Bingo is a popular game on both sides of the Atlantic and attracts millions of players each year. For many new players a first visit to a bingo hall of an online bingo site can be intimidating. Many new players ask themselves; what are the rules? How should I act? What are the standards of bingo etiquette? That first visit does not have to be unnerving if you follow a few simple rules. Leaning bingo rules and etiquette is probably the most steps any player can take on their way to being a well liked and respected bingo player. Although no two bingo halls operate the same way there are some standard rules applicable to all bingo halls. Some players get annoyed by new players and their actions; how they react to winning, sitting in the ‘wrong’ chairs and any disruptive behavior. ‘False bingos’ are probably the most annoying mistakes made by new players but fortunately this usually happens only once.

New players at land based bingo halls should be aware that some players consider certain seats ‘lucky.’ If you are sitting in another player’s regular spot it is best to move to another chair. Fortunately most bingo players are very friendly and welcoming but there are certain riles that should not be broken. Some of these rules also apply to online bingo.

1.    Before playing familiarize yourself with the rules of the bingo hall or online bingo site. Knowing the rules and etiquette can make your bingo experience more enjoyable for you and everyone else.

2.    Do not say or do anything that could get you banned from the hall or bingo site. Obnoxious comments and intentionally distracting other players is unacceptable. Never disrupt the conversation at online bingo chat rooms. Never try to alter a bingo card at a live bingo hall. Your reputation as a player is up to you to establish.

3.    As has been mentioned watch out for ‘lucky’ seats in live bingo halls. Many players are very particular about where they sit during games. If you are asked to move do so gracefully.

4.    Bingo is a social game and most players will be happy to help new players learn the ropes and bingo lingo. In live bingo halls it is considered bad form to talk during games.

5.    Never parrot the numbers called in live bingo halls. It is annoying to everyone around you and you will be asked to quiet down.

6.    Don’t play when you are in a bad mood. If you are tired and angry you will make mistakes and be bad company for the other players.

7.    Be a good loser. Chances are you will win at another time. 96% of all bingo players say they have won at least one game. Do not take out your frustrations on the game’s caller.

8.    Try not to call any false bingos. It disrupts the game and the other players will be annoyed.

Last week gaming giant Zynga launched their new Facebook bingo application. The company is hoping to cash in on the popularity of online bingo which generates millions in revenue annually. The launch of Zynga’s bingo game was well publicized. It is hard to imagine a controversial bingo game but this week another company has accused Zynga of copying its popular Facebook game Bingo Blitz. This is not the only time Zynga has been accused of copying. According to an article in PC Mag Zynga’s latest game, Dream Heights bears a close resemblance to 2011’s iPhone game of the year.

A three person team at NimbleBit, which makes Tiny Tower, says that Zynga has copied the popular game. IPhone game developer Ian Marsh who works at NimbleBit posted an open letter to Zynga on Twitter. The letter read “Dear Zynga (all 2,789 of you),” the letter reads. “We noticed you are about to launch a new iPhone game called Dream Heights! Congratulations! We wanted to thank you guys for being such big fans of our iPhone game of the year Tiny Tower. Good luck with your game, we are looking forward to inspiring you with our future games! Sincerely, (all three of us) NimbleBit.”

Another game developer has also accused Zynga of copying their game. Buffalo Studios is the developer of the popular Facebook game Bingo Blitz. The game has over 1 million daily users on Facebook. The company created a side by side comparison with Zynga’s new online bingo game and claims that Zynga has “obviously played” Bingo Blitz. As part of Buffalo’s comparison the company said it was inspired by Ian Marsh’s Twitter post. In a letter Buffalo Studios stated “Hello Zynga. We are moved that your new game was so inspired by our innovative product, Bingo Blitz. You’ve obviously played our game Bingo Blitz a lot,” it continues. “Please tell your thousands of employees and shareholders that we hope they enjoy playing the games we’re cooking up next!”

