Every industry must have its own pioneers. The auto industry had Henry Ford, the oil industry had John D Rockefeller and the computer and software industry had Bill Gates and the late Steve Jobs. In the online gambling and casino sector one of the pioneers has been Fifty-one-year-old Mark Blandford who was a pioneer bookmaker in the UK. Blandford developed his taste for gambling when his father would take him to horse races. Listening to his father and friends Blandford learned there was more money to be made in bookmaking than in betting on horses.

Blandford set up his first betting shop when he was only 27 and soon had a small chain of shops. Blandford learned from a neighbor that the EU was engaged in an e-commerce project. His curiosity was aroused and he searched the keywords “sports betting” and “bookmaking” in a search engine and found few results. Blandford saw an opportunity and jumped on it immediately. In 1998 Blandford set up the online betting site Sportingbet. Blandford believed the industry would thrive if it was regulated. Blandford stated “If it is not legal, you can’t control anything. The underworld doesn’t care if children are involved.”

Sportingbet acquired its American competitors which was then the largest online gambling market in the world. Sportingbet has a market value of $3.1 billion US. In 2006 Sportingbet’s chairman Peter Dicks was arrested in the US thanks to a warrant by a publicity seeking federal prosecutor. After the US passed the ill advised UIGEA Sportingbet was forced to leave the US market.

Blandford was a true pioneer in the online gaming industry. He paved the way for a regulated online gaming market in the UK and the online bingo industry owes Blandford a debt of gratitude. Thanks to his efforts the UK now has the world’s most active online gaming market in the world. The UK also has the largest online bingo market thanks to regulation. British punters enjoy a level of consumer protections not available to players in other countries. Mark Blandford is still in the industry and his influence is still felt.

By,

Jeff Davis

Most online bingo players have dreamed at one time or another of becoming a chat moderator. For most it appears to be an easy and fun job but just how easy is it in reality? Chat leaders play games, joke with the players and are there to help with problems and site issues. As one author said, bingo chat leaders are the glue that holds the online bingo experience together. A lot of people apply whenever an opening is available for a new chat leader.

Chat leaders have many responsibilities and the job is far from easy. Ask just about any chat leader and they will say the job is a lot harder than they thought it would be. If the job only involved talking and joking with players it would be a dream job. A chat leader’s responsibilities include making sure all of the games are running smoothly and if they are not they need to fix the problem or contact the appropriate person. They must deal with inquiries from players and must be able to solve problems and resolve disputes. Chat leaders need to be entertaining enough to keep players coming back for more. They must also keep track of the called numbers in case a player misses the call. They also need to organize and manage special chat room games.

In most cases chat leaders do not get any breaks during their shift. There are very few off days and chat leaders must be available for any assigned shift. Since games take place 24/7 chat leaders may be required to work odd hours. If they are ill they cannot show it to the players. Chat leaders must be vibrant and energetic every time they are on the site. At most of the well-established bingo sites new players sign up daily and the chat leader must meet and greet new players. A grumpy chat leader can drive players away and surly chat leaders do not last long. Like any employee dealing with the public chat leaders are subject to reviews by players. Players can make or break a chat leader.

In addition to being constantly personable chat leaders must learn some of the technical aspects of an online bingo site. Chat leaders need to learn how to operate some of the game software and must be familiar with browsers and how they affect games. They must also help players with deposit and withdrawal issues and should be familiar with all of the terms and conditions associated with any bonuses or promotional offers. Obviously the job of chat leader is not as easy as it sounds. For those still interested in employment as a chat leader there are a few websites that list all available jobs in the bingo industry.

Few countries love bingo as much as Great Britain. The game has been a part of British culture since the end of the Great War. In the UK most play 90 ball bingo which is somewhat different than American style 75 ball bingo. 90 ball bingo has a close resemblance to an ole Italian holiday game called Tombola. In the UK over three million people log in at bingo sites every week. Great Britain has the world’s most active online gaming market thanks to the Gambling Act of 2005. Instead of taking a prohibitionist approach like the United States the UK created a regulatory body to protect the interest of online gamblers.

In recent years the bingo industry has been fighting high taxation. Bingo is taxed at 22% while all other forms of gambling are taxed 15%. Many operators have moved offshore to avoid taxation but a recent ‘point of consumption’ tax will eliminate the unfair tax advantages enjoyed by offshore operators. Thanks to the gambling commission bingo players in the UK enjoy a high level of consumer protection since operators are highly regulated. Offshore operators must also adhere to high standards to do business in the UK. Most gaming experts predict a bright future for land based and online bingo in the UK. Online bingo has made the game popular with the young which has in turn benefited the land based bingo industry. Last year Rank Corporation, which operates Mecca bingo halls throughout the UK, spent millions of pounds refurbishing their bingo halls to appeal to a younger casual group of players.

