New Year’s resolutions are a long standing tradition for many people and online bingo players are no exception. Common New Year’s resolutions include vows to quit smoking, lose weight, save money or lose a bad habit. Believe it or not online bingo players can actually resolve to be bingo winners in 2012. There are several actions online bingo game players can take to make their chances of winning in 2012 significantly better than they were in 2010.

Most of scour the papers after New Year’s for post holiday bargains. Most bingo sites have post holiday promotions that players can take advantage of. These will enable you to get more than you actually paid for. Some sites may have special offers for free bingo cards. Half price bingo cards can enable you to double the number of cards in play and greatly increase your chances of winning. Some bingo sites may offer two or three free cards when you purchase a specific number of cards and these are usually a good deal. There are fixed games at some bingo sites where you can get a set amount of cards for a flat price. Make a resolution to take advantage of all free card and other bingo card offers.

Make a resolution to join a bingo forum. Joining a bingo forum will enable you to stay current with all the newest bingo bonuses, exclusive games and other great offers. Joining a bingo forum can save you a lot of time spent surfing looking for the best bonuses and promotions. A good bingo forum will maintain threads covering all aspects of bingo and can help you to avoid unpleasant experiences.

Make a resolution to take advantage of the loyalty programs at the bingo sites you play at regularly. If your current bingo site has no loyalty program then find one like BingoBoat that does. The benefits of loyalty [programs can include exclusive offers and promotions which can include gifts, bingo tournaments, cash back offers, special deposit bonuses and many other perks.

Make a resolution to stay in touch with your chat room biddies and take advantage of all the special chat games and bingo promotions while doing so. Some special chat games have great prizes and chat games are usually played alongside regular bingo games.

Play smart during the coming new year and with patience and a little luck you could be a big bingo winner in 2012.

There is an ongoing debate whether it is cheaper to play land based or online bingo. One advantage online bingo sites have over land based bingo is the number of unique bingo games they are able to offer players. Most online bingo sites have several bingo rooms with several individual games in each bingo room. Online bingo sites can also offer players 75, 90, 80 and 30 ball bingo games while most land based bingo halls are limited to 75 and 90 ball games.

Online bingo sites have fewer operating costs than land based bingo halls. Land based bingo halls must pay utilities, rent and an extensive staff of employees. Online bingo sites can also offer players much cheaper bingo cards. Some bingo sites have games where cards are only a penny and five cent games are common. Most bingo sites provide players with an extensive selection of bonuses, promotions and free bingo games. Bingo bonuses allow online players to stretch their bingo dollars and pounds and play dozens of games for free.

Since there are over 300 bingo sites serving the UK market players should have no difficulty locating an affordable bingo game. During the past two years the competition in the online bingo industry has heated up and sites are doing everything they can to attract players. In the UK bingo sites have launched multimillion pound television ad campaigns and have increased the number of bingo promotions available to players. Most bingo sites also have loyalty and refer a friend programs which can make playing online bingo even cheaper.

Land based players must pay admission fees, parking and transportation costs and usually bingo cards are more expensive at land based bingo halls. Refreshments and drinks at land based bingo halls can be pricey and online players at bingo sites can avoid paying outlandish prices for snacks and drinks. Land based bingo halls can only offer players’ one game at a time while online bingo sites enable players to play several games simultaneously. Players at land based halls must mark their cards manually limiting the number of cards played. The auto daub feature available at online bingo sites enables players to play several cards at a time which provides players with better odds.

If all the factors are taken into consideration it is clear that online bingo sites are clearly the best bargain for players. The online bingo industry is thriving and providing players with the best online bingo experience possible.

If you are an internet bingo player who loves to take advantage of promotions, this year’s selection of holiday promotions should be impressive. Bingo review sites are full of articles with details about the holiday promotions offered by most bingo sites. UK bingo operators are engaged in an unprecedented marketing campaign to attract new players and provide loyal players with new bingo bonuses. This year’s offers are particularly good and thanks to the early arrival of winter in the UK bingo online operators have a captive audience. Severe storms have disrupted travel and the severe weather is expected to continue into early 2011. UK bingo halls are empty and many have given up and closed their doors until the weather gets better. Bingo sites on the other hand are enjoying a brisk business as players go online to play their favorite game while staying warm.

Obviously most people will be staying home during the holiday season and many will turn to their computers for entertainment. Thanks to the weather, online businesses are having a record year as consumers stay home to avoid traveling in the dangerous weather conditions. Online bingo operators in the UK expect record fourth quarter profits which will enable many bingo sites to offer even bigger bingo bonuses and promotions. Slot games are also popular at bingo sites and many players stuck at home are playing poker, roulette, blackjack and slot games for hours of entertainment. Many bingo sites have introduced holiday themed slot games and this time of year the Christmas tree is the most popular card pattern at most bingo sites.

