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Gala Bingo’s All the Calls Campaign Art Exhibition
by Anita Heffernan, 16/02/2024
For one unforgettable weekend bingo really came to life in the form of bingo number calls being represented as works of art in a unique pop-up art gallery – or Galary as this venue was called.
What was dubbed a ‘one-of-a-kind activation’, the All the Calls Galary was set up to task visitors to test their bingo lingo knowledge and try to identify all 90 numbers from their artful representations.
The event took place over one weekend in February 2024 and offered visitors the chance to enter a draw for the chance to win a £2,500 gift card or possibly receive a Gala Bingo goody bag. Upon arrival, attendees were given a bingo card and pencil and tasked with matching the artwork to the 90 bingo calls.
The exhibition had a two-fold purpose – to highlight the fun of bingo and its history or weird calls for the numbers and the community that the game engenders in all its forms. The exhibit was not designed to be serious, but to create ‘a joyful and sensory playground that will make people smile, laugh and think.’
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The event continued the All the Calls theme that was brough to life in a marathon TV advert towards the end of 2023, when every single call was shown via its lingo happening in ‘real-time’ on a typical high street, but in slow motion.
This piece of bingo pop-culture was held in the Smolensky Gallery in the up and coming Spinningfields area of Manchester, near the brand-new creative hub of Factory International.
Of the latest pop-up innovation Sara Jolly, Head of Brand at Gala Bingo said,
“After the amazing reception from our All the Calls campaign, we’re thrilled to inject joy and curiosity into the city of Manchester this February with the All The Calls Galary. We’re bringing all 90 calls back into the heart of the bingo community through an interactive experience and we can’t wait to see the public being put to the bingo call test in this unique way.”
Buzz Bingo Partners With Future Anthem AI for Enhanced Play Experience
by Esther Rubin, 01/02/2024
Buzz Bingo is a fan favourite in the online bingo community. It’s one of the largest and strongest bingo brands in the UK, WhichBingo scores it 4.5 out of a possible 5, and their bingo party brand, Bada Bingo, is said to be one of the best bingo nights out. And we suspect the bingo site is about to get even better.
Get ready to experience the future of online bingo at Buzz Bingo because it’s taking an exciting step in gaming innovation. We’re talking about the adoption of ‘real-time personalization’ technology from Future Anthem. The famous bingo brand is hoping to jump ahead in the market by adopting Future Anthem’s ‘Amplifier AI’ and take advantage of how it’s reshaping the bingo landscape for an overall better gaming adventure. The future’s bright, the future’s Future Anthems, apparently. Let’s dig in.
A personalised games lobby
So how does AI fit into the online bingo space? Picture this: the Buzz Bingo games lobby that can recommend content, whether that’s certain bingo games, slot games, bonuses, etc. Content that players are likely to be entertained by, based on analysed player behaviour. By Buzz Bingo tapping into how likely a player is to enjoy (or not enjoy) particular content, means it can encourage (or discourage) them to engage – which ultimately elevates the whole playing experience. Essentially, players will get to play more of what they like to play.
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Advantages for both Buzz Bingo and players
For players, the Amplifier AI tailors recommendations, providing a positive gaming experience curated specifically for them that enhances engagement and improves satisfaction. For Buzz, the AI will help improvements in key business areas such as player retention, revenue, and conversion rates, because by presenting players with more of the content they enjoy, they’ll be more likely to stay and play.
Player Safety at the Core
With a deep understanding of player preferences and their lifecycle stages, the AI anticipates player behaviour. If there’s the likelihood of a player stepping away, the AI can intervene – maybe with a game suggestion or targeted bonus. Rest assured, Buzz Bingo prioritises player safety by integrating Future Anthem with its player monitoring efforts, ensuring a secure environment for all players.
A gaming experience that’s all about the player
The partnership with Future Anthem positions Buzz Bingo as an industry-leader and signifies a new era for online bingo. Adopting AI at this scale is a move that Buzz Bingo hopes will help players enjoy their gaming sessions even more than they do already!
So get ready for your new, AI-driven games lobby. And do let us know what you think.
Exclusive Emoji Bingo Bags Mecca Bingo Fan £40k Jackpot
by Esther Rubin, January 23rd, 2024
Well, this is the right way to start a new year! Leah_louise2019, a Hull-based 33-year-old mother of two, won a massive progressive jackpot of £39,520 at Mecca Bingo online. By purchasing a 25p ticket for the Emoji Game, Leah set herself on a path to a wonderful future. Let’s uncover the moment she realised she’d won and her plans for the windfall.
Just One Bingo Ticket Is All It Takes
Busy mum to her two daughters aged 3 and 4, Leah_louise2019 loves playing a bit of online bingo. It’s a great way to unwind and enjoy some time away from the hubbub of daily life. This lucky player decided to join the fun at Mecca Bingo online, while going about her household routine. She opted for a prebuy ticket to the Emoji Game, a unique 50-ball bingo with emojis replacing numbered balls. The prebuy functionality, popular on online bingo sites, lets you secure a spot in the game without having to present in real time.
That one decision turned 25p into £39,520. Little did lucky Leah know her ticket had all ten emoji characters, clinching not just the full house prize (something any player would be happy with!) but the staggering £39,520 diamond premiere jackpot!
Mecca Bingo’s Premiere Jackpots From Bronze to Diamond
Mecca Bingo’s five premiere jackpots are progressive, with 15 chances to win daily, dropping randomly in a selection of rooms. Just look for the crown symbol in participating rooms inside the games lobby. Find more here.