Recently several accusations of ‘cloning’ have been made by other companies. Spry Fox, the developer of Triple Town, has filed a copyright infringement suit against game developer 6Waves Lolapps. Spry Fox claims that 6Waves Lolapps game Yeti Town is a “blatant copy of Triple Town.’ A spokesperson for Zynga did not immediately respond to inquiries by PC Mag. The accusations have created quite a stir in the internet gambling world and blog posts are full of accusations and counter accusations.

Because of the way modern slots work they are a perfect fit for the internet gambling industry. Unlike the old classic ‘one armed bandits’ of yesteryear online slots do not need levers or gears. A random number generator determines winning combinations every millisecond. Even better online slots now have larger jackpots than ever. Online slots have several advantages over their counterparts at land based casinos. Online bingo sites and casinos do not have to maintain a team of specialists to fix broken slot machines and do not have to spend millions purchasing rows of slots. Online casinos only need a single employee to program the games. The money saved is passed along to the player in the form of bigger jackpots, bonuses and other player perks.

At some land based casinos slots generate about 70% of all revenues and are the most popular games on most casino floors. At some online bingo sites slots account for over half of all revenues. For those in rural areas with no local access to a casino online slots are a perfect solution and provide the same excitement as land based slots. In the past slot jackpots were small but this is no longer the case. Today online slots can be networked producing some amazing jackpots. Most networked slots feature progressive jackpots that grow with each spin.

Today slots can offer some substantial jackpots. Recently a player at a popular UK online bingo sites scored a £21,336.78 ($33,570.22 USD at current exchange rates) win playing slots. For many online bingo players slots, scratch cards, roulette and other casino games provide a pleasant diversion from online bingo games. Over the years there have been some amazing slot wins. At one online casino a $6 bet produced an astounding $8,500,000 jackpot. The jackpot was won by a player known as Giorgios M playing Mega Moolah.  Another lucky Mega Moolah player from Finland scored a $5,000,000jackpot. Even more amazing is the $300,000 jackpot won by a Canadian player just six minutes after signing up at an online casino!

Online bingo sites offer classic three reel slots and modern five reel multi payline slots with various themes. There are several online bingo sites that offer Mega Moolah and other mega jackpot progressive slot games. Most online bingo players will take a break every so often and will play slots and other side games for a change of pace. Players have won astounding sums of money and because of the random nature of slot games the next big winner could be you!

The holiday season has come and gone and during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays most online bingo sites roll out their best promotions of the year. There are special holiday themes bingo games, generous bonus offers, bingo tournaments, new holiday slot games and special prizes and jackpots. At most online bingo sites the New Year’s promotions last through the month of January. The next big holiday is Valentine’s Day and bingo operators are getting ready for this yearly day of romance.

For most people Valentine’s Day is about Love, Flowers, Romance, Chocolates, jewelry, special gifts and pampering your significant other. Every year online bingo sites join in the spirit of this romantic holiday. Although many people see no connection between online bingo and romance nothing could be further from the truth. There have been marriage proposals in chat rooms and several there have been several cases of an online bingo flirtation leading to a full blown romance resulting in a wedding.

In 2010 Suzanne Latta, 28, and her groom Matt Brown, 37, won £5000 towards the cost of their wedding after entering a competition sponsored by an online bingo site. The bingo site had offered the cash prize to any couple willing to feature the site’s logo on the bride’s wedding dress. The online bingo operator also wanted the groom to put a small logo on his suit and on the bottom of his shoes so it would be visible as he knelt at the church’s altar. Unfortunately they ran into a vicar who was a bit of a fuddy duddy.

Rev Tony Watts banned the logo from the wedding saying it encouraged gambling. When the contest was announced the Church of England said that couples should think twice about sponsored weddings. A spokesman for the church said “It seems like the latest in a long line of themed weddings. Presumably at the end someone shouts ‘House! But it might not be the best way to start out in what should be a permanent relationship.” The move by the vicar generated a lot of controversy and a majority said they thought the wedding should be allowed to take place.

