A DOG'S PRAYER

"Dear God, thank you for bringing me to Timmy's house instead of Michael Vick's."

More Bad News for Bingo Halls

The land based Bingo industry has been relatively stable for decades but one major factor is contributing to the demise of brick and mortar bingo halls in the UK and the United States. In the UK the recently passed draconian smoking ban has caused many bingo halls to close and remaining bingo operators are reporting as much as a 25% decrease in business. In the United States smoking bans are passed on a state by state basis and in each state that has passed smoking bans bingo halls are reporting a significant decrease in business.

While the smoking ban in the UK is national and affects all parts of the country equally, the US smoking bans are passed by each individual state with differing laws in each state. This makes it difficult for industry experts in the United States to gauge the effects of smoking bans on a nationwide basis. Some states will exempt private organizations and certain businesses while other states will pass total smoking bans.

In the UK the Rank Group, one of the largest operators of bingo halls, reported a 19% drop in revenue in the UK and a 22% drop in Wales and England. To quote a statement issued by Rank, “While the recent trading difficulties affecting our UK retail businesses are worse than we had anticipated, we understand that they are shared by the broader UK bingo club and casino markets and are not unique to Rank.”

In the United States smoking bans have been taking a toll on traditional bingo halls. In Ohio, which recently passed a smoking ban without any exemptions, a significant decline in revenue has been reported and many charitable organizations are eliminating their once popular games. In Ohio even churches are feeling the pinch. In the Youngstown suburb of Campbell St Joseph the Provider has canceled their decades old game which used to draw 200 players. The revenue from these games kept tuition at the local parish school down. Pennsylvania, where smoking is still legal in bingo halls, has seen an increase in players who are traveling from Ohio to play due to the smoking ban.

The law of unintended consequences has affected charitable organizations across the United States. In the US bingo games have been used for decades as a fund raising tool for both churches and organizations ranging from veterans groups to schools. These organizations must now find new ways to generate revenue. While the rationale behind the various smoking bans was well intentioned the effects of these limitations have had negative results for some businesses and private organizations.

Online Bingo is becoming more attractive to players in the UK and the United States for a variety of reasons. Besides the obvious effects of smoking bans the larger jackpots offered by online bingo websites are attracting players in droves. Most online bingo sites are designed in a user friendly manner and those new to computers find them easy to use. Most sites are either owned or operated by publicly traded companies and have a reputation for honestly unequaled in the online gaming industry.

While the internet has certainly affected land based bingo halls to a limited extent, smoking bans have been cited by industry experts as the major factor contributing to the decline of the land based bingo industry. In places like Atlantic City municipal smoking bans have had an adverse effect on revenue and a compromise has been worked out by the city council. All this is good news for the online bingo industry which is expected to see significant growth despite the US gambling ban. Online bingo has proved to be a satisfactory solution for those who used to play at land based bingo halls. Gaming industry experts predict that online bingo will surpass traditional bingo in the very near future.

Give Em' the Bird!

On this blog we usually try to confine ourselves to online bingo and related topics but while surfing the internet I found a video that I just had to share with other online bingo players. Many of you probably have pet birds and this blog is for bird lovers as evidenced by the name www.Birdloversonly.blogspot.com. This appears to be a new blog and I predict that their popularity will increase drastically in the coming weeks.

I never knew birds had musical preferences until I saw the video on this blog. The video features a bird described as, “a medium sulphur crested Elanora cockatoo named Snowball. This bird can dance! While we have all seen birds move about in their own peculiar manner, how many have seen a bird that keeps exact time to music? This video is nothing short of amazing and it’s something the whole family can enjoy. Snowball would be at home in any disco or club. In fact he can out dance most of the humans I know. Snowball has a distinct preference for the Backstreet Boys.

The website is run by a group located in Schererville Indiana that specializes in avian rescue. Their stated goal is; “Our goal is to build a habitat for the birds to make their stay more enjoyable while we find suitable permanent homes for them.” They provide a link for donations. They are a great source for information for bird lovers providing information about the health and care of birds. For those of you located in the Chicago area they are looking for volunteers.

Birds provide valuable companionship for many and especially senior citizens. I had a grandmother who was confined to a wheelchair for many years and her pet canary provided entertainment and companionship. If any of you online bingo players would like to get involved in a worthy cause and be entertained at the same time, here is the link to the video. http://birdloversonly.blogspot.com/2007/09/may-i-have-this-dance.html Enjoy!

Bingo Capitol of the USA !

BingoLingo a new bingo news and information website has named Grand Rapids Michigan as “Bingo Capitol of the USA”. www.BingoLingo.com has determined that Grand Rapids has more Bingo games per capita than any other metropolitan area in the United States.

Our studies have shown that Grand Rapids has more bingo games and halls than any other metropolitan area in the United States and more bingo players on a per capita basis than anywhere else in the country. Grand Rapids also has a growing population of players who play bingo online..

