The estimated three million regular players of bingo in the UK had some stark and uncompromising figures to digest during 2010. In March that year, government statistics showed that since the introduction of the smoking ban, there had been a 20 per cent reduction in the number of bingo clubs since 2007. Has bingo finally reached the ‘top of the shop’? Is it now set for an inevitable decline?
As strange as it may seem to fly in the face of such statistics, the truth of the matter is that these figures are not representative of the entire situation. What these statistics are showing is not a decline in the popularity of bingo (there is plenty of evidence elsewhere to suggest that bingo is as popular as ever as a pastime), but instead that how the UK population is electing to enjoy the game is changing.
Bingo is not in decline; rather bingo players' habits are changing and changing very quickly. In the past, a night out at a local bingo hall with friends, or down the local pub once a week, was the only way to enjoy the game on a regular basis. That situation has now changed thanks to the advent of online bingo.
Barely a year ago, a study into bingo habits reported that 50,000 people played bingo online regularly and due to the massive increase in the number of games available, even within this short period, it is fair to assume that these numbers have since grown further. It is also reasonable to think that over the next few years, a significant proportion of the three million regular players in the UK will switch to playing online.
The appeal of playing bingo online is easy to understand. Firstly, you can trial bingo sites and play free bingo with many providers before you decide to join and start paying money. In addition, many sites also offer free bingo, syndicated games and other promotions to keep their customers coming back.
Online bingo can be played at any time of the day, rather than just when the clubs are open and often it is much cheaper, especially when added costs such as transport to a bingo hall, drinks and food are taken into the equation.
So, online bingo is convenient, cheaper and offers a wide range of alternatives to the average bingo player. As such, it has also changed the perception of who the typical UK bingo player is. Far from being a pastime of older generations, bingo is now the most popular leisure activity for women aged between 20 and 25, while 90 per cent of online players are below the age of 50. Increasing numbers of men are being attracted to play the game, too.
Reports of the decline of bingo are, therefore, a tad misleading. Certainly, bingo habits are changing but the UK bingo scene is still thriving and looks set for sustained growth for many years to come.