For most players playing bingo is a social experience. It is common to see groups of friends that have played bingo games together for decades. In bingo halls the conversations between games is lively but talking during games is not acceptable. At online bingo sites players are actually encouraged to interact during games via chat rooms. Over the years bingo has developed a language of its own. At online bingo sites most of the language, or ‘bingo lingo,’ consists of abbreviations. At land based bingo halls various phrases are used when calling the game numbers. A good example would be ‘two fat ladies’ which is used for the number 88. In most cases other players will be happy to help newcomers to learn ‘bingo lingo.’ Bingo provides millions in the UK with hours of fun and entertainment and most gaming experts say the game has a very bright future in the UK.

Playtech, the owner of VirtueFusion which powers some of the biggest online bingo sites in the industry, has just released the company’s figures for the first half of 2012. The released figures show increased revenues of 64%. Playtech said the company has had good performances in all of the sectors of their business including online bingo, casinos and sports betting platforms. At the start of the third quarter which is traditionally a slow time in the industry showed increases of 25% for Playtech.

Playtech credits several factors for the increases. The increase in mobile gaming which includes sports betting and the company’s live casino products are all credited for the company’s stellar performance. Playtech also said that the increased interest in social gaming has helped their operations. The financial announcement coincides with the company’s release of a new Android app for their Bingo product. Players will be able to play 90, 75, and 80 ball bingo games on their android phones. Customers can also play deal or no dal and deal bingo on their android phones.

When the new android application was launched Rhys Owen, Head of Bingo at Playtech stated “This is a significant step for Playtech in terms of cementing our position as the leading supplier of bingo software in the industry as well as offering licensees the largest networked bingo and jackpot liquidity through a new and thriving channel.” Owen also said by analyzing the trends in the sportsbook and casino sectors “it is only logical that we develop a mobile offering which enables our partners to attract a new type of payer as well as giving our licensees an additional medium through which to engage with their players.”

For bingo fans the new app means that they will no longer have to be at home to play. The first online bingo brand to launch the app will be William Hill. Playtech has also announced plans to release the new app for iOS and HTML in the near future. The new app also allows players to chat with other players while playing bingo. There are also miniature versions of some side games for mobile players. Screen size has hindered the development of side games for mobile players.

For years the UK bingo association has tried to get Parliament to lower the tax rates levied against live bingo halls in the UK. In addition to high taxation bingo halls also face higher local licensing fees and a new tax on slots. A few bingo halls have reported that a large portion of their income is generated by slots and the new tax lowers their profits significantly. Many bingo halls are walking a financial tightrope and even the slightest increase in fees or taxes could force them to close. In the UK bingo is taxed at 20% and all other forms of gambling are taxed at 15%. So far there has been no logical explanation for the high taxes paid by bingo operators.

A recent report by the Department of Culture Media and Sport titled “The Gambling Act 2005: A bet worth taking?” says that bingo should be taxed at the same rate as other forms of gambling. The statement has the full backing of the UK Bingo Association which has been trying to establish tax parity for years. The report contains an extensive review of the gambling act and has assessed the development, implementation, enforcement and impact on operators and consumers and makes several recommendations.

In section three of the report, the industry, tax and regulation, the report documents the history of the tax levied against bingo halls and the industry in general. The report states “In 2003, bingo taxation was reformed in order to bring it in line with the wider industry: turnover tax was abolished and bingo was subject to a gross profits tax (GPT), charged at 15%. VAT charges were removed later. In 2009, the Government increased bingo GPT from 15% to 22%. In 2010 this rate was reduced to 20% because of industry complaints that 22% was too high” The report goes on to say that bingo is considered by most as a ‘soft’ form of gambling and recommends that the Treasury assess and investigate the position of the bingo industry during the next financial year.

Paul Talboys, the Chief Executive of the Bingo Association, discussed the report and stated “We are pleased that the Select Committee has recognised that bingo should be taxed at 15%, bringing it in line with the other forms of gambling in the UK. We remain convinced that a fair tax regime which supports UK jobs and stimulates local economies can only be achieved by introducing a single rate of tax for all products governed by The Gambling Act. In moving forward to create a sector with a genuinely ‘level playing field’ it will be essential for all involved, that the DCMS and Treasury, who are responsible for creating the framework (regulatory and tax) that the industry operates within, work together in a co-operative and considered manner.”

The UK Bingo Association was formed in 1998 shortly after the merger of the British Bingo Operators‘Association and the Bingo Association of Great Britain. Bingo is a part of British culture and occupies a unique place in the gambling industry in Great Britain. Over three million UK residents play internet bingo and live bingo regularly. The bingo association works with operators, government agencies and regulators, lawmakers, and organizations that address problem gambling. The online bingo industry pioneered the self-exclusion option for problem gamblers. Currently there are 50 bingo proprietors that are members of the association. Members range in size from large operators like Mecca to smaller operators like Carlton Leisure.

