The gambling industry is constantly changing and evolving. As an online casino operator, it’s imperative that you monitor these shifts and use them to inform business strategies and decisions. Over recent years, there has been a considerable bingo resurgence, which should have all operators sitting up and paying attention.
This resurgence is the result of technological advancements, changes in the market and an evolving player profile. In this guide, we explore each of these factors and discuss how best to adapt your strategy to take advantage of the new opportunities they offer.
The History of Bingo
Bingo has its origins in an Italian lottery game first played during the 1500s. From there, it was tweaked and developed, eventually spreading to France and then throughout the rest of Europe.
The game made its way to the UK, where it further evolved into the bingo we know and play today. In 1960, the Betting and Gaming Act legalised cash prizes for bingo games, and this legislation triggered a bingo explosion that swept the nation.
Bingo enjoyed immense popularity up until the turn of the millennium. However, public opinion towards the game changed, particularly in younger demographics, and its popularity steeply declined.
This downturn was tough for bingo operators, but in recent years there has been a bingo resurgence, and the game is enjoying a period of increased success and popularity. Let’s find out why.
New Technology
The gambling industry as a whole has gone through significant changes in recent years. The shift to online platforms and channels has accelerated growth and taken the sector to another level.
In the past, playing bingo required visiting a dedicated bingo hall. This alienated players who had no local bingo halls, and many of these venues had negative reputations, which drove other potential players away.
Bingo’s shift to the digital space has addressed these issues. Now, anyone can play bingo whenever they want and from wherever they are. What’s more, today’s online bingo platforms are modern and attractive, a far cry from the dusty bingo halls of years gone by.
Perhaps the most important technological development has been the rise of live online bingo. Rather than being purely digital, live bingo games stream real bingo callers to players remotely, offering a sense of realism and immersion without forgoing the accessibility and convenience that online gambling can offer.
Changing Market Landscape
Bingo is often regarded as separate from the wider gambling industry, its own distinct sector when compared to more traditional casino games like blackjack and roulette.
However, studies indicate that bingo is an integral part of the gambling industry as a whole, and this bingo resurgence has only become more evident over recent years.
The gambling market landscape is changing rapidly, fuelled by a boom in online casinos and gambling platforms. Bingo is playing an increasingly important role, with research revealing that the game contributed approximately £500 million to the gross gambling yield in the UK between April 2021 and March 2022.
Bingo is more important to the gambling industry than ever before. As an operator, it’s imperative that you keep this in mind and including bingo as part of your product offering is a must.
Evolving Player Profile
The traditional perception of the typical bingo player is a woman of middle age or above. While this still rings true, and this demographic is certainly still important for bingo operators, the game’s player profile has evolved in recent times and has been an important factor in the bingo resurgence.
According to data collected by YouGov, the 25-34 year old age group is the most likely to be playing bingo online. This is key and represents a shift away from the idea that bingo is enjoyed by predominantly older demographics.
Additionally, we’re seeing an increase in male bingo players. For a sector that has traditionally been female-dominated, this is an important change that should inform how operators market and implement their bingo products.
Conclusion
The bingo resurgence is generating a lot of excitement in the gambling world. It’s been fuelled by a number of factors, including technological developments, a changing market landscape and an evolving player profile. As an operator, it’s essential that you take advantage of this bingo resurgence and offer bingo games and products to your players.
