Bingo is one of the most affordable and entertaining games online. Bingo is no longer the low states game it used to be and online bingo bears little resemblance to grandma’s bingo. Players can win tons of cash playing online bingo and even better most bingo sites offer special games, free bingo, generous deposit bonuses, tournaments and extensive selections of side games. Deposit bonuses enable players to double, triple and even quadruple their money. Loyalty schemes can put real cash into player’s accounts and in recent years most bingo operators have revamped their loyalty programs.

Loyalty programs usually award players a specific amount of loyalty points every time they play a bingo game. Every bingo game is worth a specified amount of loyalty points. Special games and tournaments may award more loyalty points than regular bingo games.  Once the loyalty points are earned they are deposited in the player’s account and may be used to purchase bingo cards and can usually be converted into cash. Some sites will award loyalty points as soon as a player signs up and creates an account. Some online bingo sites will award as many as 1,000 loyalty points to new players. Loyalty points are a way for online bingo operators to show appreciation to loyal players and thanks to intense industry competition bingo operators are awarding more loyalty points than ever. At many bingo sites players can earn large amounts of loyalty points by referring a friend. At some sites refer a friend programs are separate from loyalty points programs while at other the programs are combined.

As has been mentioned loyalty points may be converted into cash at most online bingo sites. Once enough loyalty points have been earned players can access their accounts and convert the points into cash. At some sites it takes 1,000 loyalty points to earn $1. While this may seem like a lot loyalty points are quickly earned once the player starts playing regular bingo games and participates in online bingo tournaments.

The most common use of loyalty points is to purchase free bingo cards. Players using loyalty points to purchase cards have more free chances to win money playing bingo. At most bingo sites players can enter tournaments using loyalty points. Many tournaments have huge progressive jackpots and players can win life changing amounts of cash. At some online bingo sites loyalty points can be exchanged for other prizes like electronics, jewelry and many other unique prizes. Loyalty programs are just one of many ways operators make online bingo one of the most affordable games on the net.

In January of this year one popular bingo blog made predictions for online bingo in 2011. 75 and 90 ball bingo games continue to dominate at most online bingo sites. 75 ball games are popular in the US and 90 ball games are popular in the UK and Europe. Several trends were noted such as customized daubers, customized bingo callers and customized bingo cards. While all of these may not be available at all bingo sites several major bingo operators are now providing these new services that add to the fun of the game.

The most searched bingo terms are;

bingo

free bingo

online bingo

bingo sites

bingo hall

bingo games

bingo online

bingo game

play bingo

Here are the top five predictions made in January 2-011. It will be interesting to see just how many of these predictions came true. The first prediction was that buzzword bingo would become more popular this year. Players take cards with catch phrases and words to business meetings and mark their cards everytime they hear one of the words or phrases. Unfortunately no one has done any real research into the popularity of the game so it is impossible to know whether this prediction came true.

The writer predicted that charity bingo games would increase in number. This prediction came true and many online bingo sites host games where the proceeds go to a chosen charity. Charity bingo games have been popular at land based bingo halls for years and the online bingo industry has jumped on the charity bingo bandwagon.

The writer predicted that the US market would open in 2-011. Unfortunately this did not happen and the US government has actually seized one major online bingo sites. Many analysts predict that no federal legislation will be forthcoming until 2013 and say that because of the presidential elections next year bingo will or any other internet gambling will be a taboo topic for politicians.

The author predicted that social networking sites like Facebook would play a greater part in the online bingo industry. Facebook recently announced plans to launch gaming applications for bingo, poker and casino games. A pilot program will be launched during the first quarter of 2012.

The author predicted that mobile bingo would be a big hit in 2011. This time he was right on the money. In fact experts say that mobile bingo will be the main driving force for growth in the bingo sector. Most major bingo operators have already launched mobile applications for iphones and Androids.

Newspapers around the world are suffering from the effects of the global recession. In addition newspapers are losing readers and subscribers to online new sites. To remain competitive several newspapers have launched online news sites. Most of the newspaper sites are free for users and are supported by advertisers. Some newspapers, such as the venerable Wall Street Journal, charge a minimal subscription fee. In the UK newspapers are using another strategy to remain profitable; online bingo.

Newspaper bingo sites in the UK include Mail Bingo, Daily Express Bingo, Metro Bingo, Sun Bingo, Mirror Bingo and Daily Star Bingo. Most tabloids in the UK operate their own online bingo sites. One recent report said that the Sun newspaper makes 80% of its online revenues from the Sun Bingo and Sun Bet. Bingo is nothing new for UK newspapers. In the 80’s several newspapers operated bingo games. Bingo cards were printed and numbers were printed in the newspapers every day. Today newspapers have adopted modern technology and operate their bingo games online.