Other online bingo romances have had happier results. At one popular UK online bingo site players Tracey and Chris met in a chat room. The couple started chatting and eventually exchanged phone numbers. After several conversations the couple decided to meet in person. Both described their meeting as love at first site. They courted for two years and finally Chris proposed and Tracy said yes. The couple has been happily married since 2011.

Last night all eyes were on Obama during his annual State of the Union address before congress. The state of the union address is a longstanding tradition in the United States and the first address was delivered by George Washington in 1790. During the speech the president reports on the condition of the country and also allows the president to outline his legislative agenda for the coming year. Since this is a presidential election year Mr. Obama’s speech attracted more attention than usual. While watching the speech many viewers engaged in an annual tradition; State if the Union bingo games.

In Westchester County New York Republicans met at the Horse & Hound restaurant in South Salem to watch Mr. Obama deliver his address. They also had a little fun at the President’s expense. This is the second year the GOP has held this event in Westchester County. The game was organized by Luke Vander Linden, vice chair of the Bedford Republican Committee. Vander Linden told local reporters “It’s an opportunity to get everyone to come together and have a little fun. This is our second one and we’d like to make it a tradition.” Vander Linden went on to say that the game is a chance for like minded people to get together. Vander Linden stated “We respect the office. We want to see what he has to say.”

One of the highlights of the event was a game of ‘Obama bingo.’ Players were given a card with various catch phrases such as “Economy,” “Green Jobs,” “Fair Share,” and others commonly used by the president. If Obama used one of the phrases players marked their cards. State of the Union bingo games are not the sole domain of the opposition party. There are State of the Union bingo games available for those of varying political beliefs. Many people in both political camps attended State of the Union parties where the special bingo games were played. Bingo cards could be downloaded from several political websites and a few online bingo sites also got in on the action.

One thing is for sure in Washington; political rhetoric is never in short supply. One newspaper asked readers to supply buzzwords and catch phrases to be used in their State of the Union bingo game. Some bars and clubs held bipartisan events which offered state of the union bingo games as part of the evening’s entertainment.

Weeks ago a spokesman for Zynga indicated that the social media gaming company was not interested in real money gaming. Recent news reports indicate that the company has reversed course and is  exploring the possibilities of real money online gaming. Zynga already has a popular poker game and 7 million people play poker using Zynga’s app daily. Zynga has also announced that they will launch an online bingo application in the near future. For those unfamiliar with the company Zynga is a San Francisco based social network based game developer. Zynga develops browser based games that are available on social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace. In November 2-011 it was reported that Zynga’s games on Facebook have about 200 million active users. Facebook has an estimated 800 million users so the potential for real money gaming can easily be seen.

The online gambling market has been volatile since the United States passed draconian anti internet gambling legislation in 2006. The legality of online bingo and poker has shifted several times over the past two years. In December the US department of justice gave the online gambling industry an early Christmas in the form of a decision that may clear the way for states to offer online games such as online bingo games and poker. The DOJ’s decision was the result of a query from New York and Illinois about the legality of online lottery ticket sales. The DOJ sand that the 1961 wire act only bans sports betting and that other games are legal.

Zynga is a relatively new company and since their initial IPO went nowhere the company wants to enter the world of real money gaming. Zynga poker is a big hit and could allow them to transition to real money gaming easily. A Zynga spokesman stated “We build games and experiences that our players want and love. Zynga Poker is the world’s largest online poker game with more than 7 million people playing every day and over 30 million each month. We know from listening to our players that there’s an interest in the real money gambling market. We’re in active conversations with potential partners to better understand and explore this new opportunity.”

Zynga could use the new revenue stream. According to an article in Forbes Zynga is losing $150 on each customer. Sterne Agee interactive media analyst Arvind Bhatia said that Zynga has to spend $300 on every new player they acquire but currently Zynga is only spending $150 . Although some analysts say that the company is unstable and the new venture is risky Zynga could use the extra cash. Zynga is planning to combing Zynga poker and bingo into a Zynga Casino which will offer several betting games. Zynga also faces stiff competition from established online gaming sites. The move carries additional risk because, as several analysts have pointed out, the department of justice could reverse course if a new administration takes over in Washington.

