Bingo is a social game and traditional venues are seen as local community hubs. However, these spaces are not considered ideal for socialising compared to other out-of-home leisure activities like going to the pub or participating in social entertainment games.
Bingo is a social game and traditional venues are seen as local community hubs. However, these spaces are not considered ideal for socialising compared to other out-of-home leisure activities like going to the pub or participating in social entertainment games. With bingo play remaining stable over the past two years, operators can address this by focusing on game innovation and spaces designed for groups.
Over the years, land-based operators have streamlined their estates, but the number of licensed bingo premises has remained stable. There has been a rise in high street bingo venues that often focus more on gaming machines than actual bingo, making them hard to distinguish from adult gaming centres (AGCs). Ongoing regulatory changes aim to support in-person bingo, a relatively low-risk gambling activity, by ensuring venues’ licences accurately reflect their offerings. This will create clearer distinctions and better protect players.
Bingo venues are often perceived as having poor food and drink options. This provides operators with the opportunity to increase revenue by elevating their menus and creating a point of difference.
This Report covers the UK bingo market, online and in licensed clubs.
Online bingo is defined as bingo games provided by operators of websites and/or mobile apps that are licensed by the Gambling Commission for the purpose of gambling. Other products offered alongside bingo, such as casino games, instant-wins and virtual slots, are considered outside the scope of this Report.
Bingo clubs are defined as clubs that are licensed by the Gambling Commission for the purpose of playing cash bingo. Other ways of playing bingo (usually ‘prize bingo’ for prizes or lower cash returns) are also discussed, although they do not form part of the Report’s core focus.
Alongside these licensed clubs, bingo has also traditionally been played in licensed social clubs, holiday parks, working men’s clubs and political clubs. These venues are considered outside the scope of this Report, although they may be referenced for context where appropriate.
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