A Review Of Online Bingo In 2023
Published On 3rd January 2024
Exactly 12 months ago we wrote that 2022 was our hardest year in the online gambling industry. We also wrote that we didn't envisage "anything to dramatically change going forward" but we did hope to still be operational. Well as we kick start 2024 the good news is that we're still here and just about managing to tick along. The past year in bingo won't rank as vintage or live long in the memory, but we've take a few moments to look back and highlight some of the interesting things that have occurred. We've had new bingo games, big bingo jackpots, site closures and quite possibly the greatest bit of catching a big brand copying us ever. Read on below to enjoy our 2023 in review.
Bingo Site Closures
One of the least surprising events of 2023 was seeing various bingo brands close their doors. Since Broadway Gaming acquired Dragonfish we've literally been waiting to see which brands would survive and which would be culled. However in January we reported that instead of site closures we were seeing new sites launch on the platform. Win It Bingo, Heat Bingo, Oink Bingo and Blast Off Bingo all returned from the dead to kick start afresh as new sites. But isn't this about closures? Well yes as sadly all four closed later in the year citing changes in direction at Broadway. When Broadway purchased Dragonfish they also acquired a whole bunch of bingo sites including Wink, 888 Ladies and Costa. They - so far - are still OK but sister brands like Bingo Ballroom, Treasure Bingo and even Fancy Bingo have all now closed. Tau Gaming also dropped a number of their brands during 2023 whilst Intouch Games opted to close down their operation due to UKGC compliance issues. Perhaps the biggest name to go though during 2023 was Entain's Cheeky Bingo that ceased operations at the end of November. Cheeky launched in 2009 and was one of the first - if not the first - to offer free bingo for real cash prizes.
New Bingo Sites
2023 did see a handful of new bingo sites arrive on the scene. Sadly for Win It and co above their foray into a brave new world was shortlived. However their arrival did highlight a growing trend in the new bingo sector. Instead of creating new brands the trend is to try and breathe life into old ones. Former Wink Bingo sister site Bingo Loft for example has come under new ownership alongside Fantastic Spins. The Sun Play is another to return to online gambling after a short hiatus. They're hoping to have better luck on the Jumpman Gaming platform. It's the latter where usually the most new sites occur but they've been pretty quiet during 2023 and even closed some sites. Moving platform or relaunching can have benefits though when it comes to awards time. Just ask Bet365 Bingo who won an award for "Best New Bingo Site" despite having a bingo site for 20 years. If you ever wanted to question the credibility of industry awards then 2023 provided plenty of evidence. We have no idea who will even get nominated for 2024's awards rounds but if our Clucky Bingo was still around it surely would have a chance!
Hook, Line & Sinker
Sometimes the little guy has to fight back and in March 2023 we managed to do just that. Over a sustained period we'd become aware that our news content was "inspiring" the content for another portal. Not any portal, but probably the biggest bingo portal in The UK. Frustratingly we couldn't prove it so set about catching them out and boy did we catch them. The experiment was simple - write an article with selected content that if it was being copied then that content would be lifted. And sure enough it was "which" enabled us to write about it in Can Coincidences Happen In Online Bingo? To be fair the company involved did take action and it seems the writer is no longer with them. We were asked why didn't we just raise the issue directly when we became suspicious. As well as this site we also run Loquax Competitions which has been copied and copied over many years. One thing you learn is that the nice going direct approach often doesn't work. Things get swept under the carpet and excuses are made. The way we did it meant we could demonstrate conclusively that our content was being used by another company. Long term it won't make any difference. Industry doesn't care for the little guy being kicked but for a short time in March life was good.
Bingo Games & Jackpots
New bingo games have arrived on the scene during 2023 although as is standard most have launched over at Tombola. They added Bingo40, Bingo30, Wordsearch Bingo and Starship to their roster during the year. They also brought back Britain's Biggest Bingo for another run after a summer hiatus but sadly Hamster Racing was closed down along with their affiliate program. Both relics of a bygone era sadly being left behind by red tape, over worried lawyers and difficult market conditions. Elsewhere TV and online slots provided the inspiration for other new bingo variants that included Loose Women over at Mecca Bingo, Slingo Bingo at Foxy, Money Drop Bingo at Betfred and Clover Rollover which we spotted at Sky. Whilst it's great to see new bingo inspired games we did also see some close. Britain's Got Talent Bingo was dropped at Mecca whilst Jackpotjoy decided that Blox should be renamed Bingo Time whilst Game Show and Crystal Maze Bingo had done their time. Joining them in the bin is Friends Bingo, a forerunner to the new Coronation Street Bingo before Foxy and Gala ended up on the same Entain platform. We also believe that Grease Bingo is no longer on Virtue Fusion and that Buzz have dropped The Voice 80 Ball game too.
Looking Ahead
We expect that we're in for another interesting year although we doubt it's going to be great for us. During 2023 we did manage to add some new brands but we do expect a few more to drop off in the next 12 months. But we'll try and plough on regardless of the challenges to come! Online bingo looks like it's on a set course towards a handful of big brands battling it out for players across a few platforms. Sadly it does seem that regular promotions are no longer viable. Instead operators are transfixed with running daily free to play games and big money jackpots. Will the ever growing prize pots (£250K at Tombola, £150K at Entain and £100K at Virtue Fusion) help boost player numbers? New bingo sites are few and far between and those that do launch will struggle for traction. We do wonder whether players are looking at alternatives to spend their cash such as pay to enter prize draws. Sites like McKinney, Bounty and Bear are offering the chance to win huge cash prizes, cars and houses whereas bingo sites are actually offering less and and less when it comes to regular prizes and promos. Hopefully online bingo does have something big up it's sleeve for 2024 and that in 12 months time we're still here to review it.
Related & Recent Articles
- Play Crystal Maze Bingo - 90 Ball Bingo
- New Instant Wins Added To Doubly Bubbly Free Game
- Drop Pots Jackpots Are Launched By Pragmatic Play
- 20 Year Old Brand Is Best New Bingo Site 2023
- New Joy Bingo Room Opens At Jackpotjoy
- Jackpotjoy Review
- Latest News