According to the US census Grand Rapids has a population of approximately 774,084, with a combined statistical area population of 1,320,487. The city, located in western Michigan has an ethnically diverse population including a large population of Roman Catholics which may account for the popularity of bingo in this mid-sized city.

Catholic churches have used bingo as a fund raising device for decades. In fact the church has done more than any other entity to popularize the game of bingo not only among Catholics but also among the general population. Studies also show that Grand Rapids has a larger than average number of online bingo players.

One of the main factors contributing to the switch by some players to online bingo is the recently imposed smoking ban. Studies show that approximately 60% of bingo players are smokers. The ban has greatly contributed to the switch by many players to online bingo.

Bucking recent trends Grand Rapids bingo players still patronize bingo halls with more frequency than anywhere else in the US earning the city the title “Bingo capitol of the US”. We congratulate the city of Grand Rapids “

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Top 10 Reasons to Play Bingo Online

TOP 10 REASONS TO PLAY BINGO ONLINE

Online bingo is one of the most enjoyable forms of entertainment available online. The variety of games exceeds anything to be found at land based bingo halls. Players can meet and socialize with other players from different cultures from around the world. Transactions are secure and the online bingo industry has a reputation for honesty and fairness. Here are ten good reasons to play bingo online.

1. With online bingo there is a winner every game. In the land based version there are games with no winner.

2. Playing bingo online is completely secure and private. There are many reputable e-wallet companies that provide players with deposit and withdrawal services in a timely manner.

3. Online bingo is less expensive. There are no expenses associated with travel such as gas. The cards are generally cheaper too.

4. Bingo is a game of chance and online bingo is no exception. Every player has the same chance to win. Almost all online bingo sites are honest and fair.

5. Players should read the policies of the sites they visit. Some are better than others and careful research can turn up some incredible bonuses.

6. You can try before you buy at most sites. Most bingo websites have a free play option and some even offer free bingo for cash. Unlike a land based bingo hall, you can leave at any time if you feel uncomfortable with the games.

7. Many online bingo sites offer side games. Players who get bored playing bingo have several options unlike land based bingo.

8. Studies show that playing bingo (especially the online version) helps to keep the mind sharp and train the memory.

9. When signing up for online bingo sites players can choose a name that is unique to each player. Imagination is the only limit.

10. Many online bingo sites have programs in place to identify compulsive betting patterns. This means that the industry is looking out for the players.

Who's Switching to Online Bingo?

Thinking of switching to online bingo? If so, you’re not alone. Experts in the online bingo industry are predicting a huge increase in the number of bingo players online. Who plays bingo and why the sudden surge in the number of bingo fanatics who are choosing to play online?

The old stereotype of little old ladies sitting in a church basement chain smoking is no more. In recent years there has been a surge of younger players both online and at land based halls. While male bingo players are still relatively rare (about 15%) studies have shown an increase in the number of men playing bingo online. Bingo, whether online or land based, is still dominated by females. Online, women comprise 85% of players while at land based halls they account for 70% of all players.

Several factors combined are contributing to this increase in online players. Online Bingo sites can offer much larger jackpots and a wider variety of brand name prizes than their land based counterparts. In Europe and the US smoking bans have literally emptied some land based halls and sent players online. In the UK alone it is estimated that the new smoking ban could account for as much as a 63% increase in new online bingo players. Convenience is a major factor for the switch to online bingo. Given the fact that most bingo players are women and a majority have children, many women choose to play online because they can play and watch their children at the same time. It is obviously more convenient for a woman with children to play bingo online. No baby sitter is needed and occasionally a parent will allow the children to participate in the game.

When making the switch to online bingo what makes players choose one site over another? There are many reasons cited by experts in the industry. Most online bingo players, like a majority of the general population, are not tech savvy and a site that is user friendly is more likely to attract players than one that is difficult to use and uses technical jargon. The attractiveness of a site, while a minor factor, can often make a player choose one site over another. As with any other business customer service and reputation are major factors attracting players and retaining them. In the past there have been some fly by night operations that gave the whole industry a bad rap. Most of these are now nonexistent.

The jackpots and prizes offered by online bingo sites are significantly larger than those of their brick and mortar counterparts. Prizes such as expensive plasma televisions and all expense paid vacations are common online but virtually unknown in land based bingo halls. The social aspect of bingo is cited as one of the main reasons players congregate in land based bingo halls. Online bingo offers the same social interaction through the use of chat rooms. Online Bingo has a real advantage here because the internet is global in scope and players from different cultures and countries can interact. Over half of online bingo players use the chat rooms and cite it as a major reason they play online.

Online Bingo is a steadily growing industry around the globe. With all the competition between the many sites consumers have the upper hand. Clearly online bingo is the wave of the future.

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