Before online bingo came along, the game enjoyed a long tradition of play in the physical world. Bingo halls have thrived for decades across the globe, and some continue to perform strongly, even in the digital age.
Online and offline bingo both have advantages and disadvantages, but more players are choosing to enjoy the game with digital operators. It’s felt that there are more upsides to online bingo, but why is this style of play a runaway success?
Ease and Convenience
The biggest plus point to online bingo is the sheer convenience. Bricks and mortar bingo halls are not open at all hours of the day and, for most of us, they are not located within a short distance.
Lovers of online bingo can register with one of the many available bingo sites and have access to their games on a 24/7 basis. They can play at any time of the day, and they don’t even have to leave their own home.
While real-life bingo halls exist in many major towns and cities, they simply can’t match their online rivals in terms of convenience.
The Choice is Yours
Online bingo operators also win when it comes to the question of choice. A regular bingo hall can only run one game at a time. Once the prize pot is won, the game is over and the players start again.
Online providers are not limited by floorspace, and customers can find many hundreds of games at any one time. There are 75-ball and 90-ball cards as standard and these are the most popular formats.
Players can choose between a range of stakes and prize funds, with lower level games paying a few pounds. At the higher end of the scale, there can be serious jackpot prizes at stake for some lucky winners.
In the online world, bingo can also incorporate a host of different themes. As with slot machines, games developers are free to be creative, and they can produce fantasy games, and titles with TV themes among others.
There’s even a new game known as Slingo, which is a mix of slots and bingo. Choice is almost limitless, and this is another area where online bingo is a clear winner.
The Social Side
It’s often said that bingo in the real world has one big advantage. A night out in a bingo hall is a great social occasion that gives players a chance to get out and enjoy themselves while catching up with friends and family.
Bingo can also play an important role in holidays away, with classic seaside resorts and popular holiday camps offering games for all their visitors.
While online play can’t ever match that atmosphere, they have worked hard to improve the social side of their operations. Most digital bingo sites now have chat rooms where players can interact with each other. A representative of the operator is usually on hand to provide some help if it’s needed.
Players will often make new friends on their playing journey, so there is a social side to online bingo. It won’t replace a great night out, but it’s a popular part of the landscape.
Added Value
The online bingo sector is a competitive one. There are hundreds of operators to choose from and more websites open up on a regular basis. In order to stand out from the competition, bingo providers list a welcome promotion as a thank you to new customers.
These offers will vary, but they often include free bingo tickets to get you started. Additional free games may also appear as part of a list of ongoing promotions. This factor of added value is something that a physical bingo hall cannot match. You may see promotions on drinks, but they are unlikely to offer free games, so this is another area where online play wins the day.
Online bingo has also introduced a whole new set of players who would have never discovered the game. Many of us hadn’t thought about bingo before, but the ease in which we can get involved has seen interest increase.
In some cases, this may have offered an unexpected benefit to offline bingo halls. While many of those locations have closed, those in certain areas are suddenly thriving because of a new interest in the game.
We’ve seen that online bingo wins out in so many ways, but there is a real possibility that digital operators and physical bingo halls can co-exist. It would be a shame to see those locations close, as they did so much to boost the game during the 1970s and 1980s.
Customers will always want to have a choice and that situation can continue. However, in terms of convenience, range of games and added value, the best option for all bingo players is to head online.
