Players at online bingo sites and casinos located in the United States nay have some difficulties funding their accounts and withdrawing winnings. This is because of the ill-advised Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act passed in 2006. (UIGEA) This nasty piece of legislation was slipped into a must pass port security bill at the last minute and was presented for a vote during a late night session of congress. In face most legislators were unaware of the provision and a poll taken shortly after showed that a majority would not have voted for the law as a standalone piece of legislation. Since its passage the law has caused headaches for players and online bingo sites and casinos. Fortunately there are still several ways American players can fund their accounts.

Credit cards are probably the quickest and easiest way to fund an account at an online bingo site. Many credit cards still allow players from the United States to use their cards for online bingo transactions. Pre-pay credit cards are a sure bet and can be used at most casinos. Players should read and understand all of the policies of the credit card company. There are many casinos and online bingo sites that still accept Visa and MasterCard.

American express cards may also be used but can be tricky. Because of the high merchant fees charged by Amex many online bingo sites and casinos do not accept Amex cards.

eChecks are connected directly to the player’s bank account and may be used for deposits and withdrawals.

Click2Pay is used by many Americans and is accepted at most major online bingo sites and casinos. Unfortunately they are no longer accepting new players from the United States.

eWallerXpress is very popular with American players. eWallerXpress gives American players the ability to deposit funds from their checking accounts.

UseMyWallet is another popular banking option that offers players the ability to make quick and secure deposits at online bingo sites and casinos.

900Pay is a unique option that allows players to make deposits at online bingo sites and casinos by making a charge to their home phone bills. Players using this option should go to their website and read and understand all of the terms and conditions.

In the very near future online bingo and gambling in the United States may be legalized. Several states have announced plans to offer online casino games to residents and many experts believe that online gaming will be legalized in the US in 2013.

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.

Most gaming experts say that before playing any casino game players should have an established bankroll that is disposable income and is not needed for living expenses. They also say that players should set a limit for each game session and when that limit has been reached they should walk away from the gaming tables of gambling site. The same advice holds true for online bingo players. Fortunately online bingo is very inexpensive to play and a small bankroll can provide hours of fun. At most online bingo sites average card costs are between 0.25 cents and $1 dollar. For special high stakes bingo games cards can cost between $2 and $5 dollars.

The first decision any player should make is how much money to spend during a game session. Players who purchase the maximum number of cards will see their bankroll dwindle very quickly. Bankroll management is an essential part of responsible gambling and will make the games more enjoyable. Players should figure out how much disposable income they have and the amount they are willing to risk at online bingo sites and casinos. Players should work out a monthly gaming budget and divide the bankroll by the number of days they plan on playing. Each game session should have a set amount. There are a few standard rules for successful bankroll management. These are;

Never gamble money you can’t afford to lose. Never use your rent money, your child’s college fun to gamble. Gambling with money you can’t afford to lose is a sure sign of a gambling problem. In the UK there have been several cases of players stealing money from family members and employers to play online bingo. Don’t become one of these people.

You should never gamble more money that you planned. If you lose, you lose and never borrow money to try to cover losses with more gambling. If you do this you have a problem.

If you have a game strategy use it. Since bingo games are random there is little players can do to influence the outcome of any game. Play at smaller games with fewer players. Although the jackpot will not be large the odds will be better. You can bank small wins and then use the money to buy cards for high stakes bingo games.

If you feel depressed or unlucky it is time to walk away. The old adage ‘quit while you’re ahead’ applies in these circumstances. If you follow these tips you can have hours of safe enjoyable bingo games with little risk to your over finances.

Online bingo bonuses can be a double edged sword. On one hand bingo bonuses provided by reputable operators can help players stretch their hard earned dollars and pounds. Unfortunately some less than honest operators have terms and conditions that make their bonuses almost worthless. Excessive wagering requirements have been a problem at some online bingo sites. Some operators use abstract language or legalese to disguise their wagering requirements and terms. At most online bingo sites players must wager a certain amount before any winnings may be withdrawn. Some sites have maximum withdrawal amounts that can make it difficult for players to retrieve their winnings.

Last year several online bingo players had their accounts for taking advantage of a bonus offer. The sites were run by Cassava Enterprises. The only ‘crime’ committed by these players was taking advantage of a bonus offer and playing free bingo games. Some players got the ax for making a deposit, receiving a bonus, winning and making a withdrawal request. The players were accused of ‘abusing’ the bonuses and free bingo games. Players had their accounts blocked and closed on all Cassava owned bingo sites. Many of the banned players complained about unclear terms and conditions and feel they did nothing wrong. Some of the treatment documented by players includes;

Withholding legitimately won prize money.
Using vague and undefined terms and conditions to unfairly ban players.
Causing mental anguish for cutting players off from their bingo friends with no advance warning.
Failing to define ‘bonus abuse.’

Before these incidents Cassava powered bingo sites were highly regarded by both the industry and players. On one popular bingo blog players shared their stories. Players complained of being banned for playing free games and ‘bonus abuse’ and many were long term players at the sites in question. Some speculated that Cassava was trying to get rid of ‘unprofitable’ players. Most of the players shared the same profile; they withdraw more money than they deposit and use their winnings to refund their accounts and take advantage of deposit bonus offers. A few players were banned for only depositing funds when there are deposit bonus offers.

