Posted June 23, 2009 and tagged as Foxy Bingo.
Its no surprise to anyone at all surely that Cashcade won four out of the seven awards at the very recent Bingo Summit. They won; (1) Online Bingo Operator, (2) Best New site (for Cheeky Bingo), (3) Best Marketing Campaign and, (4) Best Innovation.
Not surprisingly some sour grapes were revealed as comments were heard to me made along the lines of “it would’ve been nice to be told that others could nominate their sites so we could’ve competed against Foxy Bingo” or “at least it was better than last year when no one seem to have been told there were awards at all”. People would have known that awards were being considered – nothing is ever kept that quiet, so they should accept the reality and stop complaining.
Sometimes there is some degree of secretiveness in events, usually not intentional, but when something is newly established and being organized the obvious is quite often forgotten. People being people, and organizations being what they are, news always is leaked, it always gets out so there is every reason for an organization to consider that others do know of events coming up.
Now, undoubtedly, this is not the best way to do things, there should be formal notification but the fact is that it’s much easier said than done, to conduct such a large exercise as the Bingo Summit to perfection.
The main point is though that Cashcade (who are parent company of Foxy Bingo as well as Cheeky Bingo) would have won anyway. Cashcade are well known, and widely acknowledged for their generosity to affiliates in the past and naturally there was quite a number of these affiliates at the Summit. Cashcade have done an exceptional job and well deserve the awards – particularly in regard to marketing and innovation.
The Advantages & Disadvantages of Bingo Complaint Bodies –
Whilst having a central body to which bingo players can direct any complaints is commendable, its crucial that the ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ of the complaint process are fully understood by everyone concerned.
What are the guidelines of the investigative process undertaken? Who conducts the process and what qualifications do they have? We were prompted to consider these questions on recently observing a certain site asking for disgruntled players to contact them with any complaints, which that organization will investigate on their behalf.
It should be mandatory that any investigative organization is completely independent and not connected to any particular operating organization. On one hand there needs to be a body that people, with a legitimate complaint, can turn to, on the other hand the complaint needs to be found to be justified and all contact details be fully protected. At least until the investigative results are known. Privacy laws are with us for good reason.
This particular site stated that they would use their contacts and resources to investigate and then take the action of placing the bingo site or operator on a black list for use by their members. They are most probably operating only with a motive to help but there could be a perception of self-interest.
As investigative actions can result in repercussions that get quite out of hand in comparison to the offence committed, extreme care needs to be taken by everyone involved.
PLAY FOXY BINGO HERE
Posted June 22, 2009.
What do the ladies of the world think of the result arrived at by a recent survey that said that male online bingo gamers are actually far more honest than their female counterparts? The survey pointed in particular to the fact that women weren’t honest about what they actually gambled online?
Really its not, or shouldn’t be about, whether one sex or another is more honest than the other (although generally it is agreed that women are) its just that women tend to prefer the independence of keeping certain things to themselves – they like that feeling of independence from their partners or husbands.
Women tend to be more ‘creative’ though in avoiding any questioning they’d prefer not to respond to than men, whereas guys tend to let it all hang out more. Although, to be honest around 20 to 25% of women do admit they actually say they spent less than they did – but it comes down to that independence aspect again rather than a real desire to be deceptive.
The most important aspect of the survey though (and what we have found to actually be true) is that lady luck smiles more upon women than men – overall women are quite a deal luckier with twice as many women, than men, winning amounts equal to the money that men win. Now that says something, if men are honest, and that is that fate smiles more on women than men. A fun survey which will get many a discussion and debate going for the next week or two.
Further views from the world’s largest professional services firm, Price Waterhouse Coopers, regarding the online gaming (particularly bingo) industry. PWC are now actually saying that online gambling in general, but more particularly bingo in particular, is weathering the current global economic downturn better than any other sector of the entertainment industry. Great news for bingo players.
Anyone who has very much to do with the online bingo industry is not surprised at all at these comments because playing bingo online is so much easier than participating in other forms of online gaming. Its cheaper and friendlier – people actually form friendships and bonds they don’t form elsewhere.
Bingo supplies a service and connections that people are unlikely to obtain from other types of online gaming and entertainment. As a matter of interest cyclical processes that negatively influence a number of industries and online activities do not affect bingo – a game which enjoys constant popularity and a loyal constant customer base. Low betting games, particularly bingo, are always popular and enjoy widespread popularity.
So bingo players should not think for a moment that their beloved game shall disappear because it most definitely will not.
Posted June 19, 2009.
Bingo people (players and operators) should all look out for the doom merchants, the ‘end of the world is coming’ soothsayers, because they are well and running around within the World of Bingo from what we have seen and heard. Now most people would realize by now that some operators and clubs are struggling, but to infer that an organization as large as Gala, and others, are struggling to stay afloat is reaching the ‘panic merchant’ stage of commentary – it does no one any good, most of all Gala of course. And its simply not true.
Now while its quite correct that some individual bingo clubs are struggling and that foolish tax increase by the Government will end up doing more damage than good, it is also correct to say that some adverse impacts on any industry are sometimes useful in that they weed out, sooner rather than later, parts of the organization that should be either downsized or pruned anyway. Harsh words maybe, but we all need to contribute to financial recovery by having a long hard look at the way we do things – and that includes the bingo industry.
