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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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Gambling in the USA
Plaza Hotel & Casino Partners with Aristocrat Gaming™ to Debut Downtown’s First Buffalo & Mo’ Friends™ Slot Area

Ribbon cutting event and launch of player promotion: Thursday, Sept. 4, 11 a.m.
On Thursday, Sept. 4 at 11 a.m., the Plaza Hotel & Casino will hold a ribbon cutting to celebrate the debut of a new dedicated area for fans of the wildly popular Buffalo and Mo’ Mummy
slot game franchises and other player-favorite Aristocrat Gaming titles. With 63 games, the Buffalo & Mo’ Friends slot area at the Plaza is the only one in downtown Las Vegas.
Located between the casino cage and the Plaza Rewards Players Club, the Buffalo & Mo’ Friends area at the Plaza features numerous fan-favorite Aristocrat Gaming titles, including:
- Buffalo Ultimate Stampede
,
- Buffalo Ascension
,
- Buffalo Power Pays
,
- Buffalo Triple Power
,
- Coin Trio Buffalo
,
- Buffalo and Friends
,
- Buffalo Diamond Extreme
,
- Mo’ Mummy,
- Mo’ Mo’ Mo’ Mummy
,
- Spooky Link
,
- Ultimate Fast Cash
,
- House of the Dragon
,
- Phoenix Link
,
- Jackpot Carnival
,
- Firecracker Fortunes
,
- Dragon Link
,
- Lucky Looters
and more.
The eye-catching wraps, bright lights, and distinct game sounds, Buffalo & Mo’ Friends welcomes players to a dedicated space of entertainment and excitement with their favorite games and ones they have yet to experience.
“Our goal on the casino floor is to offer the newest and most popular games to our guests, and our players are big fans of the various Buffalo and Mo’ Mummy games. So, we are thrilled to partner with Aristocrat Gaming on this dedicated game area that sets the Plaza apart from the rest of downtown Las Vegas,” said Jonathan Jossel, CEO of the Plaza Hotel & Casino.
“We pride ourselves in creating entertaining games that invite players to step into a world of fun with favorite characters, themes and gameplay features,” said Kurt Gissane, Chief Revenue Officer for Aristocrat Gaming. “The creation of the Buffalo & Mo’ Friends gaming area has truly been a collaborative effort with the Plaza team, wanting to give their players Mo’ and the new Buffalo & Mo’ Friends area certainly delivers. We look forward to seeing player excitement when they see all their favorite Aristocrat games in one vibrant area.”
To celebrate the debut of Buffalo & Mo’ Friends on Thursday, Sept. 4, the Plaza will offer Plaza Rewards players a variety of Buffalo-branded swag items and the chance of larger prizes based on the number of points accumulated daily. The Buffalo-themed promotion will last until Oct. 4 or while supplies last. Full rules available at the Plaza Rewards Players Club.
Trademark HOUSE OF THE DRAGONTM owned by Home Box Office, Inc. Used with Permission. Copyright © Home Box Office, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The post Plaza Hotel & Casino Partners with Aristocrat Gaming™ to Debut Downtown’s First Buffalo & Mo’ Friends™ Slot Area appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Gambling in the USA
INTRALOT, Inc. signs contract with Montana Lottery to deliver next-generation lottery technology

