Bingo Halls and Online Bingo

Yet another local bingo hall shuts down, whilst another online bingo player celebrates the latest huge Jackpot prize. The statistics aren’t looking good.

Raised taxes and the governments inconsistent gambling regulations have left the industry reeling. Since the public smoking ban, introduced in the summer of 2007, there has been a marked and drastic decline in players attending local bingo halls. Around sixty clubs have already been shut down.

Thing’s have become serious enough, to spur some major UK gambling companies into action. It seems they just might have found the loophole they’ve been looking for! Apparently, the public smoking ban does not count for prisons, parks, a hospice or theatres. Maybe the ‘Bingo Hall’ could be renamed ‘The Bingo Cells! How about a bingo hospice? Declare the game as ‘Group Therapy!’ Hey, if it works!

Rank currently employ over eight thousand people and have more than a hundred clubs throughout the UK. Their chief executive for bingo recently wrote in a letter to the Telegraph, “In recent years our industry has found itself under increasing financial pressure, as a result of government policies.” Rank also runs thirty two casinos, and together, the clubs and casinos, generate millions of pounds in revenue for the Exchequer. That’s a lot of lost revenue if the government fail to respond. Not only that, closure of the bingo halls will most certainly have an impact on many players lives.

Predictions aren’t looking good for the clubs, a lot of uncertainty around for investors. But mobile gambling has never looked so inviting! Unlike Rank, mobile software company, Probability, have good news for their investors. The second quarter of 2008, usually a quiet period, showed revenue up by ten percent, reaching a very notable £1.37 million. The companies first release of mobile phones, with bingo links pre-installed, is expected in 2009. The industry awaits the verdict!

Tags: Bingo Halls, gala bingo, gambling regulations, local bingo hall, Online Bingo, rank