The stories illustrate what can happen when players do not read and understand all of the terms and conditions associated with bonus and promotional offers. In this case it appears that the sites were acting arbitrarily. Bingo bonuses are a great way for sites to build goodwill with players and most sites fulfill their promises. Since the industry has gotten so competitive online bingo operators are wary of making any moves that would damage their reputation. This means that reputable operators will stand behind their bonus offers which is great news for players.

The internet can be a dangerous place. Identity theft is a big problem and there are hackers just waiting for the opportunity to steal banking and other financial information. In face there are two Trojans designed specifically to steal banking and account information. Once a computer is infected the Trojans run in the background and in most cases people are unaware their computer is infected. Once an account is access the programs spring into action and record all of the details and forward them to cyber criminals who will then attempt to drain user accounts. Identity theft is probably the worst sort of cybercrime and does the most damage.

Victims of identity theft can spend years repairing the damage to their reputations and credit rating. It is important that all personal and financial details be protected with strong passwords and an up to date antivirus program. Although online bingo sites are pretty safe there have been some scary incidents. Last year an employee of one online bingo company stole the details of thousands of players and tried to sell personal details to the highest bidder. Fortunately he was caught quickly thanks to intervention from an online bingo operator.

The case of an online bingo player in Washington State illustrates just how dangerous the internet can be.  The player, who suffers from cancer, saw a television ad for an online bingo site while watching a Fox News program. When he visited the site he lost control of his computer. A female friend advised him to be careful and said that the victim thought the site was safe because it was advertised on television. When the victim went to the online bingo site he was redirected to a web domain associated with the rogue security program Malware Alarm. The MalwareAlarm website presents visitors with a dialog box that asks permission to perform a virus scan.

Unfortunately no matter what choice is made the MalwareAlarm program will download and start to do its damage. A browser window is opened and a fake scan takes place. At the end of the scan the program claims it has found several security threats. The program asks permission to more software to fix the ‘problems.’ A security expert believes that a malicious ad was responsible for redirecting the victim to the site containing the rogue software. Malicious ads are a growing problem for Google and other companies that depend on advertising revenue.

The victim’s friend said that MalwareAlarm took control of the victim’s computer and he was bombarded with a series of dialog boxes that made his computer impossible to use. The victim was tricked into paying the company for a program to remove the problem that they caused. Rogue security programs are a growing problem. The victim said that he hopes his story will save other online bingo players from the same nightmarish experience.

In the UK it’s no secret that most online bingo players are women. One study showed that 70% of all online bingo players are women and the number is growing. Women are an important target for the online gaming industry as a whole. One recent survey showed that four times as many women played online casino games in 2010 than in 2007. The number of women playing online casino games is almost equal to the number of male players. Most people think of casino gambling as a male pursuit but in the UK 48.38% of all casino players in 2011 were women. The figure for male players was slightly higher at 51.62%.

One recent report says that the internet has played an important role in increasing the number of female punters. Online casinos are more convenient and do not have the intimidating atmosphere of land based casinos. Many women are uncomfortable at land based casinos because of male dominance. Most women say they feel safer at online bingo sites and casinos. Online gaming operators have realized the importance of women and have launched several female oriented gaming sites. The latest British Gambling Preference Survey showed that the number of women playing casino games and online bingo has increased. The survey also showed that men tend to vary their gambling activities more than women.

The British survey found that women prefer online fruit machines and online bingo. Women were twice as likely to play online bingo as men. Men preferred sports betting, roulette and poker. Another study showed that women are more tech savvy than men. In fact 54% of all women surveyed own smart phones and the figure for men was slightly lower at 46%. Melissa Lavigne-Delville, of Women at NBCU, stated “Three-quarters of the female population is online and their increasingly passionate and widespread consumption of digital is shaping this ever-evolving space…As this growing number of digitally-dependent women alters the landscape in unexpected ways, marketers need to react in real-time.”

Gaming operators are paying attention to the latest figures. Many have launched extensive marketing campaigns targeting women. Since women account for about 50% of the online gaming market operators that ignore female players are losing out on the female share of the very lucrative online gaming market. For the online bingo industry the increasing number of female gamblers is very good news. Most of the major UK bingo operators currently spend millions of pounds each year marketing to female players.

Online bingo players provide bingo sites with their credit card and bank account details daily so it is easy to see why safety is such a major concern. There are hundreds of bingo sites out there but how do players determine whether a site is legitimate or a scam. In the past there have been a few rogue operators that set up shop, took player’s money and disappeared. Just about anyone with technical skills can set up a legitimate looking site making safety even more important. Online bingo is just like any other business, there are bound to be a few bad apples. So how can players tell the good from the bad? Here are a few things to look for.

