|
|
      |
| The Lounge | Champions | The Wire | Schedule | Audio | Arcade | The Top Ten | Historical | Email | Video |
|
|
|
| The Lounge | Champions | The Wire | Schedule | Audio | Arcade | The Top Ten | Historical | Email | Video |
 |
The Bingo Renaissance
Little old ladies in slippers, playing for pennies and cents in a converted community hall is no longer the reality of bingo. The game has in recent years and now more than ever undergone a rebirth in its popularity and status and now looks set to boom in the coming years. In the UK alone, bingo comprises a total annual stake of around £1.1 billion. It's now big business and not just for the bingo halls. Customs and Excise collect around £115 million in duty incurred by bingo each year. However, the sun has not always shone on the bingo industry. In 1974, the game seemed to hit its peak in popularity. It was widely seen as a cheap and cheerful way to provide mass entertainment. However, the advent of television seemed to cripple the game and its popularity fell dramatically until the end of the 90s. Yet for all the doom and gloom, the trend seems to be rising again. Numbers are holding and profits are increasing. This new surge of popularity has been partly due to the vigorous marketing campaigns as executed by the bingo companies. Television and literature campaigns for bingo are now being promoted in Europe and companies are attempting to reinvigorate the game buy adapting and modernising some of the antiquated lingo that seemed to keep it stuck to its past - 21, the Key to the door, lucky legs 11, etc. Bill Clinton, Elle MacPherson, Damon Hill and Jade Jagger are all regular players of the game and no doubt have contributed to its popularity and rebirth. Many however disagree. To avid players, it is not the glitz and glamour of the game that is so appealing; it is rather the warm, social aspect that seems to fire the hearts of bingo players around the world. For regular players, it is a safe opportunity to socialise, have fun and experience the thrill of gambling whilst being surrounded and protected by a friendly atmosphere and a hopefully humorous bingo caller prevailing over all. The UK's Chancellor Gordon Brown's recent proposition to cut the duty on bingo and replace it with a tax on the operator's income has proved popular with players and investors alike. The investment bank Lehman Brothers claim that this duty removal would increase bingo profits by 30%. However, for all the celebrity icons and national edicts proclaimed on the game, what is undeniable is that worldwide the appeal of bingo does seem to be most prevalent amongst working class, single females. What is also interesting to note is that the bingo promoters themselves are not too interested in marketing the game to those who fall out of this category. Quality and not quantity seems to be the name of the game as far as they are concerned. They see it as more likely and realistic to entice existing players into spending a little more on their visits. The fact that so many bingo players are single females is certainly advantageous to the industry, seeing as this social group is becoming more and more populous as well as wealthier and liberated. Of course it is not just the bingo halls that are profiting. The internet revolution has not failed to leave its mark on the bingo industry. Now, at the switch of a button and the click of a mouse, prospective bingo players are able to play from their own living room. What is interesting to note is that even with the social aspect of the game being removed, the majority of the players are still female. There is an argument to suggest that the advent of online bingo is in fact nothing to be jumping for joy over. After all, many of the positive attributes to bingo are removed. Players do not even have to check off their cards themselves, it is automatically checked off for them. Not only does this remove some of the fun, but it also reduces the mental agility benefits to virtually nil. The social aspects of the game are also missing, although some would argue that the online forums and chat rooms are simply a new pseudo form of socialising. The secondary business that surrounds the bingo halls also suffers under the concept of online bingo. Food, auxiliary games, drink and entertainment all become irrelevant when playing from home and the concern that players are now playing purely for the money as opposed to the warmth of the social atmosphere is much more real. Having said that, in terms of bolstering bingo popularity, the internet has certainly played its part and in many cases has provided an easy access option to those who either are not fond of the socialising aspects of the game or for whatever reasons are unable to attend the bingo halls, themselves. To say that bingo will ever become the craze of the gambling world or an industry propagated by the modern casinos is perhaps a little ambitious. In fact, that may not even be what the game is about or where it would be happy to lie. However, what can be fairly certain (if anything can be in this business) is that the popularity of bingo as its own entity is holding well and looks set to stay the course of time. At least for the time being anyway! About The Author John C. Thorenssen is professional gambler and work as consultant in Royal Club Casino New York. He wrote articles about gambling and gambling strategies. Most of the articles will be included in his new book. Online Bingo - www.OnlineBingo.co.uk - Your bingo resource
