Online bingo has grown steadily throughout the past couple of decades, and even more so over the past year considering the dependence on online entertainment for social connections during the COVID-19 quarantine periods. However, numbers have remained high even as lockdown restrictions are slowly being lifted and sports events are returning to normal. For online bingo specifically, its rise in popularity is due to several factors, and understanding its trajectory for the future can possibly spell greater rewards for enthusiasts in the long run.
Moving from Traditional to Online Bingo
Bingo, as a game, can be traced back as far as the 16th century, but it was only in the 19th and 20th centuries that it was distributed widely enough to be considered an industry in its own right. It was in the 21st century that bingo really rose to prominence, with traditional bingo halls transitioning into online websites and platforms.
Online bingo first appeared around the early 2000s, but with limited technology, players couldn’t enjoy a seamless experience and preferred traditional bingo halls. Once the tech caught up during the 2010s, the online bingo industry boomed as players enjoyed features such as chat rooms and access to different game types. This shift can be attributed largely to the following reasons:
Millennials and Online Gaming
A huge factor is a growing interest and participation from millennials, a generation that grew up with the progression of the technology present today. Among those was the development of mobile games on smartphones. From playing Snake on Nokia 3310 units to having thousands of online games to choose from on a single device, young people are more inclined to explore the convenience of online gaming rather than invest in a traditional console or physically go to a bingo hall.
The Variation of Games Available
One of the advantages of playing bingo on an online platform is the variety of games one can play. Not only are the typical games available, but other bingo providers such as Sun Bingo provide generous incentives, like free spins and big jackpots. Moreover, Gala Bingo has over 20 bingo rooms that offer every variant available, including 75-ball bingo and Deal or No Deal Bingo. No traditional bingo hall can match the experience of online bingo, which isn’t hampered by limited space or time — making it the preferred choice of players today.
Providing a Social Experience Despite Lockdowns
Many people have struggled with the constraints and challenges of an extended lockdown, and games like online bingo have done more than just quell the boredom housebound people are experiencing. The online arena differs from the traditional bingo hall since there are more opportunities to communicate with other players online through in-game chat functions, which have shown to be beneficial for social interaction. It also keeps the mind stimulated with the concentration required to play the game as well as provides a sense of routine, which is beneficial during these unpredictable times.
Challenges and Opportunities in the Industry
The online gaming industry has faced several challenges in the past, including converting players into loyal customers and targeting younger audiences — trends that seem to be changing especially within online bingo. Online game operators can take advantage of bingo’s accessibility and simplicity compared to more complex table games.
Free bingo services also allow newcomers to get their feet wet without commitments, making it ideal for game operators to include bingo in their offerings. Moreover, bingo offers online game operators the opportunity to target the millennial market for other games in the future given that many individuals from this cohort are signing up.
The steady climb of bingo in the online gaming industry presents a great opportunity for many gaming operators and a simple reprieve for those struggling with the pandemic lockdown. The game remains to be nothing short of iconic and is reasserting its presence in the digital sphere, where it is likely to meet more success in the coming years.