Last week the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned four individuals and four businesses in Guatemala accusing them of drug trafficking and money laundering. Amazingly, The Treasury thinks that a Guatemalan woman with an online bingo site is one of Central America’s prolific drug traffickers. The drug trade has gotten increasingly violent in recent years and law enforcement officials in the US are going after some of the top figures behind the violent drug cartels. Marllory Dadiana Chacon Rossell has had her US assets frozen.

Chacon conducted business on two fronts; facilitating the shipment of thousands of kilos of cocaine through Panama, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico and into the US; laundering tens of millions through her ‘family oriented’ bingo website, Bingo Millonario. It may be interesting to see how the Guatemalan government handles the sanctions. Recently elected Guatemalan president Otto Perez Molina handles this situation since he recently suggested decriminalizing drugs in the country. US law enforcement officials say that Chacon’s drug trafficking and money laundering organization is based in Guatemala and has operations in Panama and Honduras.

The move by Treasury officials bars US citizens from doing business with any of the front businesses operated by the group. Adam Szubin, director of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, told reporters “Marllory Chacon’s drug trafficking activities and her ties to the Mexican drug cartels make her a critical figure in the narcotics trade. By designating Chacon, OFAC is disrupting those activities and closing off from the U.S. financial system the network of companies aiding Chacon’s illicit activities.” Treasury officials say that Chacon is responsible for the transshipment of thousands of kilos through Central American each month. Treasury officials said “Chacon Rossell is also believed to launder tens of millions of U.S. dollars in narcotics proceeds each month, making her the most active money launderer in Guatemala.”

Officials say that Chacon’s husband provides logistical support for the drug shipments. Chacon has laundered millions through her bingo site. According to the bingo site’s Facebook page Bingo Millonario is a “family lottery” that uses its revenues to benefit maternal-infant health and education for poverty stricken Guatemalans. This is the only case in history where online bingo has been used to facilitate criminal activity. In most countries online bingo operations are subject to strict regulation and close scrutiny. Most players at Bingo Millonario would probably be shocked to learn that the site was used for nefarious purposes.

Every bingo player in Britain knows that ‘eyes down’ means a game is about to begin. Another bingo hall in Britain has called eyes down for the last time. For the last five or six years several UK bingo halls have fallen victim to the national smoking ban that almost destroyed the British live bingo industry and extremely high tax rates and local licensing fees. Pavilion Bingo in Roose Road, Barrow, said it was closing because of “difficult trading conditions.” Malcolm Fleming, who managed the hall along with his wife Carol for eleven years, made the sad announcement to customers last week.

Fleming told reporters from the Evening Mail: “The way things are with the leisure industry, we decided we couldn’t go on any longer and had to close down.” Fleming said he did not want to disclose more details about the closing than what he told customers when he made the announcement last Sunday. Fleming told players at that time “Due to difficult trading conditions, the Pavilion Bingo is no longer a viable business and we are left with no alternative but to close it down.” Fleming also praised his employees and stated “We would like to thank our superb staff and very loyal customers for their great support in the past but under the present economic conditions, this is the only route we can take.”

Fourteen jobs will be lost and both full and part time employees will be affected by the closure. National figures show that 34 bingo halls closed in 2007, (the same year the smoking ban went into effect) 25 in 2008, 29 in 2009, 12 in 2010 and 12 last in 2011. A spokesman for the Bingo Association told reporters about the difficulties facing live bingo halls in the UK. The spokesman told reporters “The rate of closure has slowed down in the last five years, but it’s proved increasingly difficult for those that remain in the industry to move forward with their business. Lots of people want to relate it to the smoking ban, but the primary driver is a tax regime which is punitive for the bingo industry. It’s about the most highly taxed gambling activity in the UK.”