Although newspaper bingo sites may not offer the same bongo bonuses and promotions of many online bingo operators’ players feel secure at sites run by well known and respected newspapers. Newspaper bingo sites have credibility among players. In addition to newspapers magazines have launched their own bingo brands. Lisa, a regular bingo player from the UK stated “Something coming from an established newspaper or magazine would certainly be better than other sites that come from nowhere.” It is clear that the credibility of newspaper bingo sites is more important to a large number of players than huge bonuses, promotions and free bingo.

The UK is the largest online bingo market in the world and about 400 online bingo sites are now targeting UK online bingo players. About three million people play online bingo regularly and bingo operators are locked in fierce competition for these players. Most newspaper bingo sites provide players with the same benefits as offshore bingo sites but as has been mentioned many players consider security and credibility as most important. In the United States Mort Zuckerman, the publisher of the New York Daily News said that online bingo may be a way for some US newspapers to survive. Zuckerman told Forbes magazine “The fact is, if you look at England, a lot of their newspapers have bingo… they make a lot of money off it. It would save hundreds of newspapers in this country if they could do that.” While it is highly doubtful that American newspapers will adopt bingo to survive the future of newspaper bingo in the UK looks very bright.

There are hundreds of bingo sites online and millions of people play bingo online on the internet weekly. In the UK there are over 3 million regular online players making the UK the world’s largest online bingo market. Globally there are over 100 million bingo players and a sizable portion of these players play bingo games online. There are generally two types of online bingo players; those that play at a single bingo site and those that play at multiple bingo sites. In the not so distant past it was common for bingo sites to offer free no deposit bingo games which led to the practice of ‘bonus jumping.’ Bonus jumping is when a player signs up at a bingo site, plays the bonus, and moves on to the next bonus offer. Bingo operators became aware of this practice and most have withdrawn their free no deposit games in favor of other player incentives such as larger deposit bonuses.

Many new players may wonder whether it is better to play at a single bingo site or multiple sites. There are advantages to both strategies and both strategies enable players to get their hands on some really great deals and plenty of online bingo freebies. For those players who like to play at several bingo sites the main advantage is variety. Some players are easily bored and when they tire of games at one site they can simply go to a different bingo site. Players at multiple bingo sites can also take advantage of several bonuses and promotions. Today most bingo sites require a small deposit in order to access games but thanks to industry competition deposit offers have never been better.  There are generally two types of deposit bonuses; fixed amount bonuses and bonuses based on a percentage of an initial deposit. It is commo0n for bingo sites to offer bonuses in the 300% to 500% range on first deposits. Players that like variety can take advantage of several generous bonus offers.

There are also advantages for players that prefer to play at a single bingo site. Recently many bingo sites have revamped their loyalty programs and loyal players can find some really great deals. Long term players may be eligible for various ‘VIP’ programs. Many loyalty and VIP programs offer players cash back, free bonuses, exclusive high stakes games, gifts, loyalty points and other incentives. It is clear that there are advantages to both options and the choice is simply a matter of personal preference.

For years players at bingo sites have enjoyed a variety of player perks and benefits. Free bingo games, hefty deposit bonuses, sizable jackpots and ongoing promotions have all been the rule in the industry. Now several industry experts say that in the near future online bingo players could see those same benefits either cut back or withdrawn altogether. During the last few years the number of bingo sites has tripled and there are now over 400 bingo sites targeting the UK market. Intense competition has benefitted players as bingo sites try to outdo each other by offering a staggering variety if lucrative bingo bonuses and offers.

One indication that the good times may be over is the fact that many bingo sites are tightening the terms and conditions associated with bonuses and many have increased wagering requirements for players to access bonus money. Many bingo sites have withdrawn free bingo offers in favor of cash back options and bonuses for established loyal players. While player acquisition remains important many bingo sites are focusing on player retention. Studies have shown that bingo has the highest player retention rate of any form of online gambling.

New gambling laws and licensing requirements are bound to have an effect on the internet bingo industry. Currently offshore operators have a distinct advantage over bingo sites licensed in the UK. Offshore sites are taxed at an average rate of 1% while UK sites are taxed 15%. New licensing and tax requirements may force smaller independent bingo sites to lower bonuses and jackpots to remain profitable. Since smaller operators have to compete with large well funded bingo operators many smaller bingo sites will most likely disappear. Cash strapped governments are looking for new revenue streams and the UK is no exception. It is only a matter of time before the new rules and tax requirements are implemented.

New taxes and licensing requirements will push the cost of doing business much higher. This year will probably bring many consolidation and mergers which will bring lower levels of competition. Online bingo has benefitted from a down economy that prompted many to seek low cost home based entertainment and online bingo fit that need perfectly. Now that the economy is recovering many players may cut back on internet bingo games in favor of other activities. This will put even more pressure on bingo operators. For now many in the industry are wondering what the rest of the year will bring?

