Online Gambling News» bingo

Rank proves the Mecca for bingo fans

Eric Bianchi — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:00:01 +0000

If one online gaming company lived up to its name you cant imagine that many people would really bother using them as their preferred choice – they’ve shown that they’re becoming a mecca for online gambling though, bingo especially. The company, Rank Interactive, announced a 10% year-on-year rise in first-half revenue to £27.4m, from £24.9m.

It really does seem that people have actually been flocking to this temple of online bingo in their droves, but they still feel the need to overhaul Mecca Bingo’s site in the second half of this year. It hasn’t all been plain sailing for Rank though, as sport betting division Blue Square showed no signs of picking up during the World Cup. Read more.

Business News

Playtech sees Q2 growth hit the heights

Jamie Hinks — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:20:52 +0000

Playtech, the online gaming software company, have announced that their Q2 profits have soared since Q1 mainly down to rapid growth in the casino and bingo sector, offsetting the declining poker section. Estonia’s finest also stated that trading activity in the first 26 days of the third quarter was up 10% on last year, but 12% down on Q2 due to gamblers being extremely irresponsible and going on holiday. Who do they think they are?! Read more.

Business News

Real people present Online Bingo!

Jamie Hinks — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:43:08 +0000

Gtech G2 bingo has declared that it will be upgrading all its UK customer’s bingo operations to an updated server, which will include live bingo hosts that players can also interact with. The presenters will appear in a small window on a select number of games each evening, on sites such as ChitChatBingo.co.uk, LittlewoodsBingo.com and ButlinsBingo.co.uk.

Each presenter has their own ‘personality’ which includes Ben who is a ‘cheeky prankster’, Emma ‘the biggest chocolate fan’, Rik a ‘not-so-tidy Virgo’, Matt a fan of ‘funny mirrors, and the second Emma who has seen Avatar 15 times. They all enjoy bantering back and forth. That’s a relief, they were all starting to sound a bit weird for a split-second. Read more.

Casino News

Multiplayer Virgins play bingo

Jamie Hinks — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:30:25 +0000

Virgin Games have launched a new multi-player bingo game on their Virgin Fusion gaming platform, where players face off against each other for the share of a pot. In addition to this there’s the chance to win a weekend in New York or a 42” plasma TV if you buy tickets in advance for certain games

Virgin Games’ Product Manager Warren Eloff certainly seems very happy with what the company has to offer,“The range of games we have is superb and the promotional offerings have just raised the bar!” Too bad you couldn’t get a balloon round the world though, eh Rich! Read more.

Business News

Blockbusters bingo launches

Jamie Hinks — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:30:14 +0000

Mecca Bingo may well have jumped in KITT with the Hoff and found itself in the 80s. This comes after the announcement that they’ve launched a game based on the popular quiz show from the same decade, Blockbusters. Players who sign up will also receive a £5 sign-up bonus and be able to fulfill the dream of appearing in the program in their own home. The only problem is you wont actually be there, but Bob Holness can’t be too expensive to hire out these days. I’m sure the old campaigner isn’t up to much. Read more.

Business News

Neteller announces large prize for Virgin

Jamie Hinks — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:34:50 +0000

Leading online gaming bingo provider, Virgin Bingo, has teamed up with payment solutions company Neteller to offer an exclusive £1000 prize in an upcoming tournament. The competition takes place on 30th July, and in order to take part players need to have registered and deposited £10 in their accounts before the 20:00 UK time deadline. Each player will be given the same amount of tickets for the £1000 hour giving all players an equal chance to win the prize pot. Don’t worry though. Anyone can apply, even if you’ve lost your virginity. Read more.

Business News

MTV makes bingo move with Dragonfish deal

Ed Drake — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 09:00:01 +0000

If anyone was under any illusion that bingo wasn’t big business then further proof of the pudding lies in MTV’s inaugural involvement in the online numbers game. The music TV giant has made its first tentative steps into online gaming by signing a deal with 888’s b2b arm and bingo expert Dragonfish to offer Up Your Bingo across its online and television MTV and VIVA network. It’s surely now only a matter of time before they produce a bingo pop video called Two Fat Ladies starring Susan Boyle and Aretha Franklyn. Read more.

Business News

Question of the day – Do freeplay bingo sites convert?

admin — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 04:44:01 +0000

Tablog reporter Rebecca Liggero catches up with attendees at the Online Bingo Summit to find out if .net free to play bingo sites convert and if they are good for acquisition?

See answers from your peers on Question of the Day here.

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Casino News

Save 200 bucks on Bingo Summit & Awards Registration!

Rebecca Liggero — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 01:22:35 +0000

Wait, I mean that’s 200 pounds…and this offer expires on 29 April at 6pm GMT, so, HURRY! Go ahead and take five minutes out of your life and a relatively small amount of quid out of your pocket and join the CalvinAyre.com team and I at the fifth annual Online Bingo Summit & Awards in London June 8th and 9th. If you are involved in the igaming bingo industry you cannot miss this event, and to be frank, I’m fun and the Ayre Heads are hot, so come spend time with us during the conference and come party with us at Bingo Awards and networking events.

