How 'staying in' became the new 'going out'

Throughout the 1970's land based bingo was at the height of its popularity, offering what was considered to be exciting and inexpensive entertainment which was accessible in every high street across the nation. Yet the success of the game began to decline throughout the 1980's, and by the early 1990's the bingo hall was regarded by many as outdated and old-fashioned.

Play Now

Interest in the game was revived after at the start of the new millennium and rescued the game of bingo from the brink of extinction. Bingo companies kicked off a range of vibrant and energetic marketing campaigns featuring well known celebrities, and re-energized the traditional game by transforming venues and adapting them to the new found social requirements of the nation.

However the revival of land based bingo halls was short-lived as a result of the national smoking ban, and the mandatory government restrictions in the number of big jackpot slot machines allowed in bingo halls triggered a decline in both trade and profits for many bingo companies.

Many of these factors, in addition to the rise of the internet and online gaming prompted the birth of online bingo, which has since developed at a staggering rate and continues to enjoy enormous mainstream success.

So, staying in became the new going out where bingo was concerned and since online bingo in the UK lays claim to cash prizes of around  £1.1billion per year it comes as no surprise that the numbers of regular online bingo players continues to increase.

High street bingo establishments such as Gala Bingo Online and Mecca Bingo launched themselves into the world of online bingo and it has to be said, haven't looked back since.
 

5th December 2008