Gala for instance is looking at closing a number of their land-based clubs (which must have been struggling anyway) but maybe by doing that (if they do) they can concentrate, what resources they have, on improving other parts and clubs in the organization. Possibly on extending their online operations, especially as the majority of people now have at least one computer in their home or easy access. Encourage people to adapt.
Yes, the closure of any land-based clubs will mean the loss of a few hundred jobs but in these times isn’t it better for a few hundred to be lost than a few thousand or, worse scenario, that the whole organization fails? The last thing anyone would wish to do is to downplay the seriousness of any situation where people lose their jobs but an observation of this writer is that it has been a number of years now that talk of 100s of land-based clubs closing, or even, in some situations, the lot closing, has been going on. For years also, there has been talk of many hundreds of jobs being lost – but there are still many bingo jobs there.
No doubt bingo will need to change, bend or adapt with the times but land-based clubs are far too popular with many still to disappear from our bingo scene. The players can help by actively supporting their local clubs. Online bingo players can help by supporting their favourite sites. Its better to be proactive than negative any time folks.
Another very interesting aspect of the gaming/bingo industry is which organization is supposed to be “the top one” in the development and provision of software. Virtue Fusion a big time developer and provider of both bingo and other online gaming software is now claiming the champion’s mantle. Now championship status is truly something to be proud of if its true – we’re not saying its not, but keep in mind that just because someone says something doesn’t necessarily mean its true. Playtech is still a very big name in the industry so lets wait and see – those of us who are interested in this aspect anyway!
Posted June 18, 2009.
Last year’s BB (Big Brother) finalist, Mikey Hughes has been doing a lot more than just messing about on this popular TV show. Yes he has become one of many volunteers helping to raise a lot of money for a charity called ‘north Ayrshire cancer care’. So to do this he helped a group of students from Kilwinning’s James Watt College and all of which were also volunteers for this charity. They held a great event, a game we all know and love, bingo!
That’s right Mikey and his new friends spent an afternoon playing a good old game of bingo where he was the one and only caller, calling out the bingo numbers. One of the students Ian Mullen who is 47 years old made a comment on Mikey’s bingo calling expertise “Mikey carried out the job of bingo caller very professionally and with a great sense of humor.”
Not only did Mikey become a bingo caller for the night he had pictures down and signed autographs for the lovely students including another two students with Ian and they all got to know each other as well with a nice little chat every now and again.
All three students Isabella, Samantha and Ian organized this great social bingo event to help reach their money goal more quickly. They loved the fact that they had a helping famous hand on their side as it really helped the day out.
To make this event as successful as it was, they did need a few extra helping hands as well so that’s where Revels Bar, The Foundry, The Lemon Tree, Somerfield, Morrisons and Brownings the Bakers. All of these companies helped out these students on making this bingo day a more fun and enjoyable experience, so well done to you guys!
To end the day of Ian also made another comment in style “All in all it was a very successful event and we were delighted with the amount of money raised for North Ayrshire Cancer Care, which is run entirely by volunteers and provides an amazing service to cancer patients, their families and their careers.”
Posted June 18, 2009.
Its no real surprise that Price Waterhouse Coopers has stated that the UK Bingo Industry is doing better than was originally estimated – that it is less affected by the global recession that was initially anticipated. Why?
Because no matter how bad things may be financially for either individuals, communities, countries or even International communities, there must be some light relief for individuals within those communities. That doesn’t mean at all that people (or countries for that matter) are behaving in a short sighted or shallow manner either. The fact is very few can survive if they live in a state of continual depression and never allow themselves any relief.
This train of thought (in relation to bingo) is confirmed by several in the bingo club industry, and one manager comes to mind, I think of a Gala Club in Yorkshire. Who was heard to comment that people will still play bingo despite any recession, global or otherwise. Simply because it’s a release for them – a diversion from the daily woes and hassles.
A certain number of sites are taking a very proactive stance in cutting their ticket prices though which is great news for players. Even if that cut is only a temporary special measure it keeps things humming along for everyone – bingo operators and players alike! That is certainly the way to go.
Notwithstanding the increased duty on bingo (so wrong its not funny) bingo as an industry is expected to perform quite a deal better than was generally believed. Bingo Hall operators have universally claimed that their numbers game has greater appeal than either casinos and bookmakers – and that is certainly not hard to believe. The reasoning is easy to follow in that their game is easy, generally a lot less expensive to play and hassle free.
While the smoking ban in bingo halls was seen by many operators as the industries death knoll for a while it certainly seems as if the worst fears have not been realized. One Mecca General Manager recently said that they had gone through massive negative impacts, partly because of the smoking ban partly because of the Government’s decision to tax bingo profits by 22 per cent, but were still marching on. Government’s shortsightness in relation to the taxing of bingo is highly regrettable but can be understood – bingo operations were a sitting duck for a government looking for extra funds!
Many players are still making the switch from land-based bingo playing (with all the interaction of chatting first hand with fellow players) to online bingo – many still feel that playing online isn’t quite the same as the very social environment players enjoy from an old fashioned bingo hall and it isn’t. But, the advantages of playing online still outweigh the things that may be missing.
Online bingo operators need to do more and more about making the online bingo experience not only more ‘social’ but continually upgrade software with avatars etc. so people playing from home feel more like they are in a real bingo hall.
Personally we feel that there will always be a role for both to play in bingo’s future.
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