comes home after a long day at the office – all they wish to do is to have a meal and relax.
What easier way to do so than to sit down in a comfortable chair and play a game (or two or three) of online bingo. Players can have a lot of enjoyment connecting with fellow bingo roomies online – have a laugh, a play and a win or two. Or take a Mum or Dad, that’s been home all day, they can so easily get that much needed break without leaving the house – they can get that break by ‘chatting’ online and playing a game or two of bingo.
Also, the options and choices that online bingo play supplies is far superior in many cases to that found in land-based bingo halls. Variety is one of the big things. No more having to travel to the same old bingo hall, no more playing with the same people you play with all the time – players can just sit down and relax – even in their pajamas and dressing gown if they like! There’s many opportunities for Free Bingo online as well as a number of other generous offers to be found at any number of online bingo sites.
Whichever way you play the game, Bingo is still King.
Posted July 14, 2009 and tagged as Bingo.
Being closely involved in (especially working within) the political world, no matter what sentiments a person starts out with, people become skeptical and cynical rather quickly. Why? The practicalities of working within a ‘Party System’ are more than enough to dampen the personal sentiments and goals of most(if not all) MPs. A first rate example is the (bingo) amendment to the Government’s Finance Bill.
To start with, if your MP is a Government Minister be sure that he doesn’t have a free vote, never, ever –he/she must vote along party lines. It would be political suicide to do otherwise – especially where finance bills of any kind are concerned.
Don’t, think (in this latest case especially) any better of the Conservatives motives in relation to bingo though – they bleated in large numbers about the unfairness of the revised tax but how did they actually vote when it came to the crunch? Well – they didn’t vote players. Surprised? That’s right the Conservatives abstained! Probably because they simply don’t care, or maybe even they are thinking they may need the money themselves later on, if they get into power.
Or, more cynically, they keep quiet now, sentiments become even more heated in relation to bingo’s cause and then, when the election is called they can come out strongly for the industry, hoping the bingo will return the favour. This political technique is the cheapest way possible to acquire a massive lobby weapon for yourself at little, or no, expense.
Some colleagues think this latter alternative is the most likely and while it is by no means absolutely certain it is a strong possibility. What the bingo industry needs to be sure of is that it’s ready for it if that is the way the wind blows. That’s how lobbying works and if you aren’t ready to play the game – you’ll lose and we don’t want the bingo industry to lose the final battle – we want them to win the war!
One sad fact is (and as cynical as it may sound people need to consider this point) that very few politicians really care one way or another about anything else than being re-elected – so bingo players, operators and management need to be fully aware of both that fact and the necessity to use any weapon available to save a wonderful industry.
Bingo is an industry that is much more than a group of games, it’s a well entrenched, and valuable, social institution, part of the working person’s heritage. Bingo Halls have long since supplied all over the country, that place to go and socialize, and they have done so for many decades.
Be very sure of something, this is an important tradition that is being serious threatened by the House of Commons ruled Labour Government – supposedly the working man’s party. So any doubters out there, when you’re fighting for your area’s bingo, don’t take any prisoners – from whichever party they are derived.
Another thing to consider, what will happen to our older generations who have used their local bingo clubs as their one and only social venue and have done so for years – what will happen to these people? Does any politician really care?
Posted July 13, 2009 and tagged as Bingo.
They can’t see sense at all it seems, when it comes to bingo! We’re referring here to Labour MPs, who voted Bingo down yet again, by choosing not to get behind SNP Treasury spokesman Stewart Hosie MP’s amendment to the Finance Bill, which would have ensured a much fairer taxation for the bingo industry – and even more importantly for many, an end to the double standard presently suffered by this sector of the gaming industry.
Why tax other sections of the gaming industry at 15% and bingo at 22%? Naturally, even if the claims of great strain (by the bingo industry because of this unfair taxation), are exaggerated there has been, without a doubt, greater damage (to the industry) than there ever needed to be. There is no doubt in any sensible person’s mind that this taxation has played quite some large part in the number of bingo club closures. Closures, naturally result in job losses but when you add that unseen cost to many people out there, when they have lost their only social contact their only link to others, the damage is untold and almost limitless.
Without wishing to involve ourselves in political hassles, Mr. Hosie’s subsequent comments about the Labour Government attitude were correct when he said; “Labour has hung the bingo industry out to dry. This amendment was a chance to do the right thing by the bingo industry and they have failed”. Failed miserably it seems Mr. Hosie.
Mr Hosie also commented; “This unfair taxation is incredibly damaging to this industry, forcing clubs to close and jobs to be lost across the country. These are difficult times for the sector and the UK Government should be supporting them rather than contributing to the hardship”.
Truer words never been said Mr Hosie but unfortunately, they have and will continue (we feel convinced) to fall on deaf ears.
Mr Hosie also voiced words which underline the opinion of many when he also commented; “Financial problems in the industry will not only mean job losses, but also the loss of important places to meet and socialize. Especially, in small towns, the closure of the local bingo club can rip the social hub (and heart) out of an area”
Unfortunately, the message for the Labour Government to the Bingo Industry (as a whole) seems to be a very loud vocal – “We don’t care – don’t tell us your problems”! This is almost unbelievable coming from a Labour Government – a government that is supposed to be especially for the people!