Need more reasons? There is a pretty impressive list of companies that have already confirmed attendance at the summit, and the Bullet Biz team has put together two booze-filled networking opportunities so you can meet everyone and schmooze: official bingo icebreaker drinks on the eve of 7 June and a Bingo Awards After Party on 8 June.

Parties aren’t your thing? Besides the fact that something might be wrong with you, never fear- this event is still worth your time and quid. The Bingo Summit’s “hard hitting” two day agenda will provide you with proven customer retention and acquisition strategies through networking, case studies, debates and discussions. Some topics of note include:

-Effective bingo marketing retention strategies with results: Focus on how to get the most out of your current reach and cut your online bingo CPA spend
-Brand new Operator power panel: Featuring the biggest names in Online Bingo today!
-Exclusive real player analysis: Unique bingo player tracking and measuring techniques to help you lift profits
-Case studies from the biggest – most successful – online bingo brands
-Bingo TV uncovered: Find out how to leverage the power of the small screen to assist your bingo products maximize profits
-Key opportunities across Europe: Identify the hottest opportunities across Europe and how to get a head start in each of them (including France, Italy, Spain and more)

Last but not least, who doesn’t love a good award ceremony? Come celebrate a fabulous year in bingo as seven companies and individuals are recognized on 8 June in the following categories for 2010: Online Bingo Operator, Best Online Bingo Information Portal, Best Newcomer, Best Bingo Affiliate, Online Bingo Software, Best Marketing Campaign, and Innovation 2010.

Sound good? BINGO! I’ll see you there.

Conference News

Dragonfish plays ladies card with Hollywoodbingo.com

Dan Taylor — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:57:27 +0000

How original

It’s no secret that bingo operators have been playing to the fairer sex for some time now. There’s Foxy Bingo, Wink Bingo, Cheeky Bingo, Posh Bingo, the less subtle Ladies Bingo and even Fruity Bingo – specifically targeted at our gay brethren. Dragonfish has decided to play further to the female demographic by launching a new standalone network called BingoHollywood.com – which combines bingo, slots, blackjack, virtual sport and scratch cards with Hollywood gossip. “We knew we had to do something very different,” said Bingo Hollywood chief executive Derek Morran, pretending he hadn’t visited this site before. Read more.

Business News

Praesepe swoops for Beacon bingo business

Ed Drake — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:54:37 +0000

Numbers game

We all know that bingo is big business and it doesn’t get much bigger than the Beacon Cricklewood, the largest bingo club in the world. Which is possibly why Praesepe, the UK investment business formerly known as Aldgate Capital, has bought the company that owns the north London establishment, Beacon Entertainments. Praesepe will also take on Beacon’s other assets, including BeaconBingo.co.uk and the Showboat chain of 26 adult gaming centres. Read more.

Entertainment News

Bama Senator Claims he was offered $250 K For ‘Yes’ Vote On Bingo Bill

John Blaise — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:52:27 +0000

Alabama State Senator Paul Sanford of Huntsville claims that lobbyist Jarrod Massey offered him $250 thousand dollars for ‘yes’ vote on the bingo bill. Not to be outdone, another ~~nark~~ Senator has come out of the woodwork to claim that Massey also offered him campaign contributions for a ‘yes’ vote. Call it corruption, sounds like stat quo good business. I’m sure we’re all shocked that campaign dollars have been offered to a senator to help influence his vote, it’s called American politics. Hell, its the American way! Read more.

Legal News

Bingo still booming, says Virtue chief

Ed Drake — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 08:55:59 +0000

Virtue has hit the jackpot

Despite reports that online bingo may have reached saturation point, Virtue Fusion CEO Bob McCulloch is still confident it will keep growing for many years to come. “There is still room for growth for online bingo,” said McCulloch, presumably because he can relax what with Virtue Fusion having been bought out by Playtech for £36m recently and having also launched the new fixed odds game of the ITV hit gameshow ‘Deal Or No Deal’. Clearly McCulloch has picked the box, decided not to swap it and hit the jackpot. click here.

Business News

Bingo Ball Bellies get the Thumbs up

Justina Cruickshank — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:00:03 +0000

Now that Gaz knew that Sharon had slept with his brother, it was time to confess he was sleeping with their son's Grandfather

Those of you familiar with UK television will be aware of the marketing associations between Bingo and daytime TV. Bingo is one of the sectors that has really understood the type of players it has when it comes to television advertising. Look at the tie-ins between Foxy Bingo then Think Bingo and the Jeremy Kyle Show, Emmerdale and Tombola and Crown Bingo and the ITV 3 whole daytime TV schedule… all utterly relevant and appropriate partnerships for the demography of their players.

