Online Bingo - more than a game?

Online bingo has enjoyed massive growth over the last couple of years. The availability of robust platforms mean that increasing numbers of sites are adding it to their offering. Its no surprise that the big gambling operations would move first to seize market share, some perhaps unexpected entrants such as newspapers and adult stores have franchised the game - perhaps most keenly in the UK, where bingo has long been a popular pastime.

The game online is as simple as its offline originator. A “caller” (ie the game software) ‘announces’ the numbers which players then match against numbers they have purchased in the form of a card. Mini-prizes are given out to players who complete 1, 2 or 3 rows - and a large jackpot is paid to the the player who matches every number on their cards first. I used the word ‘large’ without fear - for games can have jackpot bonuses worth tens of thousands of pounds!

Because the game is so widely available the market is full of rival offerings who compete fiercely for market share. Often using affiliates or trying to get good organic rankings in the search engines, this has led to the creation of hundreds of thin-content online bingo news sites, which exist to promote the latest bingo jackpots and new entrants and prizes in the market. Inevitably, this means the number of actual bing platforms is falling to help cut costs.

Bingo is a fun, lively, easily accessible way to play games and socialise on the internet and its popularity is likely to {continue to grow~is likely carry on gaining in popularity~shows no real sign of lessening in popularity}. Unlike the more serious online gambling markets like poker, it isn’t assumed that the interest is just in big prizes. Most players will tell you that sense of community is as much a part of the game as any amount of money.

As there is no actual skill or judgement required to play bingo, it is very egalitarian - for there is no way to become a better player. This element of sheer luck makes the game the social aspect such a crucial part of the experience. No site would flourish without a stream of banter running alongside the game.

Many of these bingo chatrooms are ’supervised’ by an offical host, who moderate the bingo chatrooms. The hosts make sure that conversation never flags and that newcomers are made to feel welcome - explaining the workings of the game as well as the conventions of chat which is already familiar to old hands.

Bingo will continue to grow as a format. Of course, other crazes will come along to eat into its audience, but as a game, it remains a package that’s pretty hard to beat.

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