The fact that a large number of bingo operators, industry bosses and players have held demonstrations in London and elsewhere, calling on the government to review the increase has made no difference whatsoever to the Government’s attitude.
The point that bingo is dominated by female players may also have something to do with the situation – well while we realize many (usually men) are sick of people calling “sexist” the reality is that other parts of the gambling industry (such as poker, betting etc) are dominated by male players and they are only taxed at 15%!
Industries dominated by women form much softer targets – frankly this is a point that can not be realistically denied. Add to this the point that bingo is an industry which is easier to tax than most, we find an industry, Bingo, that has not only suffered unfair tax penalties so far but we have an industry that no doubt will certain suffer the same pressure again.
Posted July 10, 2009 and tagged as Bingo.
It’s no wonder at all that Virtue Fusion won the Best Bingo Software Award for 2009 recently is it – it thoroughly deserved that honour, and more. Yet, they haven’t taken time out to just sit back and enjoy the glory, as they have now come up with a new concept that will brighten the field of bingo even more, its yet another concept that only goes to underline the recent successes they have had in bingo software development.
This new concept is the networking of progressive scratch cards, featuring different themes. Virtue Fusions avowed intention to remain one step ahead of the ‘perceived’ (the word used by their CEO, Bob McCulloch) competition seems to be steaming full ahead. Their use of the word ‘perceived’ only goes to illustrate their attitude to the other players in their field – one containing a relative amount of disdain.
The idea of progressive and networked jackpots on scratch cards is certainly unique in the market, as the norm for the cards is a very short product life cycle – hence the aim to increase the scratchcards longevity by having a progressive networked jackpot. That in turn naturally results in jackpots with greater potential, which subsequently creates more interest over much longer periods of time. All this obviously underlines and emphasizes Virtue Fusions software approach of building on and improving customer site preservation.
The thought of players being able to wager between 20p and £2 to win a possible jackpot of £5000 is extremely appealing, to say the least. With all three jackpots being connected the jackpot naturally will grow faster – with the match of three symbols resulting in the jackpot being won.
But, players will need to place the maximum bet to score the maximum prize, as the smallest bet will grab the player only a minute 10% of the jackpot. One can imagine the feelings of a player who scores, what they think is their dream win, and then find they have only ended up receiving a minute portion of what they might be expecting!
So, players are now eagerly asking when these cards will be out – well the first one graces our bingo stages on the 21 July – i.e. Beachside Bonanza, with Arabian Nights and Beat the Banker following a week later exactly, on 28 July.
There will no doubt be many players eagerly awaiting this latest unique development from the go-getters of bingo software – Virtue Fusion – so will they be available on every bingo site? Well, no, at least not to start with anyway. These unique cards at this stage are expected to be available on sites Paddy Power, Ladbrokes, Virgin Games and W Hill.
Posted July 9, 2009 and tagged as Bingo.
Costing over £19 per page, (78 pages in length X £1,500) the Mintel report would have to be one of the highest priced reports in the UK, if not the World, and one naturally questions whether the value is there at that price?
It all depends who would be purchasing the report and the reasons for them to do so? What exactly would the report be used for? For someone who is considering entering one, or more, areas of the bingo industry in a business sense it could be a deal breaker – i.e. a document that could serve as the main body of research and advice that business people normally consult before proceeding with a venture or not?
The Mintel report is a highly detailed document, and is most certainly an excellent introduction to the UK bingo industry and for that reason the very hefty price of £1,500 could not be too considered too high a price to spend for what it appears to deliver. Appropriate market research is an invaluable tool in the business decision making process – or it should be.
The Mintel organization are market research specialists, and this, their latest report on the UK bingo market, covers such important factors as the effect the smoking ban has had on UK bingo halls and how much bingo has been affected by the economic downturn. Yet another crucial subject (covered by the report) for many possible purchasers is Mintel’s study of the affect online bingo has had on land-based bingo halls
‘Numbers’ (figures/revenue etc) in the right hands (such as Mintel) tell an invaluable story, such as:
Land-based bingo has seen both revenue and admissions drop since the year 2006, with revenue between 2006 and 2009, falling by an estimated 26% in current terms, whereas admissions have dropped by about 22%.
While only 6% of hall bingo players have played online, the percentage of players dabbling in online play is constantly growing. Mintel have observed that there is now a constant flow of bingo players from land-based to online play, and that can only increase as time goes on.
A fascinating factor that connects with this point is that it appears that although 16% of players have stopped visiting bingo clubs due to the economic situation, only 10% have correspondingly changed their spending habits because of the smoking ban. So, what has happened to that 6%? If appears fairly clear.
It is well known in the bingo industry that between them, Gala Bingo and Mecca Bingo, control approximately 80% of income in bingo halls in the UK. The much more interesting, and somewhat surprising fact, that has now been unearthed, is the point that Gala Bingo, and Mecca Bingo’s, online presence is far weaker – with their combined market share sitting at only around 23%.
The Mintel Report makes the obvious forecast that both online and mobile bingo look to have the best prospects in the bingo industry. Major reasons being the aging and communal alignments within the player base.
Another very important point raised by the report deals with threats to the National Bingo Game (and subsequent consequences to many smaller operators). And that is the potential withdrawal from the National Game of Gala – this could be devastating.
