BINGO LINK The only magazine produced for the UK Bingo Industry Issue 71 October 2005 Caller of the Year End of 24 hour rule Update The regional round-up Members can join and play today! Electronic terminals The UK online bingo explosion! 2005 has seen a multi- bingo information site Which and Playtech Software. player UK online bingo Bingo UK, which provides a These three have been explosion, as over the past very easy way to find UK joined by `new kids on the 6 months more and more online bingo sites and block' Virtue Fusion and sites have been launched communities. 1Gaming. In addition, there in the UK, including some Phil explains that, in order are other companies, notably from land based bingo. to own/operate an online Aqua Online, who offer a 75 Why this sudden spate of bingo site you need to ball game, but played in activity, and rapid closing license software from a pound sterling. of the gap with the US? specialist online games For the use of their To get an overview of the supplier. The main software software, these suppliers will Legendary entertainer and television game show host Bruce Forsyth is a dab hand at bingo basics of online bingo licensors in the UK 90 ball charge a license fee made operation, and a brief history market are the experienced up of a combination of set- Celebs make a fast of the UK market, we spoke suppliers Parlay Entertain- up costs; an on-going to Phil Fraser, owner of ment, Chartwell Technology management fee; and/or an on-going revenue share start with this year's agreement. In addition to selecting a Bingo for Breakthrough! software partner, there is a Ahead of this year's official 5th September at The choice of one of two Bingo for Breakthrough Dorchester Hotel in London, business models to follow. week, a number of well where Bret Hyrak, a previous These two main business known celebrities have got finalist in Caller of the Year models are known as a into the bingo spirit early. and a contestant in this `stand alone' game or a Dabbers at the ready, year's competition, did the `network' game (also known it was eyes down, look Continued on page 10 as a `front end' game). in, as celebrities played Bingo for Stand alone game Breakthrough at this A `stand alone' game is a year's annual game set up by one TV Quick Awards. operator, alone. To launch a The ceremony, held Bingo Link is published by Bingo Ballroom ± just one of the increasing number of internet sites offering bingo on line Continued on page 4 on Monday the Bingo Association Win Hollie the Hippo! see page 7 news The National Game HRH The Prince of Wales Quarterly news and update from Chief Executive, Paul Talboys announces Ambassador As 2005 rapidly draws to a close, for East Midlands you and your customers are His Royal Highness, The to become involved in hopefully going `Bingo Bonkers' Prince of Wales has made community activity.' He and ready to play Bingo for John Kelly, Chairman of added, `John has done Breakthrough, our award winning Gala Group, his Ambassador much to promote business fundraising campaign in support for the East Midlands. engagement in the most of Breakthrough Breast Cancer. The Ambassador Award is disadvantaged areas.' This has certainly been a good year for NBGA part of the Business in the All of us at Bingo Link promotions and developments with Ground Shaker, Community National Awards would like to congratulate the introduction of the hugely successful afternoon for Excellence John on receiving this richly 2005 games, The BIG Number, Bingo Bonkers and the His Royal Highness paid deserved award. launch of Eyes Down, all of which have been in tribute to Mr Kelly for his · European Bingo Diary addition to our £500,000 games. commitment to responsible Federation Takes Shape Our final activity for 2005 will be our traditional business and contribution to The Federation of European 24-30 October £500,000 Game on Sunday 18th December. This local community, particularly Bingo Associations is due to Bingo for Breakthrough 2005 special game will be promoted in the November disadvantaged communities. be formed on 15 November edition of the new-look Eyes Down, due in clubs mid- The Prince of Wales stated, 2005, when representatives 27 November November and full of Christmas features, news and `In 1998, John visited a from the UK and Spanish Caller of the Year 2005 competitions. In addition, to promote our Christmas school in South London on Associations sign-up as its National Final game, there will also be in-club point of sale (available the Seeing is Believing first members. It is hoped Mecca, Catford, London. by 25 November), PR activity and press advertising in programme where he met a that the Italian