In addition to Christmas promotions UK residents have another reason to celebrate; Boxing day. For readers outside the UK Boxing day is a public and bank holiday that takes place on December 26th. Many historians say the tradition can be traced back to the Middle Ages. In nineteenth Britain it became a custom for tradesmen to pick up their ‘Christmas boxes’ or gifts the day after Christmas.  Boxing Day is when tradesmen and workers are rewarded for reliable service throughout the year. Most online bingo sites serving the UK market offer Boxing Day promotions to players. There are also special Boxing Day bingo games.  No matter which bingo site you play at there is sure to be a holiday bingo promotion that will provide you with hours of fun especially during the frigid weather!

Americans who play bingo online are having a more difficult time finding funding and withdrawal options for their bingo accounts. Current US law prohibits banks, credit card companies and other financial institutions from processing any transactions related to ‘gambling.’ During the last five years several online payment processors have exited the US market and the US government even went so far as to arrest two Neteller executives for something that is perfectly legal in their country. The arrests sent a chill through the online payment processor industry and other payment options for US players were lost. PayPal currently allows European bingo players to use their services but bans US players. The recent loss of EwalletXpress has many bingo players scrambling to find another payment processor. Many bingo players who used EwalletXpress found their accounts frozen and it may take months to get their money back.

Visa and Mastercard refuse to process online bingo game transactions but many US players have found unique funding options. Some players have even set up offshore bank accounts to process their deposits and withdrawals. Establishing an offshore bank account requires a lot of time and effort and for players who play bingo online occasionally this option may not be worth the effort required to establish a foreign bank account. Third party transaction processors were the first choice of most US bingo players but gradually most processors dropped US account holders because of fears of US prosecution. Currently a rumor is going around online gaming circles that EwalletXpress has been seized by the US Department of Justice.  So far no official statement has been made by the DOJ leaving players and account holders in a state of limbo.

Some online bingo sites and gaming sites have already implemented alternative banking options for US players. IPoint and Cashgrade are popular options. IPoint allow credit card transactions which are processed through a player’s cell phone and funds are usually available within ten minutes. Cashgrade provides players with e-check and wire transfer options. There are many new startup ewallet services but at present most of these have not established a reputation and may not be safe. One new company, Money Line Wallet allows bingo players to transfer funds from bank accounts and promise to provide players with fast and safe deposits. Money transfers are still available but take more time to process and can delay deposits. Despite the loss of EwalletXpress American players still have funding options available.

In 2007, the UK implemented a national smoking ban and since then about 130 bingo clubs have closed across the country which amounts to about 20% of all bingo clubs. Earlier in the year it was announced that the government would conduct a review of the smoking ban and its effect on the pub and bingo industries. Many claim that the ban is ‘crippling’ the £6 billion a-year ($9,354,000,091.55 USD) pub and bingo industry. In addition to the bingo industry the Beer Pub Association says that about 39 pubs close weekly and in 2009 2,365 pubs closed and that over 24,000 jobs were permanently lost in the pub industry. At the time the ban was proposed the government said a review would take place three years after the ban went into effect. At the time the ban was implemented Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt, told MPs, “We will monitor the impact from day one, and we will have a full review at the end of three years.”

Some are contesting the recent figures saying that many of the bingo hall and pub closures are the result of the global recession and that the smoking ban has not had the drastic effect that representative from both industries claim. Many experts cite the demand for inexpensive home based entertainment for the decline of bingo halls and pubs. Changing tastes were also cited. Many younger people prefer trendy bars over traditional pubs and many land based bingo players went online to play their favorite game at home.

Some experts point out that land based bingo has been declining since the late 1990’s and that the greed of some bingo hall owners made bingo unaffordable to many pensioners on fixed incomes. Although the smoking ban remains controversial the government decided that no review of the ban would take place this year. A Department of Health spokeswoman told the BBC: “We currently have no plans for a review.”  Exemptions for pubs not serving food and private members’ clubs had been proposed but Members of Parliament decided not to provide any exemptions at all. Bingo halls are particularly hard hit in cold weather when smokers are forced to go outside for a smoke.

For the internet bingo game industry, the ban has been a boon. Thousands of players have switched to playing at bingo sites like BingoHouse and the industry was one of the few to expand during the recession. For the time being, bingo players who smoke can still play their favorite game online.