The licensing jurisdiction is a very good indicator of a bingo site’s legitimacy. Some jurisdictions have very strict regulations while other have very few or none at all. A good rule of thumb is to stick to online bingo sites licensed in the European Union and the United Kingdom. Many online bingo sites have located in jurisdictions such as Malta, Gibraltar and the Isle of Man because of favorable tax policies. Many sites are licensed in the Caribbean and Central America. Licensing standards vary in the Caribbean and Central America so it is always best to do some research on the licensing jurisdiction.

Legitimate licensing jurisdictions require periodic software testing. This is done to ensure that all games are fair and random. Random number generators are checked several times a year. It is not hard to determine where a casino is licensed. Legitimate bingo sites and casinos will display the details of their license prominently.  Bogus bingo sites will try to hide where they are licensed and many use fake license logos. Fortunately the internet has made it possible for players to access information about both online bingo sites and licensing jurisdictions.

Since online bingo sites handle multiple transactions every day security software is used to process transactions.  Most legitimate bingo sites use Secure Socket Layer encryption programs. Transactions are encrypted and then retrieved using a key that is changed several times a day making it impossible for hackers to gain access to the personal account details of players. The safest online bingo sites will offer multiple deposit methods. Players should avoid bingo sites that only accept cash or untraceable wire transfers. Players have a wealth of information available at their fingertips and doing a little research can guarantee a safe and pleasant online bingo experience.

Most people find it hard to believe that the simple game of bingo could generate controversy of any kind. In Alabama this was not the case and resulted in two trials and the waste of millions of taxpayer dollars. It all began after the Alabama legislature passed a bill that would have allowed Alabama residents to vote on the legality of bingo in the state. Federal prosecutors intervened and said that votes had been bought and sold. Federal prosecutors said consciences dictated that they interfere with the legislative process.

Soon prosecutors issued 11 indictments and casinos offering electronic bingo were shut down and thousands were thrown out of work in a state with high unemployment. Some political observers believed the move was part of a backlash by the new Obama administration angered by staggering Republican victories in Alabama. Political upstarts unseated long serving legislators and many brought a radical agenda to the capitol. Newly elected senator Shadrack McGill said he didn’t believe in the separation of church and state and political discussions in the legislature turned to non-issues like immigration, abortion and evolution.

Anti-gambling rhetoric was often heard in the legislature and the governor’s mansion and a series of raids followed. In the first trial 12 jurors did not convict anyone. Not satisfied with the results vindictive federal prosecutors tried the same defendants for a second time.  The results were predictable and during the second trial jurors acquitted all of the defendants. Jurors told reporters that the prosecutor’s witnesses lacked credibility or were testifying to get lighter sentences.

Electronic bingo magnate Milton McGregor walked out of the courtroom a free man and immediately announced plans to reopen his VictoryLand casino and put 3,000 people to work. A battle between McGregor and Alabama attorney general Luther Strange is shaping up.  Strange told reporters that in his opinion electronic bingo is still against the law and promises to enforce all Alabama laws pertaining to bingo.

The real losers at the second trial were the people of Alabama who had to pay for the trials and had their freedom of choice taken away by federal prosecutors. Surveys in the state have clearly shown that a large majority of Alabama voters favor legal electronic bingo and believe they have the right to spend their money as they see fit without government intervention. There may be a solution in store for Alabama’s bingo fans. A December ruling by the Justice Department has cleared the way for legal online bingo in the United States.

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.”

There are several factors that that can influence a player’s decision to join a specific bingo site. There are also several reasons that players will leave one site and join another. Online bingo operators and marketers are well aware of these factors and tailor their marketing campaigns to accent the positive and downplay any negatives. There are five top factors that attract players to a site.

The first factor and the most important is the sign up bonus. Bingo operators know this and have made sign up bonuses more generous than ever. Most online bingo sites offer sign up bonuses based on a percentage of the player’s initial deposit. Some sited offer percentage bonuses of 600! Most bonuses come with wagering requirements and it is always a good idea to read and understand all of the terms and conditions associated with any bingo bonus offer.

Website recommendations were the second most important factor. Most online bingo players do some research before signing up at a specific bingo site. There are hundreds of bingo portals and review sites offering accurate and impartial information to new players.

A referral from a friend or family member came in as the third reason influencing a player’s decision to join a specific bingo site. Generally the friend or family member has extensive experience playing at the recommended site and has had positive dealings with the site. Referrals are one of the best ways to find a reputable online bingo site.

The site’s software is also an important factor. Ease of use is important. Today most online bingo games are flash based and players have instant access to high quality bingo games. Attractive graphics and amusing animations can also influence a player’s decision making process.

Believe it or not television was the least important factor influencing player’s decisions. In the United Kingdom and Europe online bingo operators have spent millions on television advertising. On commercial television in the UK there is hardly a commercial break without at least one advertisement for an online bingo site. Since women account for a majority of online bingo players some operators have sponsored shows popular with women such as ‘The Only Way is Essex’ commonly known as TOWIE.

These were found to be the five most important factors that influence players to join a specific bingo site. The research also showed that a large majority of players will remain loyal to one specific bingo site. In fact online bingo has the highest player retention rate in the online gaming industry so the importance of attracting new players can clearly be seen.