INTRALOT S.A. is pleased to announce that its U.S. subsidiary, INTRALOT, Inc., has been awarded anew contract to provide the Montana Lottery with a next-generation lottery operating system and related services, including continued support for its Sports Bet Montana wagering product.
The new contract award follows a competitive Request For Proposal procurement process and marks the third contract between INTRALOT and the Montana Lottery, extending a nearly 20-year partnership built on innovation, reliability, and results.
The new agreement spans seven years with three one-year extension options and will ensure a fully modernized solution for nearly 1,300 retailers statewide. Under this new contract, INTRALOT will deploy its industry-leading LotosX Omni solution, which delivers a unified, future-ready lottery experience for players across the state using LotosX
, a best-in-class gaming platform engineered for upmost security, scalability, and innovation. INTRALOT will also design and provide an upgraded retail network infrastructure that will include the award-winning PhotonX retailer terminals and peripherals, plus new self-service terminals and multi-product vending machines, making the gaming experience more convenient and entertaining than ever for Montanans.
Bob Brown, Director of the Montana Lottery commented “We are very pleased to extend our business relationship with INTRALOT, a company that has been our partner for nearly two decades. This new contract ensures our lottery system remains modern and secure, allowing us to provide our retailers and players with the best possible experience. The LotosX Omni solution and new retail technology will be a game-changer, helping us to deliver an even more engaging experience for our players and continue to generate important revenue for the STEM scholarship program and for the State of Montana.”
Richard Bateson, CEO of INTRALOT, Inc. commented “We are honored to enter our third contract with the Montana Lottery and continue to partner with the Lottery as it embarks on its next phase of growth. With this new agreement, INTRALOT is bringing fresh resources, expanded expertise, andstate-of-the-art technology to reset and strengthen our local presence in Montana. At the heart of this transformation is our LotosXTM platform, a modular, microservices-based system that accelerates time to market, enables player-centric innovation, and delivers enhanced security and player protection through a proven and future-ready architecture.”
Since 2006, INTRALOT has played a pivotal role in Montana’s lottery success, helping to increase sales by an impressive 286% through technology upgrades and operational enhancements. Notably, INTRALOT introduced sports wagering to the state in 2020, uniquely tailored to Montana’s regulatory framework, and powers the Lottery’s wildly successful raffle game
The post INTRALOT, Inc. signs contract with Montana Lottery to deliver next-generation lottery technology appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Gambling in the USA
West Virginia University Announces New Gift to Support the Center for Gaming Research and Development

West Virginia University’s John Chambers College of Business and Economics is proud to announce the establishment of a new fund for the Center for Gaming Research and Development, generously seeded by gaming industry veterans Chen and Benjamin Truman.
Launched with the mission to promote research on responsible gaming practices and consumer protection in gambling markets, the Center leverages leading-edge expertise — including Chambers College like Professor Brad Humphreys, an internationally recognized researcher in the economics of gaming markets.
This new fund will enable the Center to:
- Expand its research initiatives into gaming markets, including analysis of transactions level data provided by gaming operators in West Virginia to identify and understand problematic gambling behavior and ensure fair pricing of wagers.
- Enhance integration of gaming-focused research and analytics into curricular offerings in the Chambers college, including cybersecurity, business data analytics, finance, management information systems, and economics.
- Develop courses, training, certificates, initiatives and other activities designed to foster innovation in gaming technology development, and prepare students for careers in racing, gaming, gaming operations, hospitality management, guest relations, entertainment, and other amenities typically offered in conjunction with gaming operations.
- Foster deeper collaboration with policymakers and industry stakeholders to translate research insights into impactful policy and practice.
The Center’s research, education, and outreach will have an important impact on the lives of state residents, college students throughout the state, gaming industry firms operating in the state, and state gaming regulators. This generous gift will allow the Center to fulfill the role envisioned by the state legislature when they passed The Responsible Gaming and Research and Industry Development Act. — Professor Brad Humphreys, Director, Center for Gaming Research and Development
This strategic investment by Chen and Benjamin Truman, a WVU alumni, underscores their commitment to evidence-based research and responsible industry practices. It will help propel the Center’s mission to safeguard consumer interests within evolving gaming markets.
We’re thrilled to see West Virginia University take a leadership role in shaping the future of iGaming and sports betting policy. As industry veterans, Chen and I are proud to support a mission that will not only advance responsible gaming but also help set the global standard for innovation and consumer protection in this space.” — Benjamin Truman, Co-Founder, Absolutebet.
About the Center for Gaming Research and Development
The Center was created by an Act of the West Virginia legislature, the Responsible Gaming and Research and Industry Development Act. The Center is dedicated to advancing academic research, analyzing gaming data including transactions level data, developing courses and initiatives to prepare WVU students for careers in the gaming industry, and shaping policy and industry standards through collaboration, education, and data-driven insight. It seeks to mitigate inherent risks in gaming—such as problem gambling and pricing opacity—by empowering informed decision-making among consumers, regulators, and industry players.
About the John Chambers College of Business and Economics
Located at West Virginia University, the Chambers College combines rigorous academic programs with an emphasis on cutting-edge research, equipping students to address real-world challenges across business disciplines.
The post West Virginia University Announces New Gift to Support the Center for Gaming Research and Development appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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