Not too long ago, bingo halls were seen as places the older generations would socialise and have great fun whilst doing so; however, bingo halls are now packed to the rafters with all generations, from parties looking for fun before hitting the towns, or simply a place to meet up and enjoy the thrill of winning money in a friendly environment.

Winning in bingo comes down to pure lady luck. Although this may be the case, experienced players know there are ways to increase the chances of winning. Listed below are a few ways of bumping up your chances of shouting, “BINGO!”

Arrive Early and Avoid Busy Nights

Arriving early ensures gaining the best seats. Being first also allows time for socialising and a few drinks before the Bingo starts. Depending on the night, some sessions are better attended than others, so from an odds/winning aspect, the possibilities of winning are better when opposition is at its least. Playing with fewer people in the hall is a strategy many winners opt for. This strategy also avoids the noise and chaos of a crowded hall.

Choosing the Right Game

There is more than one way of playing Bingo; some players prefer the traditional 90-ball Bingo because there are 3 ways winning, whilst others like a 75-ball pattern game because the top prize is bigger. The right choice comes down to your comfort level and the potential payout, the odds and your experience. If you’re not 100% sure of the rules, don’t play the game.

Play Less Cards

Contrary to popular belief, buying more tickets isn’t the safest way to win a game. Not only does this initially cost more to secure the winning card, the jackpot is financed by all the losing ones; unless the player(s) are experienced at managing their cards, the chances of missing a number or two increases, so the likelihood of winning actually decreases.
Bonus Balls

A lot of games feature balls of a different colours, the ‘bonus balls”. These award a prize or double the amount of the win if part of the successful grouping or pattern features one of them. Experienced players look out for these opportunities and choose games based upon the highest payouts.
Bingo Online

If you can’t be without your Bingo fix, you can create an account online with literally hundreds of sites. You can try it first and play for fun to pass the time, or you can pay into your account and play with others in cyber rooms designated to the site for money. There are also Bingo apps and games for Smartphones – the list is endless!

Whether you play for the social side and to make new friends, or you are a diehard player with your own honed strategies, Bingo is a great game to win money and bring others together.

In several states ‘internet cafes’ have lured former bingo players in search of entertainment. Recently the state of Florida closed internet cafes in the state after a hugs scandal that resulted in the Lieutenant Governor’s resignation. As it turned out the internet cafes were operated by a fake veteran’s charity. The cafes took in hundreds of millions but the so called veteran’s organization received only a very small percentage of the profits. Since the cafes closed some of the players have returned to traditional bingo halls.

After two years Peg Kane is playing bingo again at a local bingo hall. Kane told reporters that bingo is not her first choice. Kane said “I’m an Internet cafe player. I like to win money. I’m a gambler. Not a big gambler, but a gambler.”  Until the cafes were closed Kane preferred the fast moving games at sweepstakes cafes until a ban was passed in the Florida legislature earlier this month. Lawmakers and Governor Rick Scott acted after an investigation showed that the owners of Allied Veterans of the World illegally siphoned off most of $290 million in proceeds.

As a result of the raids on cafes traditional bingo halls run by churches and service clubs are benefiting from the closures as former cafe players look for alternatives to spend their money and time. Tim Cockrell, the owner of Jackpot Bingo told reporters “We’re seeing some people for the first time in years. They’re trickling back.” At another bingo hall, Daytona Beach Bingo, many former cafe patrons are playing bingo games. Former cafe player Fran Poole, of South Daytona, stated “We all went. A lot have come back to bingo now. I think its unfair what (the state) did, telling us what to do. Gambling is gambling. What I do with my $20 should be my own business.”

Other players at Jackpot Bingo echoed Kane’s sentiments. Kane said that bingo fits her budget but she is upset that Florida lawmakers closed her favorite gaming destinations. Kane said “There’s a double standard. I’m allowed to bet on dogs or play poker at the track, or play bingo and the lottery. But I’m not allowed to go to the Internet cafe.”  Some bingo players didn’t like the atmosphere at the cafes. Cathy Steinbuch stated “I went once or twice, but I didn’t care for it. But I am seeing more people here since the cafes closed, as an alternative.” Lauren Coon said she liked the cafes for many reasons; a place to socialize and the large prizes. Coon said “I won enough there to sod my lawn and gravel my driveway. And it paid for half a trip to Biloxi (casinos). My husband went three times a week with me. He’s recovering from heart surgery, and it gave him a reason to get out of the house. He doesn’t like bingo. So he’s back to sitting at home. They took away his purpose to get out in the morning.”