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Video Poker Video poker is usually played against a machine, which displays the player's cards on a screen. Combining elements of poker and slots, this form poker is one of the few games in the casino where you can actually have a realistic expectation of winning, as opposed to depending on the pure luck of slot machine games or roulette. Compulsive Gamblers Struggle To Stop Gambling Even Though They Know They Have A Problem Gambling Every compulsive gambler has uttered the words "Please help me stop gambling" at one point or anther in their life. They continue to struggle on a daily basis to stop their hidden addiction. The Secret of Field/Place Betting Pssst.. Is Online Gambling Legal? According to the Wire Act, one is not permitted to make use of a wire transmission for the purpose of placing a bet. The Wire Act clearly states that "Whoever being engaged in the business of betting or wagering knowingly uses a wire communication facility for the transmission in interstate or foreign commerce of bets or wagers or information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers on any sporting event or contest, or for the transmission of a wire communication which entitles the recipient to receive money or credit as a result of bets or wagers, or for information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both. John Ascuaga's Nugget Casino Reviewed by Thehooks The Club Cal Neva sports book is located on the bottom floor of the Nugget Casino. Down stairs there is a nice bar, bingo parlor, horse bet racing section, a deli, and many big screens to watch the games. Blackjack Basics Of the card games that have been played since 900 AD, black jack has come into existence only in the 18th century. Alternatively named as 21, the game is a new one and requires a particular skill at the table. Las Vegas Gambling Basics The gambling scene, not only of North America but also of the entire world has one illuminated name that cannot be left out. Las Vegas - the city of paradise for gamblers. How to Manage Your Won Money at Gambling and Sports Betting from Busting It Up at Online Sportsbook Have you heard stories about people hitting big jackpots, winning high staked all-in Texas Hold'Em poker or going on hot streaks in sports betting ???Of course you have.And what happened with most of these (short time to get large amount of money) people ???Simple answer -- they got a complex of being unbeatable and lost all the money they got in these short time and even went busting their entire bankroll in trying to get back on hot streak. 2005 World Series of Poker -- Mid Tournament Report The 2005 World Series of Poker started its 36th year bigger and better than ever at the RIO! Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. At the mid point of the tournament series, Events #1 through #22 have been completed. Think Big and Give Your Poker Profits a Boost Is your lack of confidence hurting your poker profits in your online poker play?In the good Texas Holdem poker rooms on the internet there are various levels of buy-ins for tournament play, generally starting from around $5 (plus site fee) per player. This is the level that most new players play at but has your game moved on while you've stood still? What I mean by that is - have you gained enough poker experience to leave the "newbies" behind and move up a couple of levels? If you have then I would seriously suggest that you start playing for higher stakes, you could be losing out on a lot of online poker profits if you don't. Baseball is Back! What are your goals for this season?In another week the boys of summer will be back in action for another season of Major League Baseball. During the start of each sports season I like to evaluate how things went the previous season, and set my goals for the upcoming season. Party Poker Room Review Party Poker is one of the world's largest online poker rooms with over 70,000 players. They cover almost 60% of the online poker market. How to Master Low Limit Texas Holdem, Part 1 - Introduction I decided to start a series about how to learn and master Texas Hold'em because this is the most played game in the online poker rooms and it has large popularity. These tutorials are good for new poker players and we think the advanced players can find useful tips here, too. Online Poker Satellites - How to Turn as Little as $1 into Millions What do Dr. Vic Fey, an obstetrician from Clinton, Oklahoma, and Erick Brenes, a farmer from Costa Rica have in common? They both made it to the final table of The World Poker Tour's Aruba Poker Classic. Evaluating Starting Hands In No-Limit Holdem Tournaments There are three main factors that influence how you should play your hole cards in No-Limit Hold'em Tournaments. They are: your position, the size of your chip stack, and the size of the blinds. Building Your Bankroll The first thing one needs to do before they even think about laying a bet down is: set your bankroll before the season even begins. You have to know how much money you are going to start with. Poker Aces - how to play them Poker Aces refers to two aces dealt pre-flop. It is the strongest possible pre-flop hand in Texas Holdem Poker. Helpful Stop Gambling Links & Information For The Compulsive Gambler, Family & Friends Of A Gambler Over the past few years stop gambling websites have helped thousands of people whose lives were negatively affected by a compulsive gambling addiction.These stop gambling websites are available to help you in your quest to address compulsive gambling addiction. Ways to Earn Extra Cash in Order to Enter Online Sweepstakes for Money We all like to take a break from reality, play games and enter sweepstakes for that chance at earning free money quickly and for little effort.Did you know you can enter sweepstakes for cash online or even play games for free money from the comfort of your own home?It's true. Online Poker --- Is It Safe? --- Is It for Me? Online Poker RoomsRapidly Growing in PopularityPlaying online poker is fast becoming the most popular form of Internet gambling. You can play Texas holdem online, and match your gambling skills against players from all over the world, playing live poker games, with real people, right on your computer.
|
Section Site Map - Submit News - Feedback - Comments - Advertise with Us Copyright © 2006 Luminati Inc. All rights reserved. 
|
