Here’s an interesting little piece of information for those of you like me who spend hours at a time staring intently into a computer screen when we play online bingo.

Clarion Gaming is reporting on a new supplement drug product being manufactured by the Japanese that alleviates sore eyes and tired brains during those long-haul marathon gaming sessions us hard core online bingo players are likely to put ourselves through.

The drug, called ‘Game Suppli’ was originally intended for Japan’s legendary gaming addicts and its application has major benefits for all other online gamers, including for those who play online bingo games.

I’m not sure exactly how one is supposed to go about getting it and if it will soon be available to UK online bingo players since the Reuters report that carried the story didn’t comment on this aspect.

However, anything that helps me carry on playing bingo online and is safe to use gets my vote as one of the more useful advances in medical science in recent times.

Written by John Witherspoon – Become a part of a great online bingo community. Play online bingo chat games at BingoStreet.com

It’s often been said that land-based gaming operations will always have one major advantage over their online competitors – the ability to load on freebies in the form of complementary meals, extra entertainment, free accommodation etc.  However, the worm seems to be turning with reports that the US taxman is now targeting what are called ‘comps’, the American land-casino tradition of plying its customers with extras and add-ons.

Online bingo does a fine job of providing its players with attractive bonuses and promotions and, best of all, it’s all above board and okay with the taxman.   If you play bingo online, you can expect to see exceptional jackpot wins and the chance to win some pretty amazing prizes – and you don’t have to travel halfway across the country to enjoy it.

However, land-based gaming operators could find themselves having to cut back on their freebies which some government revenue services see as a potential money earner.  How amunsing.

Your average online bingo games operator does not have to worry about such things which means they can work on providing the best free online bingo service they can.  The same can’t be said for our land-based bingo cousins who are suffering badly at this time.

So, if you’re thinking about enjoying a night of bingo, go online and save yourself the time of traveling to a land-based gaming operation that is probably more worried about what it can cut back on than what it can offer you.

Written by John Witherspoon – How about playing bingo online? The best free online bingo games are just one click away.

As the US economy heads into recession threatening to drag the rest of the world with it, it’s interesting to note that a recent report from Canada has shown that country’s gambling industry to be a growing force for employment and revenue growth.
The Canadian Gaming Association has released a report that shows up to 267,000 jobs are dependant on gambling and that the industry adds up to C$15.3 billion to the economy.

What this tells us, especially those of us involved in the online bingo industry, is that gambling in general seems to be fairly resistant to economic downturns.  This should be good news for online bingo games operators trying to establish a strategy for marketing bingo online.  As we move further into a declining global economy, it’s encouraging to know that gambling as an industry is still doing well.

Written by John Witherspoon – How about playing bingo online? The best free online bingo games are just one click away.

There is no doubt that we are seeing increasing amounts of bingo adverts appearing on UK television screens.  With the relaxing of advertising rules allowing gambling to be promoted on TV, it was inevitable that the fastest growing niche in online gaming, online bingo, would take to the airwaves to promote its message.

It actually goes all the way back to Think Bingo’s original online bingo ad in September of 2005 – ancient history now!  Since then we’ve seen the likes of Jackpotjoy advertise its ‘The Price is Right’ game followed by efforts from the Sun newspaper to use TV to promote its bingo site.

For those of us who play online bingo via a trip down Bingo Street, the Foxy Bingo advert is probably the most memorable of the bingo online related TV commercials.  Remember how the site’s mascot ‘Foxy’ leading a crowd of people down a street as a few famous bingo calls are made, complete with two fat ladies (88), a knock on the door (number four) and two little ducks (22).

Then there’s the celebrity factor appearing on TV with online bingo halls.  Vic Reeves’ made an appearance in 888 Ladies bingo’s TV commercial. He is seen gettingup in drag complete with a pink wig and pint of beer to play bingo online.

What this all points to is that the online bingo industry is positively humming.  The cost of placing a TV ad is not insignificant, and only an industry on the move can contemplate such promotions.  Is online bingo taking over TV?  Maybe it will be the next big thing after the reality TV trend has finally done its dash.

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The dramatic decrease in 888.com’s profit over 2007 is yet more evidence that the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) has proved very damaging to the online bingo games industry.

To its credit, 888.com went on to invest in online bingo halls in the UK as it withdrew from the US market to avoid possible prosecution by US authorities.

Despite the company losing nearly 55% of its sales due to the loss of the US market, 888 believes it can look forward to a bright future.

“2007 was a year of transformation,” Chief Executive Officer Gigi Levy said in a statement after the company released its 2007 results. “With many strategic initiatives now underway, we see a bright future.”

I would say that a major contributing factor to 888’s optimism is its continued investment in bingo online and in the belief that the amount of people who play bingo online will grow.  Online bingo is still one of the fastest growing niches in online gaming and with the growth in the Scandinavian markets assured it’s a pretty safe bet that companies that follow a bingo investment model will do well.

Written by John Witherspoon – Become a part of a great online bingo community. Play online bingo chat games at BingoStreet.com

An Associated Press report receiving a lot of coverage in the US says that a major advantage land-based casinos have enjoyed over online casinos may be about to change due to the current US economic slowdown.

‘Comps’, or what is known as freebies in the form of meals, entertainment, accommodation and, in some cases, money, is a Vegas tradition extended to regular land casino players and has been difficult to duplicate in the online sector of the gaming industry.  However, the current economic gloom descending on the US seems to be putting pressure on this practice as casino operators mull the financial benefits of continuing to offer up comps.