Those disappointed with the prizes at bingo halls should try online bingo. The jackpots are usually much larger than those at land based bingo halls. In addition most online bingo sites offer fast paced games similar to the ones that were so popular at the cafes.

In the UK online bingo players have a huge choice of funding methods available. One of the most popular and convenient is Ukash. Ukash is an electronic cash service and users are given a 19 digit code that represents their prepaid money. Ukash can be purchased at 420,000 locations worldwide. Recently Ukash has received some bad press because scammers have exploited the Ukash system to further their criminal activities. Ukash is designed for the sole purpose of making online purchases and at participating businesses. Most online bingo sites doing business in the UK accept Ukash.

When online bingo players use Ukash they do not have to reveal any personal or financial details. Players enter a voucher code and the money is instantly available. Ukash has entered into a deal with payments and services network operator PayPoint that will enable its customers to withdraw funds from 24,000 locations operated by PayPoint. Online bingo players now have a “convenient and easy way to turn gaming winnings or spare Ukash back into cash.”

Before the deal Ukash online gaming winnings were returned to players in the form of a new code that could be used to make more purchases and could also be combined with other Ukash codes. The new deal extends the convenience of Ukash by allowing players to turn their Ukash into real cash instantly. David Hunter, the Chief Executive Officer for Ukash, stated “At the heart of this new service is our mission to give consumers the utmost flexibility with their Ukash. We also believe it creates even greater appeal for e-commerce retailers to add Ukash to their payment options.”

Other potential uses for Ukash include emergency cash, customer loyalty rewards, promotional awards and cash back offers. The ability to access cash without using plastic adds a new dimension to Ukash and the convenience it offers. Andrew Goddard, Retail Director for Welwyn Garden City-based PayPoint, said “Ukash has proved very popular with our customers and as a footfall generator for our retail partners. We are delighted to add cash withdrawals to our range of cash-out schemes, which enable our retailers to further benefit from the growth and scope of e-commerce.”

Online bingo is extremely popular in Australia. Players in the former British colony favor 90 ball bingo like their British counterparts. In Australia bingo is commonly known as ‘house’ or housie-housie.’ In addition to games at brick and mortar bingo halls online bingo is popular especially among those in rural areas with no easy access to bingo halls. In Australia online gambling is regulated by the government. Instead of raking a prohibitionist stance like the United States Australia has followed the example of .

Recent news reports indicate that the Commonwealth government is getting ready to implement new regulations that reflect the widespread popularity of online gaming. The federal government in Australia wants to make it mandatory for players to set deposit limits at gaming sites before playing any games for money. In addition to expanding pre-commitment rules the government wants stricter rules regulating the lines of credit and inducements that gaming sites can offer players. The proposed new rules are part of the government’s national harm minimization and consumer protection standards for licensed operators in Australia.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has written to state and territories to ask for their assistance in implementing the new rules and standards. In an official statement Conroy said “As the way Australians use gambling services shifts online, we need to ensure that protections for consumers remain robust and relevant.” The government will not be following the recommendations of a departmental review that would add changes to the trial of in-play sports betting and online poker tournaments.

The final report recommended that offshore gambling sites accepting wagers from Australia be licensed in the country and subject to the regulations and standards. The government said that licensed operators must adopt the country’s harm minimization measures. Australia has one of the highest gambling rates in the world and 80% of all adult Australians have engaged in some sort of gambling activity. Online gambling is a significant source of revenue for the government. Players are not taxed on their winnings but operators are taxed on player losses and net profits. The government also earns revenue from licensing fees.

A legal and regulated online gaming market benefits players and the government. Australian players know that if they play at a site licensed in the country they are protected from fraud, cheating and other bad behavior.

