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Annual insight report from WhichBingo suggests Bingo halls will continue to face a steady decline in numbers, as online popularity soars
The popularity of traditional Bingo halls is continuing to decline as audience demographics shift and the popularity of online bingo sites has soared in lockdown. The findings were part of the annual insight report by WhichBingo, the UK’s number one, independent online bingo reviews site, owned and operated by XLMedia, which found a significant shift in the Bingo industry to younger online consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2021 WhichBingo survey found that 45% of respondents said they prefer to play bingo online, while only 28% of the same respondents said they would prefer to play in a land-based hall. The report reveals player numbers at bingo halls are continuing to decline year on year since 2007, and the rise in popularity of online bingo has seen many players swap their weekly night out for time spent online.
Report researchers surveyed more than 800 adults who played online bingo in the UK between January 4th – 15th 2021, and results revealed that:
- Facebook is the social media platform of choice for bingo community groups
- Being part of an online bingo community is considered “very important” by 20% of players, according to the survey
- The social aspect of land-based bingo halls is perhaps the most difficult element to recreate, and 41% chose “the atmosphere” as their favourite part of attending a hall.
Facebook is the most likely place to find online bingo players gathering on social media, with 40% of survey respondents saying that is where they would like the online bingo community to exist. Website forums (27%) remain more popular than channels like Twitter (21%), Twitch (16%) and Discord (14%), showing that the most up-to-date platforms are not necessarily the places bingo players want to gather.
The report revealed that changing demographics might be behind behaviour shifts. There has been a significant increase in younger men playing online bingo, but the report’s findings show that it is still women between the ages of 25 – 54 that are the more likely grouping to play online bingo. The overall shift to a younger player demographic, with 25 to 54 now the most represented age range (83% of respondents), confirms an industry step-change and growing preference for online bingo.
The WhichBingo Report is an anticipated annual insight tool for the UK online bingo industry and a unique collective analysis of shifting consumer trends in online gaming business. The report studies and forecasts online gaming trends in the bingo, sports betting and casino industries.
Stuart Simms, CEO of XLMedia PLC Group: “Our reports have shown for several years now that the demographic playing bingo has been changing gradually and there has been a marked shift away from going down the bingo hall mid-week with friends to those playing online. Of course this has all been exacerbated by the pandemic and bingo halls being forced to shut by the government’s regulations. It seems online bingo’s appeal is now reaching people earlier in life, with those 25 to 54 now the most represented age range.
“It’s obviously hugely encouraging to see so many younger people enjoying the game and that it’s popularity is growing faster than ever. Of course, the questions on everyone’s lips will be how many of these changes have been caused by the pandemic and how many people will return to old habits when bingo halls are reopened to the public on May 17th. We think it’s important bingo retailers understand their new audiences and rethink how they communicate to them going forward.”
The full 2021 WhichBingo Report can be found online at the dedicated microsite: https://www.whichbingo.co.uk/reports/2021/
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Caleta Gaming
Caleta Gaming launches Cluster Cup high-volatility football-themed slot
New 7×7 cluster grid title ships with tumbling wins, progressive multipliers, Super Tricks and a Free Spins feature.
Caleta Gaming has launched Cluster Cup, a new high-volatility slot inspired by football and pitched around major June sporting events. The title is now available to operators worldwide, the supplier said.
Cluster Cup uses a 7×7 cluster grid and a Tumbler Feature, where winning symbols disappear and cascade with new ones until no further wins are formed. Caleta said this is designed to support extended win sequences.
According to the studio, the game runs at an RTP of 93.42% and includes a Progressive Multiplier that increases during gameplay through a “Tumble Timer” mechanic, paying out at the end of each tumbling sequence.
The game also includes “Super Tricks”, triggered when three or more tumbles occur in a single spin, randomly activating one of four features: Wild Shots, Symbols Exchange, Red Cards, or Big Gloves. A Free Spins bonus is available through gameplay or direct purchase.