Internet bingo companies have been quick to identify new trends and adopt new technologies. The increased use of computers has had a profound impact on society around the world. The internet is global in scope and enables people from different nations and cultures to communicate instantly for a very low cost. The increase in the use of social networking sites such as Facebook indicates that people are using these sites for a wide variety of activities. There are over 500,000,000 Facebook users and internet bingo companies have been quick to take advantage of the opportunities provided by social networking websites.

Bingo has always been a social game and bingo sites are doing everything possible to establish bingo ‘communities’ among online players. The ability to play bingo with friends has always been an important aspect of the game and many players value the social aspect more than winning. Many bingo companies originally started off as gaming portals offering players a few bingo games and little else. As broadband access increased and computers got fasters bingo sites were able to add more interactive features such as chat rooms. Chat rooms were an instant hit with online bingo players and many improvements have been made since the first bingo chat room was launched. Bingo sites went to great lengths to make sure that the social needs of players were met.

Bingo sites added additional tools such as auto daub which eliminated the need for players to mark their bingo cards manually. Bingo sites were faced with the problem of how to expand their player base and attract and retain new players. Traditional advertising can be extremely expensive so many bingo sites turned to internet marketing techniques. Bingo companies searched for a platform where they could display their games and technologies to a wider audience. Facebook allowed bingo sites to do just that. Although Facebook has a strict no gambling policy many bingo sites set up fan pages and some bingo sites have developed individual Facebook bingo applications that provide players with free bingo.

Facebook pages offer bingo sites two major benefits. Facebook bingo pages allow bingo sites to showcase their games and bonuses and promotions offered to players. Players can play free games and then decide whether they want to log on to the bingo site and make a deposit and play for real cash. The second benefit is massive publicity. As has been mentioned Facebook has about a half billion regular users and many of these are potential online bingo players. Facebook is an inexpensive and efficient marketing tool for bingo sites.

Bingo is probably one of the simplest games to play. It is not necessary to learn complicated strategies and techniques; bingo is a random game of chance. Basically players purchase their bingo cards and mark them as the numbers are called. Players at bingo sites can use auto daub to mark their numbers automatically. This feature allows players to mark several cards at once. Like slots bingo is pretty random and based on luck but there are a few things bingo players can do to give themselves an edge.

Players should always try to find the best bonuses. Most bingo sites offer players substantial deposit bonuses. Usually deposit bonuses are based on a percentage of a deposit. Many bingo sites offer bonuses as high as 500%. Look for a site that has ongoing bonuses. Many bingo sites have started to offer various bonuses to established players designed to give players more value for their money. Don’t forget to read and understand the terms and conditions associated with bonus offers.

Players should find a favorite site and play often. Most reputable bingo sites have player loyalty programs and schemes. Many bingo sites are now giving players exclusive bonuses and cash back offers. Players can win points for every wager and collect real cash that can be used to play more games. Bingo bonuses are no longer limited to new players and more bingo providers are offering bonuses designed for player retention. Take advantage of all the bonuses available.

Players should save large wagers for progressive jackpot bingo games. Progressive jackpot bingo games are won if a player scores a full house within a certain number of calls. Players should keep a record of jackpot hits and look for any patterns that may emerge. The only time players should make large bets is when a large cash prize is on the line. It makes no sense to bet large for a small jackpot. Try to find games without a lot of players and your odds of winning will be increased.

Always check the game schedule for specials and promotions. Guaranteed jackpot games are always a good choice especially if the jackpot is large. Many bingo sites offer buy one get one free bingo cards. The more cards played the better the odds of winning. Players that take advantage of the best bonuses are ahead of the game and have increased their chances for a big bingo win.

The fight between bingo sites for new players is getting fierce at UK bingo sites. Even the television advertising campaign in heating up. Jackpotjoy announced they are going to sponsor Red Nose Day and also said they will be sponsoring Channel 4’s very popular daytime game show, Deal or no Deal. Competitor Foxy Bingo announced they will air a series of television ads featuring various well known celebrities to promote their brand.

Free no deposit bingo bonus has also returned with a vengeance. Many online  bingo sites are offering players more free money and larger deposit bonuses. For people tired of being bombarded with bingo ads on television there is some good news. As spring approached most in the industry expect a decline in television advertising by bingo sites and by summer the ads will be minimal. Summer is traditionally the slowest time for most UK bingo sites as players forgo an online bingo game in favor of outdoor activities. When autumn returns so will the bingo television ads. Most UK bingo sites know that summer ads will be ineffective and are saving their resources for next fall and winter.

