BL_Apr_p1_v01 2/4/07 9:26 am Page 1 BThe only magazineINGO produced for the UK Bingo IndustryL INK Issue 77 April 2007 Online bingo Legislation Bingo for Breakthrough Jackpot fever as prizes rocket Gambling Act update Celebrating a record success Actress Linda Robson takes a defiant stance on the threat facing bingo Stop destroying my bingo! 007 is set to be one of the most rates in the gambling industry, a burden that is it currently has under the 1968 Gaming Act. For challenging years in living memory for the increasingly difficult to bear. bingo this promise is not set to be delivered on, 2bingo industry, with some of the most If bingo is to compete fairly in the leisure and as increases in licence costs and removal of radical changes in 39 years taking place. Such gambling market, then its level of taxation Section 21 games are set to increase costs of changes should ideally present a wealth of should not see it unfairly disadvantaged. This is operation and reduce the scope of a crucial opportunity, but due to the time frame and clearly not a view that has been held by the revenue stream, further challenging the nature of the changes taking place they Treasury to date, which seems determined to commercial viability of many clubs. present a very real threat to the future shape of allow this situation to continue, despite its The issues facing clubs are all set to be the industry. ultimately dire consequence for bingo operators, played out against the backdrop of a ban on The issues conspiring against the industry are clubs and players. smoking in public places, which was introduced not consumer led, but driven by legislation, both In addition to the ongoing burden of an unfair in Scotland last year, in Wales earlier this month existing and new. tax regime, changes due to come into effect and will come into effect in England in July. The industry has operated for a considerable under the new Gambling Act will further burden The ban was supported by the industry time under an unfair tax regime that requires the industry, while offering very little by way of on the ground of the nations’ health, bingo operators to pay VAT, while other sectors the benefits initially outlined in the Budd Report however, operators with clubs in Scotland of the gambling industry do not. The combined of 2001. It was promised in this report that no are all too painfully aware of the extreme tax rate sees bingo paying one of the highest sector would have less under the new Act than continued on page 8 BL_Apr_p2_v01 2/4/07 9:59 am Page 2 news Diary The National Game Dates Quarterly news and update from Chief Executive Paul Talboys 25 April The Bingo Association and National Bingo Game Association AGM, Queen Elizabeth II Conference 2007 is a year of change Centre, London. Contact Donna Black: 01582 860921, Our traditional Mothers’ Day to be done, software and industry to take advantage of donna@bingo- special game has already taken hardware development and roll stake retention under the new association.co.uk place and due to adverse out, in addition to yet more Act, at both club and national weather conditions in some areas consultation documents. level, is currently on schedule. 25 May of the country we narrowly In readiness for a radically We will share further details with Gaming Investor missed making our target different and exciting new you as soon as we can. Conference, National prize of £500,000. It is National Bingo Game Meeron has now signed its Guoman Tower Hotel, London sad that we did not reach this post-September and for the agreement with leading online Contact Clarion ATE, target as it will be the last game heightened seasonal dips in bingo provider, Virtue Fusion, to www.ateonline.co.uk/gi of its kind to take place under admissions the industry is facing form Bingo Networks Alderney, existing/old legislation. Mothers’ this year, some interim revisions (see page 17) that initially will 1 July Day 2008 will present us with a to the National Game ticket price offer operators the opportunity to Ban on smoking in far broader range of promotional and prize fund and structure are develop an online bingo presence public places introduced options, courtesy of the due to be implemented next easily and securely and will then in England Gambling Act 2005. month. These changes will see a seek to explore how NBGA and We are already a third of the more logical ticket price across Meeron members can exploit and October way through the year and various the week and will put more prize benefit from existing relationships Bingo For Breakthrough countdowns to change have money back on individual club in an online environment. started – countdown to new boards, by way of an increased Later this month, we also have Please remember to notify us of legislation, countdown to house prize. Players are our AGM at the Queen Elizabeth your events so we can include smoking ban (only England left to notoriously resistant to change II Conference Centre in London, them here. Email us at go) and a countdown to new and it is important that these which I hope you will be able [email protected] possibilities for bingo and the changes are presented positively. to attend. National Bingo Game. In This, of course, is in readiness for preparing to meet challenges and the use of stake retention for the opportunities arising from these first time in the UK. changes, there remains a The process of developing the Bingo in the media significant amount of groundwork JLS software that will enable the The final quarter of 2006 continued the trend of Q3, showing an increase National Bingo Game: key statistics in media coverage, ending the year on a record high of 1,883 pieces. November 2006 proved to be exceptional, providing nearly double the Total prize money since the game began £93,872,397 quantity of coverage for the same month in 2005. Total prize money played for in 2007 until 31 January £4,626,506 Press coverage arising from the new NBGA television commercials provided increased opportunities and the national final of NBGA Caller of Biggest games for 2006 the Year also provided additional opportunities. The most significant difference this quarter is the increase in electronic Thursday 26 January with ticket sales of 896,752 coverage ie. stories and editorial published on websites. While there has Thursday 26 October with ticket sales of 859,044 always been a smattering of coverage arising from this area, we are finally starting to see it outstrip even regional publications as an opportunity for Biggest game to date for 2007 coverage. This trend is one that is likely to continue as a prominent feature of media coverage, as more and more people read online. Saturday evening 17 February with ticket sales of £757,026 Number of press hits by month BINGO LINK is published by The Bingo Association, Lexham October November December House, 75 High Street North, Dunstable, Bedfordshire LU6 1JF. Consumer press 6110 Tel: 01582 860921. Fax: 01582 860925. Electronic media 86 25 20 Email: [email protected] National press Editor: Steve Baldwin 16 9 9 Regional press 161 139 112 Produced by Associa Ltd, North Gate, Uppingham, Rutland LE15 9PL. TOTAL 269 184 141 Tel: 01572 824600. Email: (editorial) [email protected] Quarter 3 total: 594 Year to date: 1,883 Email: (advertising) Sally Wilkinson: [email protected] The busiest regions for coverage have been Northern Region (13 per cent), North East Tel: 01427 668662. Region (11 per cent) and Scotland (15 per cent) for each month respectively. The increase in electronic media has also impacted on the region delivering the most Reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited without the permission of the publishers. coverage. As online material is held to be available nationally, it will be no surprise that for Views expressed are not necessarily those of The Bingo Association or Associa Ltd. Prices each of the three final months of 2006 that ‘nationally available’ was the section delivering and information correct at date of publication but subject to change. the greatest quantity of coverage overall. 2 BL_Apr_p3_v01 2/4/07 10:00 am Page 3 news Sharon and Gala raise cash for Comic Relief elebrity Sharon Osbourne helped important role in helping transform the lives Gala Bingo raise more than of people living with poverty and social C£150,000 for Comic Relief at the injustice. I hope bingo lovers and those of first Comic Relief bingo game at Surrey you who are new to the game continue to Quays Gala. help us raise as much money as possible.’ Sharon said: ‘I am delighted Gala Red Nose fun went on throughout Bingo invited me to be its ‘Big One’ bingo the 170 Gala Bingo clubs nationwide caller. I love bingo; what’s more I’m a huge in the run-up to Red Nose Day on supporter of Comic Relief, which plays an 16 March. Russell and Brian join Mecca Jeff leaves Crown Leisure Mecca Bingo has signed up leading astrologer Russell Grant and Big Brother star Brian Dowling to support its online community. fter more than 23 years at TV favourite Russell will provide an exclusive series of detailed month-by-month Crown Leisure, Jeff Fannon predictions for 2007. He has focused on the ‘numbers’ game by giving Mecca A will be leaving the members an insight into which dates each month are the best for playing bingo organisation this summer.