In the UK people are bombarded with television ads for online bingo sites and a few popular shows are sponsored by major online bingo operators. In the UK bingo operators spend millions every year on marketing of various sorts creating many jobs in the process. Online advertising is inexpensive and bingo sites have made good use of internet marketing techniques. Some reports say that online bingo operators are increasingly making use of offline advertising to market their products and services. Most bingo sites have huge playerbases but out of all the names stored only a few thousand of these may play with any regularity.

In the current bingo business climate player retention is the key to success. In the past most online bingo operators focused most of their efforts on player acquisition. Keeping players engaged is one of the best ways for an online bingo site to remain profitable. Operators have finally realized that there are a finite number of people interested in pursuing online bingo as a hobby and most operators realize that it is best to target these players than to try to attract a random selection of people who may or may not become regular players. Because of the finite number of online bingo players some gaming experts believe the UK market has reached the saturation point. Currently there are over 400 online bingo sites competing for players.

To engage potential players many bingo operators are turning to offline advertising. At one time many sites relied on email ‘blasts’ to make their products known to players. As spam filters become more sophisticated bingo operators have largely abandoned spam as a method of advertising. Some sites are sending their playerbase snail mail containing special offers and bonuses. One major player, Foxy Bingo, has actually launched a bingo magazine and is sending it out to players. Reports say the magazine combined bingo related stories with a tabloid format. The magazine was so well received that another operator, Paddy Power, duplicated the effort.

Mecca, the UK’s largest bingo hall operator sells its bingo magazine at Mecca bingo halls for £1. All of the magazines carry the latest bonuses and promotions in addition to the bingo related stories. Judging by the large amount of work and effort put into these bingo publications it is clear that no operator is taking players for granted anymore.

This month has been full of strange news stories about weird happenings at bingo games. This week in Florida two men in their 80′s got into a serious brouhaha over a parking spot at a local bingo game. An 84 year old man is accused of pepper spraying a 67 year old man in a fight over a parking spot. The victim, security guard Michael Burke, had placed crates in two handicapped parking spots to save them for two women he knew. Unfortunately, before the women arrived Donald Handa drove up, removed the crates and parked. When confronted by Burke the two men began fighting and Handa whipped out his pepper spray and maced Burke. Police were called to the incident. Burke declined to press charges because of Handa’s age.

In the UK two ladies in their 60′s got into a donnybrook after one player accused the other of calling bingo too early.  The incident took place in sheltered housing (assisted living in the US) and police were called. Officers were nonplussed when they realized the age of the bingo brawlers. Police officer Ellis who was one of the responders told reporters “They didn’t want her arrested. I think it was just the shock of what had happened more than anything. The housing officer there didn’t over-react; she wasn’t really sure what to do in that situation. It was one of the first calls of our evening shift and it’s definitely not the usual type of call we get.” A spokesperson for the housing council said “We have given one woman a tenancy warning about her future conduct.” In other words if she doesn’t behave herself she could lose her housing.

In New York state petty state officials made the news when they demanded that a senior’s penny bingo game pay a state fee to operate. The New York Gaming Commission said the elderly ladies must pay a $450 fee to the state. The Penny Bingo Club which has been holding games for years said that they could not afford the excessive fee. Penny Bingo Club member Marlene McCormick said “It’s a sin because that’s your only enjoyment when you get old.” Lee Park, director of communications at the New York State Gaming Commission, was unsympathetic and unapologetic and said the group must pay the state $18.75 every time they hold a penny bingo game.

Park said that because bingo is a game of chance it must be regulated and the state must have its pound of flesh. Plattsburgh Housing Authority Executive Director Lori Cantwell said the ladies in the group were overwhelmed and do not want to deal with petty officials from the gaming commission. Club member Lucille Wilkins pointed out that bingo is not a high stakes game with huge jackpots. She said that when someone in the group wins the jackpot is pennies which usually go back in the next game. Wilkins said the state gave no warning and told reporters “I’ve been playing bingo for 32 years, and I can’t see why we need to pay a state tax to play.” If politicians in New York are looking for waste in government the gaming commission would be a good place to start!