The association has also been very active in addressing tax policies related to internet and live bingo. The organization has worked tirelessly to eliminate the unfair tax advantages enjoyed by offshore internet bingo operators and has also addressed the problem of double taxation of live bingo halls. The Bingo Association has been partially responsible for proposed legislation that will tax all wagers made by UK residents at the point of consumption doing away with the unfair tax advantages of offshore operators.

On June 27th the UK Bingo Association announced the appointment of Mark Jones as the new Chairman of the group. Jones is the managing director of Mecca Bingo. Jones joined the Rank Group in 2009 and will keep his current position while serving as chairman of the association. Patrick Duffy, of Palatial Leisure, will assume the role of vice chairman of the association. Mecca has been a member of the association for years and is one of Britain’s largest bingo operators. Mecca operates several clubs throughout Britain and also has a large online bingo operation. Mecca is committed to working with other bingo brands to further the interests of the bingo industry as a whole.

Jones said of his new position “I am delighted to have been appointed to the position of chair of the Bingo Association.” Jones also said his prime focus will be “to continue the Associations campaign to secure a fairer tax deal for bingo and work further towards changing people’s perception of the industry.”  The previous chair Brian Mattingly was appointed in 2009 but his duties at 888 Holdings as Chief Executive Officer has forced him to step down. The Chief Executive of the Bingo Association, Paul Talboys, said of the change “Brian’s contribution to the Association is greatly appreciated and I have really enjoyed working with him. The industry faces numerous challenges, specifically in relation to the securing a fair tax regime. Mark’s experience in the leisure industry will be an immense asset toward navigating the road ahead.”

According to most industry experts the UK has the most active bingo scene on the planet. The game gained immense popularity during the postwar years and was played at the holiday camps that were popular during those years. The real story of British bingo actually begins in the swinging 60’s when Carnaby Street set the fashion standards for the emerging counterculture. In 1960 Parliament passed the Gaming Act which set the stage for the ‘golden age’ of British bingo.

Once bingo was a legal activity in licensed members-only club Eric Morley, the founder of Mecca Bingo, realized the potential mass appeal of bingo in Britain. After a visit to the United States Morley saw the commercial possibilities of bingo. Morley was already famous in England for bringing some glamour and entertainment to drab post was Britain with his Miss World beauty competition. At the time Mecca owned and operated several ballrooms. The ballrooms were losing popularity because of new leisure activities such as television. Morley saw bingo as the perfect way to repurpose the ballrooms.

For the most part Mecca used its glamorous ballrooms and converted cinemas to offer players an upscale bingo experience. Morley also added the now famous glass cabinets filled with numbered bingo balls. This contrasted with the boring US style of randomly picking numbers out of a bag and offered players a more exciting atmosphere. The glamour and affordability of the new bingo halls made them an instant hit with working class women. Throughout the 60’s and 70’s hundreds of bingo halls opened in Britain and Ireland. Unfortunately the glamour of the 60’s and 70’s faded in the 80’s and entertainment preferences changed. Cinemas reinvented themselves as multiplex theatres and disco style dance clubs appeared.

It became hard for bingo to compete with the new forms of entertainment and the population of bingo players began to age. Interest in the game revived in the 90’s and the first online bingo sites appeared on the internet. The advent of online bingo created a revolution in the domestic British bingo scene. Faster computer speeds and increased broadband access made the game even more attractive, especially for younger players. Today there are over 400 internet bingo sites on the internet and the online bingo industry has expanded into Scandinavia, Italy and Spain. Today Great Britain has the world’s most active bingo market. British bingo sites offer traditional 75 ball and 90 ball bingo games. Even better the games are very affordable and players can win serious amounts of cash.

Bingo has come a long way in Britain since Eric Morley opened the first mecca bingo hall. Today Mecca is owned and operated by gaming giant Rank Group. Earlier in the year Rank announced plans to refurbish and modernize several bingo halls to cater to the needs of the new generation of British bingo players.

Many bingo players in the UK are probably unaware that there is a trade associations dedicated to serving the interests of the bingo industry and players. The bingo association makes sure that bingo clubs throughout the UK are kept informed of any changes in government policies related to bingo in the UK. The trade group was formed by bingo operators to help operators to run games more efficiently and protect the interests of players.

The group should not be confused with the UK Gambling Commission which is a regulatory body set up by the government after the passage of the Gambling act in 2005.The bingo association has been instrumental in helping operators to help assess governmental rebates that operators may be eligible for and to help operators promote bingo games and the bingo industry. In 2006 the association worked hard to get a partial smoking ban in UK bingo halls to protect the right of players that smoke. Unfortunately they were unsuccessful and the land based bingo industry in the UK was hard hit by the ban. The organization lobbied for a ten million pound rebate from the government to offset revenues lost by bingo halls because of the draconian smoking ban.