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An Unforgettable Bingo Moment
Coming back to her screen at the end of the game, Leah saw her username listed among the winners and realised that she’d won. Won BIG. As you can imagine, the shock of winning both the full house and the premiere jackpot left her astounded. After the news sank in that she’d scooped the jackpot, she scooped up her little girls and spun them around with joy.
On that moment, Leah says “When I saw my name on the screen I froze, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing! I can’t thank the Mecca Bingo team enough!”
The Future for an Online Bingo Winner
This lucky winner doesn’t have any definite plans on how to spend her winnings yet, but celebrating “a big holiday abroad” with family and friends, buying new Lego for her little girls, and enjoying a meal with her partner is potentially all on the horizon.
Consider Mecca Bingo
This charming Emoji Game story shows the exciting possibilities players have at Mecca. Mecca Bingo offers plenty of playing options, including the Mecca Bingo app (available on Android and iOS), meccabingo.com, or local bingo halls. Sometimes, all it takes is 25p (and a bit of distraction with chores.) We think Leah’s win makes a compelling case for ‘a watched pot never boils.’
Join the fun – you might be the next player to turn a bingo ticket into a celebration!
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Safer Spinning: UK Govt Caps Online Slot Stakes to Protect Players
by Esther Rubin, 26/02/2024
Are the days of devastating, life-changing losses from sky-high stakes on online slot games coming to an end? In a bid to minimise harm and keep the gaming experience enjoyable, the UK Government is implementing stake limits of £2 for under-25s and £5 for those over 25 with effect from September 2024.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is looking to minimise the potential for significant harm (both financial and emotional) associated with online slots. Let’s take a closer look.
Protecting the Next Generation of Slots Fans
Playing within your means and knowing how and when to stop is the crux of an enjoyable gaming experience. But there’s a darker side to online slot games for some – their addictive nature.
Which is why the government is taking steps to safeguard young adults, the demographic with the highest average problem gambling score of any age group. By addressing the vulnerabilities of this age group and limiting stakes, the government is aiming to ensure that playing online slots doesn’t come at a damaging price.
On the need for new measure, Gambling Minister Stuart Andrew states:
“Although millions of people gamble safely every single day, the evidence shows that there is a significantly higher problem gambling rate for online slot games […] so this announcement will level the playing field with the land-based sector and is the next step in a host of measures being introduced this year that will protect people from gambling harms.”
There’s currently no stake limit per spin on online slots. However, since 2019, there’s been a £2 limit on stakes (down from £100) on equivalent machines in betting shops, known as fixed-odds betting terminals. And the new limit matches the maximum on land-based fruit machines in casinos and other licensed premises –
Welcoming Safer Spins
Gambling charity GambleAware, which works to reduce harm and improve players’ well-being, accepts the lower stake limits, with chief exec Zoe Osmond sharing:
“Our research shows a concerning trend with this age group experiencing an increase in harm arising from gambling and online slots are very high-risk products.
“We welcome the Government’s announcement to introduce lower online stake limits for under-25s as an important mechanism to protect young people.”
But Could More Be Done?
To some, these new regulations don’t go far enough.
“The £2 limit for under-25s is a step in the right direction, but £5 for over-25s is another missed opportunity to stop the harm to millions and the devastation caused by gambling suicides.” says Charles Ritchie, co-founder of Gambling with Lives, who goes on to suggest changes to online slot games’ functionality such as slower spin speeds.
Ready, Set, Spin!
So what will the future hold for online slot enthusiasts? Will we still see big wins, like the player who scooped a €3.7 million Wowpot! Jackpot? With the new stake limits due in September, players will soon find themselves navigating a new world of online slots sites.
While Safeplay Tools offer support, stake limits could prove crucial for encouraging healthy gaming habits. We say – any steps that foster a safe environment for players, ensuring happy playing and prioritising well-being, gets a thumbs up.
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Casino Player Scoops €3.7 million Wowpot! Jackpot
by Esther Rubin, 30/01/2024
What’s that sound we can hear? Probably the resounding cheers of one lucky online casino player who dropped a huge €3.7 million progressive jackpot playing Wolf Blaze WowPot! Megaways on a €0.20 bet . As the online gaming community celebrates this amazing win, let’s delve into the success of Games Global in the world of online casino sites and find out more about the win.
The Megaways magic
So why are Megaways games so popular? A crucial element in the success of games like Wolf Blaze WowPot! is in the Megaways mechanic. Unlike traditional online slots that maintain the same number of paylines, reels, and rows on every spin, Megaways offers a more dynamic gaming experience which means there’s up to 117,649 ways to win. This special feature has captured the attention of thrill-seekers looking for a more unpredictable gaming experience.
Massive monies and Games Global’s dominance
WowPot! is part of Games Global’s progressive jackpot network which arrived on the scene in April 2023 and marked a shift in the online casino experience. Games Global, a leading player (excuse the pun) in the online casino domain, is an operator with an impressive portfolio of over 1000 games, across nearly 1000 global operators. Collaborating with more than 35 studios, including the developers Fortune Factory Studios behind Wolf Blaze WowPot!, Games Global has established itself as an industry powerhouse.
The recent €3.7 million follows closely on the heels (by close we mean a month) of a €38.4 million WowPot! payout, setting a new record for the largest online slot game win. Games Global’s progressive jackpot network, including Mega Moolah from 2021, has made industry history by an astounding average win rate of every 10 seconds in 2023.
Insights from the game’s architects
Sinead Benson, Fortune Factory Studios’s business development manager added: “This is the sort of thing we all hope for when creating exciting content and we are thrilled to be a part of the WowPot! story.”
And from Andy Booth, Games Global’s chief product officer: “There is nothing more satisfying than seeing our record-breaking network jackpots drop, especially when those wins come so close to one another. Congratulations to both the player and Fortune Factory Studios […].”
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