It’s no secret that the weather affects gambling in general. During inclement weather casinos are empty and bingo halls are without players. During the winter of 2011-12 severe weather in the UK kept bingo players at home. Travel including rail travel was difficult if not impossible in some areas. While live bingo halls took a big financial hit online bingo sites reported a huge increase in player numbers. In fact several top bingo operators in the UK posted record third quarter profits.

This year severe weather in the UK has again ravaged bingo halls. Hall operators report damaging losses as players stay home to avoid going out in heavy snow and cold. Rank Group is one of the UK’s largest bingo hall and casino operators. Rank operates more than 100 Mecca Bingo clubs and 35 Grosvenor casinos throughout the UK. In late January and early February Rank reported losses of £3 million in revenues due to heavy snowstorms in January. At the time some economists feared that the stormy weather could hurt the British economy and push the country back into a recession.

Even before the snowy weather land based bingo halls have not done well. Rank Group reported that profits before taxes declined by 4% year on year to £31.3 million during the six months ending in December 2012. Fortunately Rank also has a large online bingo operation that has been extremely profitable. With millions of Britons staying home the big winner has been online bingo and mobile gaming providers. It is easy to see why online bingo has done so well during the storms; online bingo players can play from the warmth and comfort of home and live bingo requires a trip to the local bingo hall.

Recent reports indicate that Europe has been hit by a rare late winter snowstorm that has paralyzed travel on the continent. Several areas in the UK have been hard hit by the recent storms and chaos has reigned on some major British highways. Once again bingo halls have seen a steep drop in player numbers and quite a few local bingo clubs have closed for the duration of the storm. According to industry figures once again online bingo is the largest beneficiary of the storms. Player numbers are up and fortunately power outages have been rare.

Once the storms are over players will return to their local bingo clubs but the financial damage has been extensive. While attendance at casinos and Mecca bingo halls declined by 30% in January Rank has been encouraged by the performance of the company’s online products including casino games and online bingo.

The UK has a lively thriving bingo scene. Bingo has been a staple in Great Britain since the postwar years. In the UK the 60′s and 70′s are considered the ‘golden age’ of bingo in the country and just about every village and remote hamlet had its own High Street bingo hall. Since Canada was a former British colony one would expect the country to have an active bingo industry. At one time bingo was a big business in Canada but this is no longer the case.

At one time players could visit Planet Bingo in Vancouver and find a game in progress. Planet Bingo is the largest bingo hall in North America and in better years the hall was always packed. A reporter from the Globe and Mail recently visited the hall during the daytime and described the hall as ‘quiet.’ At night and on weekends the games are well attended but most say that the heyday of bingo in British Columbia is now a memory. There are several reasons for the decline. A smoking ban cut attendance at games drastically. The same thing happened in the UK in 2007 when a national smoking ban was imposed. Some halls lost over 60% of their regular players and many online bingo sites reported an 80% increase in the number of registered players.

British bingo halls have managed to make a comeback by remodeling old fashioned bingo halls and adding services designed to appeal to young nonsmoking players. Canadian bingo halls, on the other hand, have not made the same efforts to adapt to current conditions. Bingo halls are also losing customers to casinos with thousands of slot machines. An aging and diminishing player base is also putting the pressure on Canadian bingo halls. Annual bingo revenues in British Columbia have declined from $175.3-million in 2007-08 to less than $100-million just four years later.

Planet Bingo is run by the Community Gaming Management Association, which distributes bingo receipts to 80 local charities that depend on bingo for funding. Rich Coleman, the minister responsible for gambling in British Columbia, stated “It’s not like it was. It’s more appreciated, if we’re honest with each other, as a social game.” The minister was blunt when he said of bingo  “[Bingo] has a kind of a future, but it’s certainly not a major product line.” The future of bingo in Canada is uncertain. In Canada bingo halls must partner with charities to hold games. Since attendance and revenues are dropping some charities may have to seek government grants and other funding sources.

Canadian bingo hall operators may want to follow the lead of their British counterparts and add new technologies and modernize their halls to attract a younger group of players.