According to the report, comps in Atlantic City may have declined by as much as 24% in the last year.

The report may offer an insight into the current direction in the bingo industry where land-based bingo, particularly in the UK, has seen a drastic drop in attendance while online bingo has been a growth, albeit niche part of the online gaming industry.  Online bingo halls offer bingo bonuses and promotions as part of their general marketing strategies while land-based bingo halls can go a step further in providing extras such as drinks and meals, etc.

For those who play online bingo though, the allure of playing from the comfort of their own home is seen as a major advantage, especially since the implementation of the smoking ban in the UK.

Concerted efforts by land-based bingo operators have, so far, failed to stem the tide to players leaving for the online variation.  As an potential economic downturn starts to bite, what advantage land-based bingo halls may have in offering ‘freebies’ to players may simply become economically untenable, as is happening to their land-based casino cousins in the US.

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For some online bingo industry observers, the position online software developer Cryptologic finds itself in as Holland Casino.Com’s software provider must make for raised eyebrows in some quarters, especially those who have been fighting to resist attempts by some European countries to establish state-run gambling monopolies.

Holland Casino.Com came very close in a recent Dutch government vote to being given an exclusive three year license for the Netherlands, a move that would have effectively shut out other European gaming companies such as PartyGaming, Bwin and Sportingbet.  It would definitely have been another blow for the online bingo industry which has seen growth as a niche market for those who play bingo online.

Now, aside from the obvious conflict with European Union trade policy represented by a Dutch gambling monopoly, Irish-based Cryptologic would be the only online gaming company to benefit from such a development due to their existing contract with Holland Casino.Com.

What has to be remembered is that Cryptologic was originally a Canadian-based company providing gaming software to operators working the US market.  Then, of course, UIGEA hit the scene and Cryptologic, along with a score of other online gaming companies, had to withdraw from the US market or risk being prosecuted.

The irony of the current situation is that Cryptologic, essentially a refugee from the destructive anti-online gaming policies of the US, is now the provider of software to a state-owned company which stands to benefit from the passing of similar monopolistic laws in Holland.

Cryptologic’s technology is used by a number of UK online bingo games operators and online bingo halls and is a popular choice amongst online gaming companies in general.  While the company says it supports well regulated and safe gaming industries, it remains to be seen what their stance will be should they be the beneficiaries to the creation of an outright monopoly.

Written by John Witherspoon – How about playing bingo online? The best free online bingo games are just one click away.

The rot in land-based bingo continues to set in with the sale of two more bingo halls by the Carlton Clubs bingo operation.  My hat goes off to Carton Clubs in securing a sale for their old halls, but surely this is yet more evidence that free online bingo is where it is at in today’s online-savvy world.

The popularity of bingo is not what is at stake here.  UK bingo players are as mad about the game as ever, but they are finding there are more alternatives out there to indulge in their favourite pastime without having to even leave their home.  Online bingo halls are growing, land-based bingo halls are slowing.

For evidence as to how much online bingo games are booming, take a trip down Bingo Street where I’m sure you’ll be almost overwhelmed by the sheer choice of bingo online clubs to visit.  It’s easy, it’s convenient – and that’s just the point!
Whether you’re making money by playing the game or by providing an online venue, it’s increasingly obvious that online bingo is the future trend in the bingo business.

Written by John Witherspoon – Need the best online bingo games? BingoStreet.com collected the best online bingo promotions and free bingo games online.

I recently read an interesting interview with new Cryptologic head honcho Brian Hadfield which he gave to Ireland’s Tribune and found it a very good indication of where the online gaming industry is heading in this post-UIGEA world. (you can read a summary of the interview in Bingo Street’s online bingo news section today)

Cryptologic’s software is used by a number of online bingo halls in the UK and the company is now expanding its reach into the Asian mahjong market in line with its strategy of going global to compensate for the loss of the US market.

Watching Cryptologic is a good indication for online bingo games operators to see how the developing Asian market fares and if there will eventually be a bingo online market of any note to take advantage of.  My guess is that as long as the US continues to pursue its damaging UIGEA policies, forward thinking online gaming companies will continue to probe other, more friendly markets.  Those operating free online bingo games using Cryptologic-based software may have the chance to piggyback on Cryptologic’s expansion into these exciting and exotic new markets.

Written by John Witherspoon – How about playing bingo online? The best free online bingo games are just one click away.

The controversial and downright destructive piece of anti-online gambling legislation known as UIGEA is to get its day in court in the form of a US Congressional hearing into its continued viability.

As those in the bingo online community who have been following this blog know, the online bingo games industry was hit hard by the arrival of UIGEA in late 2006 with many online bingo halls having to exit the US market to avoid legal issues with US authorities.  UIGEA seeks to disrupt the financial transactions between online gaming operators and US-based customers.

The April 2 hearing looking at the practical implementation of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Act (UIGEA) gives our industry a perfect opportunity to educate US legislators as to the destructiveness of UIGEA.  I hope that those in the US fighting UIGEA take this opportunity to really put a spoke in the UIGEA wheel and promote a more favourable solution along Barney Franks’ proposals.

Let’s see what happens over this week before we get our hopes up, but at the same time let’s hope this hearing heralds a return to sanity in the US online gaming market.

Written by John Witherspoon – Need the best online bingo games? BingoStreet.com collected the best online bingo promotions and free bingo games online.