Potted History of WhichBingo Online Bingo Awards (Part 1)

WhichBingo founder Phil Fraser has been looking back at how the WhichBingo Awards came about and what they mean to the online bingo industry:

Back in the latter months of 2003 an idea took seed. Before the UK online bingo market had been born, there was a healthy, booming US-facing online bingo industry. At that time there was only one major online bingo portal serving this market, WhichBingo.com.

WhichBingo.com decided that there was no way for players to recognise and reward the sites that they loved playing at, so in December 2003 the WhichBingo ‘Site of the Year’ awards were launched. The aim of the awards was announced as ‘….to recognise and reward excellence in online bingo, as voted by the most important part of the game, the players.’

Throughout December 2003, online bingo players from around the virtual world voted in their thousands for the awards. The winner of the inaugural award was Cyberbingo.com, a site that is still in existence today. Interestingly, only three of the top ten sites still exist. The awards were such a success, both with site operators and players that they became an annual event.

Fast forward three years to 2006 and WhichBingo.com had been joined by WhichBingo UK. By then the UK online bingo market had started to really establish itself so it was decided that a version of the awards would be launched specifically for the UK market.

Looking back, the inaugural results make an interesting view of the market at that time; whilst Mecca Bingo took the inaugural award, closely followed by runners up Gala Bingo, the next six sites in the top ten were all independent, stand alone sites. Perhaps reflecting a less competitive and more open landscape.

In a reflection of the vibrancy of the market, 2007’s WhichBingo UK ‘Site of the Year’ vote saw a new category added; ‘New Online Bingo Site of the Year’. Whilst the new site winner was Gone Bingo, it is interesting to see some very notable names that launched that year including William Hill, Paddy Power and Betfred Bingo, along with the short-lived, but very interesting, Anne Summers Bingo. The winner of the main award was one of the industry’s pioneers, Think Bingo, who were soon to be purchased by Cashcade (perhaps in response to their success in the award).

(To Be Continued)

Comments

Fill In The Box Below To Leave Your Comment.

You must be logged in to leave a comment. You can create an account as you leave your comment below. If you already have an account please log in using the box in the side nav.

Other Top Stories

• Limited time £10 free no deposit offer at Foxy Bingo
• Visit the Posh Bingo Treaure Island for free
• £70,000 Big Link Week underway at tombola Bingo
• Join the Jubilee tournament at Tasty Bingo
• Play at the £20k Gala Bingo Garden Party
• Rank celebrates success of bingo and casino operations
• WhichBingo member wins £500 cash prize at Bingo3X
• Soap Star favourites join Bingo Cams

Latest Tweets

Follow @WhichBingoUk on Twitter

Podcast

WhichBingo UK Podcast March 2011

WhichBingo On Your Mobile

Get the latest bingo news and offers straight to your mobile phone.

First time on TV for Heart Bingo

More bingo value at Jackpotjoy

Fun at Robin Hood Bingo

Editors Choice

Mecca Bingo

Mecca Bingo may have been around for 50 years in one form or another, but its offer is as fresh today as it was when it first launched on to the high street all those years ago. Play on land, online or on mobile, but if you have to make one choice for bingo make it the WhichBingo Site of the Month for May, Mecca Bingo.

Featured Site - Bingo MagiX

Get a FREE £5 bonus at Bingo MagiX, this month's Featured Site, with this code: WBFIVE - even if you're an existing player!