Association For details call Pattinson key women's weekly young Ethiopian teenager, will join in early 2006. As PR: 020 8310 5086 magazines. And who told him about some European legislation gains January 2006 may I also take this of the problems she had greater importance for bingo, ATEI/ICE opportunity to wish faced in her life. That visit it is clear that this Federation Earls Court Exhibition every one of you motivated him to take on the will have an increasingly Centre, London a very Happy leadership of the `Race for significant role to play. Christmas and Opportunity' campaign in Bingo Link will take a closer 10-11 March a prosperous the East Midlands, and to look at this new Federation Amuse UK New Year. encourage his employees in the January 2006 issue. Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool National Bingo Game: key statistics Total prize money since the game began £857,585,750 Total prize money played for in 2004 £ 50,703,875 Total prize money played for in 2005 to 2 October £39,923,373 Bingo in Number of press hits by month Biggest games for 2004 April May June Consumer magazines 5 5 1 Saturday 8 May with ticket sales of 1,180,644 Electronic media 6 1 0 Saturday 17 April with ticket sales of 962,292 the news April and May were quite National press 14 4 7 Biggest game to date for 2005 good months for press Regional press 142 122 85 Saturday 23 April with ticket sales of 1,069,458 TOTAL 167 132 93 coverage this year, helped by Quarterly total: 367 Year to date: 910 the advent of Ground Shaker 2005 and the introduction encouraging players to work offers support at regional BINGO LINK is published by the of Shaker Plus prizes. These with National/Regional PR and national level for helping The Bingo Association, Lexham House, 75 High Street additional 130 prizes gave teams ± and not to take any to manage the media, and North, Dunstable, Bedfordshire LU6 1JF us more stories of winners press enquiries themselves works with players and clubs Tel: 01582 860921 Fax: 01582 860925 and greater opportunities to ± we have greatly reduced to promote bingo. E-mail: [email protected] talk to the press. the chances of any adverse Editor Steven Baldwin Club staff play a crucial publicity for winners. G National Game role in encouraging players The busiest regions for Regional PR contact: Produced by Axon Publishing Ltd, 11 Plough Yard, London EC2A 3LP. to agree to publicity, and coverage during the months Georgina Palmer Tel: 020 7684 7111. E-mail: [email protected] many of the concerns that of April, May and June 01438 718500 Reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited without G National Game the permission of the publishers. Views expressed are not previously existed have have been West Midlands necessarily those of The Bingo Association or Axon Publishing been minimised by the (17%), Scotland (18%) National PR Agency: Ltd. Prices and information correct at date of publication, but availability of full PR support and the North East (12%) Beattie Communications subject to change. from the National Game. By respectively. The NBGA 020 7053 6000 2 news situation is less clear-cut. The Government has just End of the Update on finished a consultation exercise based on a proposal for a partial ban, 24-hour rule smoking ban whereby large numbers of Commencement Orders members ± which means premises will signed by the Minister for they can join a club and Legislation is still proceeding 2006 smoking will be be excluded from the Sport, Richard Caborn play straight away. Play which could mean a ban on banned in all bingo clubs in prohibition. As things stand MP, brought into force a today, win today! smoking in bingo clubs. But Scotland. at present, bingo clubs will number of provisions of Of the administrative the laws are changing at not be excluded from the the Gambling Act 2005. matters brought into different times in different Wales legislation prohibition. The Orders dealt with effect, the most parts of the country. The National Assembly for The bingo industry takes predominantly significant was the Wales has expressed views the view that the fairest and administrative matters, establishment of the Scotland legislation very similar to the Scottish most easily enforceable but there was one item Gambling Commission, The Scottish Parliament has Parliament, but it does not system would be to impose that will be of which replaced the not been slow in legislating have the powers at the a total ban, as is the case considerable and Gaming Board and took for a smokefree environment moment to set its own in Scotland. All venues in immediate interest to over all its functions, in the workplace and legislation.