Choosing an online bingo hall can be a little trickier than simply Googling “online bingo”, click on the very first link and then register. There are a lot of things to think about and consider before choosing which bingo hall you will eventually make a deposit.

Game Types

First and foremost, it should be checked if your favorite games are available at the bingo room you are considering. It is important to understand that not all bingo halls online offers all the different bingo variants.

Across Europe, 90 Ball Bingo a more popular online bingo game. If you are looking for something more different, try to find a bingo room that offers 80 Ball Bingo or maybe Speed Bingo (fast version of Bingo) with 75 or 90 balls.

Bonus

Bingo players online are constantly looking for the best value, and this applies in particular bonuses. New players can in principle always expect a Welcome Bonus that is a match bonus of the first deposit. Now, however, there are many bingo rooms that give new players a free bonus for registration, and usually need no deposit, but it can then be very good to try out the bingo room without risking your own money. Obviously, you can win with these bonus money, but the purpose is more specifically to try the bingo hall before deciding where to play.

The most common signup bonuses tend to be 100%, 200% or even 300% up to usually between $ 100 and $ 500 or currency equivalent. The higher the bonus, the more you have to play in order to solve it. You do this by buying bingo cards and play side games. You cannot request a withdrawal before the bonus requirements have been cleared, it is always possible to read about on the site just for the bingo room, exactly how much you have to play.

Safety

The rumor of a specific bingo online says a lot about whether to register or not. What you’re looking for is security, hassle-free deposits / withdrawals and agility. A bingo room you can trust simply. A good sign is if the online bingo hall existed and been active for a long time. A good idea is to read one of the many bingo reviews that are available online, where the different bingo halls carefully tested.

Deposits and Withdrawals

A bingo hall online can have as much game variants and offers at any time, but you cannot easily make a deposit or withdraw your winnings, it is not guaranteed bingo you will play on. All bingo sites usually clearly list the payment methods they accept, and that you can read before registering your bingo account. Especially check payment solutions for withdrawal, then it is not fun if you can put in but then have trouble getting your winnings.

At some point almost every online bingo player experiences technical issues of one kind or another. Fortunately most of these are easily resolved and you don’t have to be a computer genius to fix most technical issues. Here are a few suggestions on how to handle some of the most common issues encountered by online bingo players. If these suggestions don’t work or you feel uncomfortable tampering with your computer you can always contact the bingo site’s customer service department. Most have live support available 24/7.

If you run into a problem it is always a good idea to run other programs to see if the problem is general or just between you and the bingo provider. If it is a general problem you may want to try Googling the nature of your problem to see if there is an easy fix. Try restarting your computer which will clear up a variety of technical problems. Even if you are in the middle of a game the bingo site’s software will keep track of the game for you until you return to the game.

If the game screen is larger than your computer screen you may need to change the screen resolution. Try pressing the F11 button and if that doesn’t work follow these simple steps.
Go to the start menu
Click control panel
Double click the display icon
Click settings
There will be a screen resolution section. Drag the slide bar at the bottom to increase or decrease your screen resolution. You must confirm the change. If you don’t the screen will revert to its original size. Most monitors have recommended screen resolutions.

Most online bingo sites are compatible with a variety of browsers. There have been a few complaints by players using the AOL browser. Download another browser like Firefox and things should be fine. Make sure you are using the latest version and have all of the security features turned on.

If you are repeatedly disconnected from your bingo game try turning the sound off. Check to see if you are behind a firewall if you are getting network congestion errors. If you can’t connect try connecting to another site to see if it is an internet connection problem of a bingo site problem.

Occasionally internet delay will increase the amount of time it takes a game to load. If you connection is slow try the following;
Restart your computer.
Close all unnecessary programs.
Restart your connection and keep other connections to a minimum. Check your connection settings.
If your settings have changes you should contact your ISP provider for assistance setting your system back to its default settings.
Check for driver updates. Driver updates are available to solve a variety of issues.
Keep in mind that some antivirus and antispyware programs can slow your computer. Try to set these to run during hours you are away from your computer.

Thanks to increased broadband access most problems are a thing of the past but it is good to know what to do if a technical issue rears its ugly head!