My good friend Sarah Jones from GameOn Marketing, who promises she was just ‘flicking through’ the channels, saw the Think Bingo sponsor advert of the Jeremy Kyle show – a woman waddling along holding her belly in pregnancy, except her belly is a bingo ball and the voice-over states “Whatever life throws at you…” AKA ‘I can’t believe I’m up the duff with my [insert inappropriate relative here]’s baby’.

The Think Bingo sponsor advert on the Jeremy Kyle Show

Whether or not the audience will get the subtle piss-take that Sarah and I found amusing is a another matter, but they will certainly understand that many of the show’s guests definitely experience a “whatever life throws at you” pregnancy – so the image will resonate with them, and is likely to generate some feelings of brand affinity.

After chatting to Sarah about the creativity in the message and thinking about this more, I began to yearn for us to be in an industry that doesn’t generate gross margins quite as easily as it does. If we all worked in the airline industry, for example, with woefully small profit margins compared to iGaming, I don’t think I would witness quite so much complacency in basic marketing practice. Whilst the advertising agency that created the Think Bingo advert got it spot on, relevant and appropriate message targeting is often at best scattergun and at worst completely absent.

It’s a simple marketing exercise. Marketing 101. So why is it that I still receive in my inbox, dozens of gaming emails that have not targeted the message appropriately for the segment I am in.

Think about this short list of segments that could be emailed:
- Registered players but not deposited
- Registered and made one deposit
- Registered, made various deposits, but not for at least 3 months (i.e. inactive)

Each of the above segments requires a different marketing message to entice them to make their first or next deposit. These segments are broad and not complicated so the message is simple. Yet too many companies are failing to do this. A player who is not targeted correctly, relevantly and appropriately will likely deposit with your competitor over you in a heartbeat. It’s a no brainer for the player as they will feel as if the competitor ‘speaks’ to them.

The odd thing is, such segmentation does not require sophisticated CRM systems nor does it require the creativity displayed in the Think Bingo ad, for example, just a spreadsheet with the broad segments and a simple change of a few choice sentences in the email is a good start.

Of course, there are companies that segment splendidly. Unfortunately, few are in the gaming industry. I’m thinking of the likes of Amazon.com, though they often overdo it – just because I looked at food blenders one day, because I was flirting with the idea of having a home smoothie station, does not mean I want to be harangued in weekly emails until I give in and buy one!

p.s. For those not familiar with Jeremy Kyle – he is unfortunately the UK’s answer to Jerry Springer. Luckily, for those of you Stateside, he’ll be on your screens from 2011.

Marketing News

All the bingo news your grandma can take

Peter Amsel — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:28:20 +0000

Okay, what do you want to know about online bingo? The name of the company that just signed a sponsorship deal with the UK’s highest-rated TV show? The details behind Italy’s re-legalization of online bingo? Wanna play bingo on the radio? Seriously, say ‘uncle’ or we’re tell you some more.

Business News

Alabama drama over bingo hall

Staff Writer — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:17:10 +0000

A bona fide Hatfield/McCoy feud seems to have busted out over the Cross Country ‘entertainment destination resort’ in Dothan, Alabama. Midnight raids by something called an “anti-bingo task force”, last-minute restraining orders blocking said posse from ridin’, warnings not to cross county lines, accusations that the governor is carrying on a personal vendetta … If you listen real close, you might hear the sound of dueling banjos. Read more.

Legal News

Rank to claim £42m tax rebate

Staff Writer — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 09:00:07 +0000

Payback time

While just about everyone in the UK is still reeling from one of the most punitive pre-budget reports on record, there was one winner from Alistair Darling’s hair-brained economizing.

The Rank Group will get £26m back from the government and possibly £17m more after a ruling found that the VAT paid on their land-based casinos and bingo clubs between 2002 and 2005 contravened the European Union’s principles of fiscal neutrality. Result! Read more.

Casino News

Cashcade deal opens up brave new $1bn bingo world

Staff Writer — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 08:59:01 +0000

Bingo is worth billions

PartyGaming’s summer acquisition of Cashcade highlights companies’ eagerness to take advantage of the growing online bingo market – a sector which looks set to swell to be worth well over $1 billion by the end of this year. Read more.

Casino News

Social Betworking comes to Bingo

Staff Writer — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:19:03 +0000

You too can get social betworking as of tomorrow

Virtue Fusion, winner of the Best Bingo Software 2009, has developed an exciting new networked gaming solution for online bingo fans, which will be rolled out by William Hill Bingo, Ladbrokes Bingo and Paddy Power Bingo tomorrow. Read more.

Casino News

888bingo on its way

Staff Writer — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:45:24 +0000

888 are trying to corner the male Bingo market

Not content with its already successful site 888 Ladies Bingo the egaming operator has decided to branch out and launch a less female-centric site, simply called 888bingo.

The website will initially run on the globalcom network, which is powered by their dragonfish company, but the long-term view is to move it to a standalone site.

It seems that more men play bingo than meet the (Kelly’s) eye (did you see what I did there?) so it makes sense to offer a new brand. Read more here.

Casino News