The bingo association has also fought against the double taxes that bingo halls must pay. They have fought for a reduction in VAT taxes and the Amusement Machine License Duty. Because the UK bingo industry contributes so much to the treasury the association is in a unique position and can approach government regulators and MP’s directly without having to go through middlemen. Online bingo operators are trying to set up their own trade organization. One proposed group called Eubingo is defunct and never really got off the ground.

The UK bingo association helps bingo halls, clubs, players and bingo sites to keep up to date on industry developments and changes in gaming laws and taxation affecting the bingo industry. The bingo association has been instrumental in promoting industry growth. This year the association lobbied in favor of a ‘point of consumption’ tax that would eliminate the unfair tax advantages of offshore online bingo sites. The bingo association has done a great job promoting the interests of the UK bingo industry and hopefully their efforts will continue well into the future.

Last Tuesday Chancellor Osborne revealed the new UK budget and the bingo industry has good reason to be concerned. One change that will hit land based operators hard is the Machine Games Duty (MGD) which will reduce profits greatly. Currently bingo hall operators report that as much as 70% of all revenues are generated by slots and fruit machines. Pub owners have also voiced their objections to the higher taxes. The bingo industry is already taxed at a higher rate than any other form of gambling and the new Machine Duty will offset and gains made from double tax relief. Although the taxes for bingo halls were decreased bingo hall operators will actually pay more because of the machine duty. A spokesman for the Bingo Associated stated “This new duty will help ensure that bingo’s potential for growth is substantially reduced, with some smaller independent operators seeing potential growth translated to contraction.”

Even worse, last year bingo halls faced much higher rates for licenses. In some cities the town councils raised the rates from hundreds of pounds annually to thousands. The new machine duty will levy a tax of 20% on the primo source of revenue for bingo clubs. Starting in February 2013 the new tax goes into effect. The effect of the new tax could be disastrous for smaller bingo halls that may be forced to close putting many out of work. Some in the industry consider the new taxes as another assault by the tory government on anything enjoyed by the working classes in the UK.

There are also big changes in store for the online bingo industry. Unlike land based halls online bingo operators have been given more time to prepare for the changes. The new taxes on internet bingo operators will not go into effect until December 2014. The policy shift will affect all online bingo operators and the new 15% taxes will be levied at the point of consumption. This will affect all online bingo sites that target British players. Many operators moved offshore to take advantage of favorable tax rates.

Online bingo operators licensed in the UK favor the new tax saying it will level the playing field. Currently offshore sites have a big advantage because of low tax rates. The new taxes will also help problem gamblers and will provide more funding for gambling addiction treatment programs. Although it is too soon to see just what effect the new policies will have on the industry bingo operators expect big changes.

On April 19th and 20th the Annual online bingo summit will be held in London. The event is taking place earlier than usual and past events have usually taken place during the summer months. The event will be held at the London Paddington Hilton hotel and will feature representatives from most of the top online bingo operators in the UK. Topics for discussion will include technological advances and how to apply them to online bingo, and how to market and increase profits. The summit is a much anticipated event in the online bingo industry and attracts bingo operators, marketers and game developers from around the globe.

This is the seventh straight year that the event has taken place in London. The most influential people in the online bingo industry will be on hand to over advice and insights and will share their knowledge in a series of discussions. Other attendees will include businesses that deal with the online bingo industry. Some of the topics include; the future of the online bingo game  industry, current and future mobile and social gaming technology, how to increase profits and player acquisition and retention. The latest innovations will be on display at the summit.

There will be several speakers with an in-depth knowledge of the industry who will share their ideas and insights with attendees and will be on hand to answer questions. This is the largest online bingo event in the world and is hosted by Bullet Business. Representative of several big names will attend and companies represented at the summit include Google, Mecca, 888 Holdings, Paddy Power, Slingo, BingoCams and many others. Since the first summit in 2006 over 1650 attendees from 500 bingo companies in 15 countries have flocked to this annual event.

There will be a total of 16 hours devoted exclusively devoted to networking including receptions, formal meetings and drinks. A sold out exhibition area will feature the latest solutions for those in the online bingo industry. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss bingo topics 1 on 1 with leading experts from the bingo industry. The event has garnered several testimonials including one from Philo Fraser of Which Bingo who said “As online bingo continues its meteoric growth and development, so does the need for informative discussion, vibrant debate and interaction within the industry. If you are involved in online bingo, in any shape or form, and you only go to one conference a year, my recommendation would be to make sure it’s the Bullet Business one.”