A recent article in the Belfast telegraph details how the internet has changed the game of bingo. The article says that since the 90’s the internet has changed the way most people shop, travel, work and study. The way people entertain themselves has also been transformed and now people watch movies, videos and play most games on the internet. The writer contends that the game of bingo has been forever altered for the better. Before going online, the game of bingo involved placing a group of players in one setting usually a large bingo hall. Games were played manually and the game developed its own unique language and customs.

While there are still many live bingo games available many players have chosen to go online which has transformed the bingo world. Recent estimates put the number of regular online bingo game players at about 50,000 in the UK. These regular players are only a small part of the global online bingo community. Many outside observers say one of the most interesting aspects of online bingo is the close sense of community among those who play bingo online. Most sites offer chat functions, newsletters, player galleries and some have Facebook pages for players at specific websites.

The writer points out that one popular aspect of online bingo games is the ability to play from the comfort of home and the ability to win some cash while doing so. Online bingo sites are particularly convenient for those who cannot attend live bingo games for one reason or another. For disabled bingo fans with limited mobility online bingo has been a perfect solution. Online bingo also allows busy players to multi task while playing thanks to auto daub. Busy moms can do laundry, wash dishes or other household chores while playing online bingo.

The modern version of bingo has been around for almost ninety years and has been changed to meet the needs of a whole new generation of bingo players. Online bingo is constantly evolving and introducing the latest new technologies. Online bingo has come a long way since the very first primitive games of the mid 90’s. At that time there were only about 10 bingo sites online and now there are over 400 specifically targeting the UK alone. A strong online bingo community will take bingo well into the future reinventing the game in the process.

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Most online bingo sites offer s selection of slot games and casino and table games to players. For many bingo games, slots have been a real money maker and generate a significant amount of revenue. Slot games are easy to play and are also quick and many bingo players also spend hours playing slot games. Slot games have a long history from the original slot machines of the 1890’s to the ‘one armed bandits’ of Las Vegas and Reno. Go to almost any modern casino and you will see row upon row of slot machines occupied by players happily shoving dollar bills into the machines trying to get that big payout. Advances in flash technology have allowed game creators to provide bingo sites with some very interesting and entertaining slot games with awesome graphics and sound.

Recently two new slot games were introduced in Japan and quickly became a big hit throughout the country. Pachislo and Pachinko games became an instant fad in Japan. A Pachinko machine resembles a vertical pinball machine but with no flippers like a traditional pinball machine. Originally Pachinko machines were introduced in the 1920’s as a children’s game and technology allowed game developers to create the electronic version so popular today. Pachislo is a skill based slot game that allows players to stop the reels while they are in motion. Pachislo is called a skill stop game in which players set the reels in motion and can then try to stop each reel to try to line up winning reel combinations. In Japan there are thousands of Pachinko and Pachislo parlors and the game has spread to the internet. Recently Microgaming announced the launch of Pachislo and pachinko games.

Microgaming software powers about 100 bingo sites and many of these are expected to offer both pachinko and Pachislo games soon. They have created two Pachislo games, each with 3 reels and 5 lines and one Pachinko game. Microgaming will offer the games as a stand-alone product for licensees or as part of a gaming package. Since Microgaming is one of the leading suppliers of online bingo software many expect the games to be available on some online bingo sites soon. Mike Hebden, head of casino games at Microgaming stated, “Microgaming has always led the way when it comes to launching innovative products and the launch of Pachislo and Pachinko is no exception.” Both games sound like a lot of fun and are sure to be a big hit with western players.

Since the passage of the ill advised Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in 2006 online bingo players in the US have faced a great deal of difficulty finding funding options for their online bingo accounts. For a while payment processor Neteller was the most used processor for bingo and gambling deposits and withdrawals but the arrest of two Neteller executives caused the company to exit the US market. Neteller and PayPal both paid hefty fines in US courts. During the Bush administration there were several prosecutions related to online gambling. Many online bingo sites banned US players outright while others continued to welcome US players. At present there are still several funding options for American players but last week there were rumors that another payment processor was exiting the US market.

The results of the midterm elections have caused concern in the online gaming industry. The new GOP majority is seen as unsympathetic to online gaming which includes online bingo. Prior to the elections there had been some hope that the legislation proposed by representative Barney Frank which would tax and regulate online gaming would move forward. The election of a Republican majority in the house has dimmed hopes of passage and at the present time legalizing online gaming is not a priority.