Winter is traditionally the best time for bingo sites. Most players want to stay in the warm comfort of their own homes and flats and play more games during cold winter weather. Last winter a series of severe storms kept players indoors and most bingo sites reported increased profits because of the number of players entertaining themselves with a good game of bingo while the storms raged outside. In face several bingo sites reported record fourth quarter profits because of the surge in players during the series of severe winter storms.

Most bingo sites like BingoBoat have put those record profits to good use. Many are offering new bingo and side games. Some have used the record profits to provide players with bigger jackpots and prizes. The recent surge in free bingo games is directly related to increased profits. Bingo sites know they must offer players more to stay competitive in a cut throat industry. Some bingo sites have started to offer free cash to players on a daily basis. There are several sites that specialize in listing all of the current bingo promotions available to UK players. American players need not feel left out. Many of the larger online bingo operators accept American players. These sites usually have that information prominently displayed on the home page. As the year goes on expect bigger and better things from bingo sites.

During the current ‘economic downturn’ (read recession!) it would be nice to find some sort of cheap entertainment to take your mind off of personal economic and unemployment troubles. It would be even better to find some kind of cheap entertainment that could put a few dollars in your pockets. The solution is easily found-free internet bingo! There are hundreds of online bingo sites advertising free bingo and there are even some sites specializing in free bingo games. Most bingo sites also advertise huge bingo bonuses making the game even more attractive to the cash strapped.

We have all heard the expression that ‘there’s no such thing as a free lunch’ but is there really such a thing as totally free bingo? The answer is that yes, there are actually several websites offering totally free bingo. Many of these do not offer real cash prizes but a few actually offer players cash prizes. Many free bingo sites offer prizes provided by various companies for promotional purposes and advertising. Most commonly, free bingo is offered as an enticement by commercial bingo sites.

There are essentially two ways to play free online bingo. The first way is to find a site that offers free bingo for its own sake. Some free bingo sites are used for marketing purposes and players must provide personal information and agree to receive email offers for various products and services. For those who do not mind a full email inbox every day these sites can be a good solution. Most commercial bingo sites offer free bingo in addition to various bingo bonuses and bingo promotions. At some sites the free games are restricted to certain games and times which may not be convenient for you. Some free games actually have pretty decent prizes but most free games do not offer players significant jackpots as pay bingo games do.

By taking advantage of the bingo bonuses cash strapped players can play dozens of games essentially free. Other player perks providing free bingo games include loyalty programs, bonus bucks programs and weekly, monthly and holiday promotions. If you have been hard hit by the recession you should take advantage of every offer you can find. You need to use some common sense when trying to locate free bingo games. There are fraudsters out there trying to lure the unwary play into providing personal and banking information so it is wise for you to check the reputation of any site offering free bingo games. The good news is that there are plenty of reputable bingo sites providing free bingo games and determined players should have no trouble locating a suitable bingo site.

Bingo sites are replacing bingo halls in the UK and Europe. While traditional bingo halls have seen a steep decline the number of players attending games most bingo sites have reported a significant increase in players. There are several reasons for the shift from land based bingo to internet bingo and these have been thoroughly covered by bingo review sites, blogs and media reports. Finding the perfect bingo site is not difficult and there is a plethora of information available online about every bingo site in existence. Although choosing one bingo site out of the 400 currently serving the UK bingo market may seem difficult it is not impossible and may actually be easier thanks to Google and the internet.

The first thing a player should look for in a bingo site is user friendliness. Most bingo players are not techies and sites with confusing instructions should probably be avoided. Most internet bingo sites provide new players with some sort of free bingo option and this is a great way to test the user friendliness of the games at any bingo site. Check out forums and bingo review sites and read what other players have to say about specific bingo sites. Be aware that some of the posters in forums may be promoting specific bingo sites. Fortunately these comments are easy to spot.

Check out the software the bingo site is using. It should come from a reputable software provider. Remember Google can be a player’s best friend. Most sites like BingoHouse list their software providers generally in the FAQ section of the site. If the software is from a reputable provider it means that the site is stable and the operators were willing to invest money to give players the best bingo games possible.

If possible check out the customer feedback. Many bingo sites make customer feedback available to the public and if a bingo site has good customer service players can be assured of a quick resolution of any problems or complaints.

Make sure to check out all of the security features of any bingo site. Transactions should be encrypted and personal information should not be shared with any third parties. Most bingo sites list the security software they use and the reliability can be checked out on Google easily.

Check out the track record of the bingo site. If the site has been in business for a long time chances are it is reputable. Rogue bingo operators do not last long and the longevity of a bingo site is a good indication of its reliability.

Remember, Google is a player’s best friend. Just about any aspect of a bingo site can be found using Google. Just do the homework and is should be easy to find the perfect bingo site.