Bingo halls have been on a downward trend in the UK for more than a decade. According to the SW Londoner, only one bingo venue has opened in the UK in the past seven years. Since 2005, more than 6,500 jobs have been lost in the industry and today fewer than 400 individual bingo halls operate in the country.
Part of the blame goes to the increase in online bingo. But steep punitive tax rates, little innovation and unmotivated investors also have contributed to the drop in bingo halls. With half of the demographic including smokers, the 2007 smoking ban also drove away bingo players. For example, in Scotland, 10 clubs closed in the year after April 2006 the smoking ban was enforced in that country.
Changing tastes in gambling also account for the decline in bingo halls, with growing preferences for mobile platforms for poker, blackjack, roulette and similar games. Due to greater access to public wifi and affordable data plans, mobile and online bingo today makes up 5 percent of the online gaming niche.
William Hill and other brands attract players to online bingo with regular promotions, such as a Bingo Club and new-player bonuses. In addition, noted the scientific journal Plos One, several brands offer chat rooms and forums that create a sense of community and belonging, similar to physical bingo rooms.