Finding options for US players have disappeared one by one during the last few years and it seems that yet another payment processor has plans to exit the US. First popular payment processor PayPal dumped US players, then Neteller and now rumor has it that eWalletXpress is planning to stop serving players in the United States out of “legislative concerns”. Last week when US players accessed their eWalletXpress accounts they were dismayed to find no banking options available for deposits and withdrawals and were greeted with a message saying the company was having ‘technical difficulties.’ Players who have tried to contact eWalletXpress have been unable to get a response by email or phone.

The rumors are flying and many US players are wondering just when these ‘technical difficulties’ will be resolved. One player got this email from the website he plays at which read, “Thank you for your email. Please be aware that eWalletXpress has temporarily suspended their payout option due to recent legislative concerns. They are hoping to have this matter resolved within the next few weeks. Please note that while we will not be able to continue processing new or existing cashout requests to player’s eWalletXpress accounts, this should not affect customer’s ability to remove funds from their eWalletXpress accounts to their bank account.” In the meantime, American who play internet bingo have lost another funding option.

Facebook is probably the most popular social networking website with over 500 million active users. Users may create personal pages, join common interest groups and exchange messages. Facebook was launched in 2004 and has made its creator Mark Zuckerberg a billionaire. Marketers quickly discovered the power of Facebook and the site has had a profound effect on internet marketing efforts. There are several Facebook pages devoted to online bingo and many bingo sites have set up their own Facebook pages. Since both Facebook and online bingo serve a younger demographic the match has been profitable.

In 2009 Facebook made the astounding decision that online bingo advertising was somehow ‘morally unacceptable’. Online bingo is now in the same blacklist as guns, tobacco products, pharmaceuticals and spy cameras. In countries like the UK where online bingo is perfectly legal and sanctioned by the government the ban will have a severe impact on marketing efforts by internet bingo providers. Most believe the problem stems from US legislation passed in 2006 that bans banks and financial institutions from processing gambling related transactions. In addition extremely vague regulations have been used against executives of online payment providers like Neteller. Another problem is that anyone over the age of 13 can use Facebook bringing up the concern about underage gambling.

Some look at the Facebook bingo ban as a setback for internet freedom. Despite the Obama administration’s claim that they are all for internet freedom they have taken little action regarding internet freedom and have actually stepped up attacks on internet gaming which is puzzling since Obama prides himself on being a skilled poker player. To be fair Facebook has not singled out online bingo but has banned all online gambling advertising.

For many bingo providers advertising on Facebook has been highly successful and cost effective. Many bingo marketers set up Facebook pages with great success in attracting players. Just about every bingo site had its own Facebook page. Despite the Facebook ban there are still several places bingo fans can go to read all the latest bingo news, information and find the best bingo promotions. Despite the bans Facebook continues to prosper but there are still concerns over internet censorship. Many believe that should US law change Facebook may loosen their stance about online bingo game advertising. At present bingo fans can still set up common interest pages and discuss all the different aspects of online bingo.

Online bingo has made astounding leaps since its introduction in the late 90’s. In the UK, online bingo is the largest online gaming sector and millions regularly play online every week. Since 2006, online bingo has experienced an unprecedented boom and the number of online players has increased by 80%. While some experts attribute the increase to the passage of a national smoking ban others say bingo’s growth has been fueled by a huge increase in the number of younger players who are tech savvy and depend on the internet for their entertainment.

In the UK and some parts of Europe the airwaves are flooded with advertisements for various online bingo websites. Many of these ads are highly original and are targeting a younger audience. There have been some complaints about the online bingo game ads but these have been few and far between. Even newspapers have gotten into the act and several newspapers and tabloids operate their own online bingo games in an attempt to recover falling revenues. Britain is filled with enthusiastic online bingo players and the UK is the world’s largest bingo market surpassing even the United States.

One of the factors that have made online bingo so popular is the free money given away at most bingo sites. Usually the free money is in the form of deposit bonuses and many sites offer a certain amount of free play. The amount of free online bingo offered varies from site to site but usually in the range of ten to thirty dollars or pounds. Most deposit bonuses are based on a percentage of a player’s deposit and generally these are around 100% to 300% and there are even some bonuses as high as 600%! Some sites require an initial deposit to access the free bingo offer while many others do not.

Deposit bonuses have been very effective in attracting players but recent studies have shown that social networking is one of the most important factors that influence players when searching for a suitable bingo site. A large portion of online bingo players are young and have used social media sites like Facebook, MySpace and other for years. The quality of bingo chat rooms is extremely important to these players. Many young players will forgo a large bingo bonus in favor of a lively and interesting chat room. New webcam technology presents intriguing possibilities for bingo chat rooms and who knows what the future holds for online bingo?