The spokesman pointed out that bingo clubs pay a 21% tax while other forms of gaming pay a 15% tax. While British bingo halls continue to close in record numbers the online bingo industry is thriving. There are now about three million online bingo players in the UK and the number is growing thanks to the addition of mobile bingo played on smart phones. While there has been a slight increase in attendance at urban bingo halls in large cities smaller towns are losing their bingo halls at an alarming rate. Fortunately some members of Parliament have promised to address the taxation issue.

It would appear that the US Department of Justice has reversed course when it comes to online gambling. A memo released in December said that only sports betting on the internet is prohibited by the 1961 Wire Act. Earlier in the year the DOJ seized the domains and assets of several major poker sites and one popular online bingo site. Last August players that logged onto Funtime Bingo were greeted with a DOJ logo and text that informed that the domain had been seized. The seizure was responsible for the voluntary closure of the World Bingo Network. Many other online bingo sites announced that they would no longer accept players from the United States.

The recent interpretation of the wire act opens the door to legal online bingo in the US. For years American online bingo players have been plagued by limited deposit and withdrawal options. Currently banks and credit card companies are prohibited from processing transactions related to gambling but the recent change in policy could change all that. Cooler heads at the Justice Department have prevailed and most experts say it is only a matter of time before American players will have access to major online bingo sites and casinos.

Bingo is considered to be a ‘soft’ form of gambling that carries little social stigma. The technology is already in place to address the concerns of regulators thanks to the huge online bingo community in the United Kingdom. UK policies and regulations could easily serve as a template for US regulators and the UK has had a highly successful online gaming market for years with very little trouble. Britain enjoys a thriving online bingo market and there is no reason that the success cannot be duplicated in the United States. There are several UK bingo sites that are poised to enter the US market as soon as policies regarding online bingo and gambling are clarified.

Some experts remain concerned because the DOJ is subject to changing politics as administrations change. The Attorney General of the United States is appointed by the sitting president and any administration change could bring different policies and interpretations of the online gambling laws and regulations. This could lead to another cycle of site seizures and criminal prosecutions. In the meantime American players can take comfort in the fact that there are many online bingo sites perfectly willing to provide American players with their favorite online bingo game.

Because of the relaxation of the rules regarding online gambling in the United States many gaming experts say that many social gaming networks are gearing up to get a piece of the lucrative US online gaming market. Recent reports indicate that the wildly popular provider of social network poker games is not interested. Reports indicate that Zynga does not want to risk losing their loyal players. In addition Zynga has not investigated the possibilities of offering real money gambling in jurisdictions where internet gambling is perfectly legal.

Currently Zynga operates Zynga poker and plans to add online bingo and Zynga Casino to their gaming repertoire. The infrastructure for real money gambling already exists and in Europe and the UK legal internet gambling has been legal and regulated for years. Rumors from Zynga headquarters say that they may consider making the switch to real money gaming but these are just rumors. Last month Zynga shares went on sale in global markets for $10 a share. Currently Zynga is facing fierce competition from CastleVille, the newest and one of the most popular games on Facebook. Currently CastleVille was released by the makers of CityVille and has about 35 million active users. The makers of CastleVille are giving players more options and eventually Zynga will have to offer more games to survive.

To remain competitive Zynga will have to show that they can keep creating popular games to retain their market share. Zynga has also started to experiment with platforms outside of Facebook and some industry observers say this could increase their customer base. Zynga announced the release of a number of new games for Google+ and recently launched two new games for iOS. Zynga also launched Zynga poker for Google TV.  While industry observers say that Zynga does not want to alienate their current users by switching to real money gaming they may be forced to do so to remain competitive. If the rumors coming out of Zynga headquarters are true the company may launch real money gaming apps sometime this year.

Last October Zynga launched an online bingo app described as “Sin City meets your local bingo hall” complete with online bingo rooms named Vegas Lights and Pirates Paradise.” The online bingo app has been well received but without real money gaming the success may be limited. Most online gaming experts say that this will be a very exciting year for the online gambling industry.