“With Cluster Cup, we aimed to translate the thrill of football into a slot experience, adding our own touch with an awesome art style and dynamic animations”, said Pedro Vahl, Game Designer at Caleta Gaming. “The combination of tumbling mechanics, evolving multipliers, and the Super Tricks system creates moments of real tension and excitement, just like a match where everything can change in a single play.”
The post Caleta Gaming launches Cluster Cup high-volatility football-themed slot appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Acquisitions/Merger
Waterhouse VC takes 3-year option to buy stake in Spinlab Studio
Waterhouse VC has secured a 3-year option to acquire an interest in Spinlab Studio, a no-code iGaming platform aimed at helping operators launch and scale online betting and casino businesses without building full infrastructure.
Spinlab Studio positions its product as a full-stack platform that streamlines integrations across payments, games, compliance and backend systems. The company says the platform is built to support operators targeting regulated markets, with compliance, payments and responsible gambling tools included in the core product.
Tom Waterhouse, Chief Investment Officer of Waterhouse VC said “Spinlab Studio is one of the fastest-moving platforms we’ve seen in this space, with strong early demand from operators. They are addressing a key operational challenge – helping operators bring products to market more efficiently and quickly without the usual complexity”.
Leon Lanen, Co-Founder of Spinlab Studio said “Launching an igaming operation is still too complex and expensive. Spinlab Studio removes that friction so operators can get to market quickly and focus on building their business. We aim to do for the igaming industry what Shopify did to e-commerce”.
Spinlab Studio said it launched in January 2026 and has onboarded around 30 operators. It offers a free trial and pricing that starts from approximately US$1299 per month, with tiered plans that scale with operator activity. The company also said it recently closed an oversubscribed seed round backed by founders and early investors of “one of Europe’s leading listed igaming technology companies”, with proceeds allocated to sales expansion and platform development.
The post Waterhouse VC takes 3-year option to buy stake in Spinlab Studio appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Conferences
Gaming in Holland Conference publishes initial agenda for June 4 in Amsterdam
Gaming in Holland has published the initial agenda for the Gaming in Holland Conference, set for Thursday, June 4 at the KIT Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam.
The preliminary programme includes a keynote on “Market developments & regulatory responses” from Ella Seijsener, Director Licensing & Supervision at the Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA). Two boardroom sessions are confirmed with Arjan Blok, CEO of Nederlandse Loterij, and Petra de Ruiter, CEO of Holland Casino.
Other listed sessions include “The challenge of the black market: Towards a European response” with Pascal Chaffard, Chief Online Betting and Gaming Officer at FDJ United; “The Dutch gambling market in numbers” with Josh Hodgson, COO at H2 Gambling Capital; and “Player protection in the Dutch market” with Floor van Bakkum, Team Manager Player Protection at the KSA.
A panel titled “#ReclaimTheMarket: Will players go along?” will feature Dr. Andreas Ditsche (iGaming.com) and Richard Dennys (Mr. Gamble), moderated by Martin van Geest (Meneer Casino). Additional agenda items include a session on comparing onshore and offshore game popularity (Jeffrey Haas, Blask Business Intelligence) and one on KSA reliability assessments covering licensing and M&A approval (Frank Tolboom, Franssen Tolboom Advocaten).
Gaming in Holland founder Willem van Oort said: “While the annual Gaming in Holland Conference has always been THE place to get the latest news and updates on the Dutch gambling market, this year we are tackling one of the major issues facing licensed operators in regulated markets: How do we reclaim lost market share from increasingly aggressive illegal competitors? Obviously, there are no simple solutions, but that doesn’t mean that stakeholders in the regulated market are powerless. As all key decision makers and stakeholders in the regulated Dutch gambling market will be present in Amsterdam, I am certain that we can get a fruitful discussion started.”
The post Gaming in Holland Conference publishes initial agenda for June 4 in Amsterdam appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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