I noticed this morning that a new book has been written about bingo and social clubs and is due to be released from the 1st November 2010. While I haven’t had the chance to read any of the contents I did think what an ideal aid this would be for all those portals and bingo writers that have emerged in the online industry over recent years.

I am yet to find a portal that actually shows a real knowledge of bingo. Online bingo players that have not been to a bingo club may also want to read the book.

Bingosupermarket is run by people that are passionate about bingo and who all have over 15 years experience managing bingo clubs. Many online bingo portals constantly make reference to bingo clubs and it is clear that they have very little knowledge of the bingo industry. Many of the articles and surveys written each day by leading portals look as though they were conducted in a room with four walls by someone that has never even been to a bingo club. The survey regarding the cost to play online bingo being cheaper than that at playing at a bingo club was purely ridiculous. One day I might even do a proper survey to show a more realistic picture and the benefits of playing at a bingo club that so often overlooked by these ‘marketing companies’. Recent comments about bingo sites fearing online bingo when it emerged also showed a complete lack of knowledge. How many times have you heard Gala Bingo, Mecca Bingo, Top Ten, Buckingham Bingo, Carlton Bingo etc suggest that business has struggled due to the emergence of online bingo? Never, in fact all of these companies saw it as an opportunity and they are amongst the biggest players in the online bingo market. Add that to the fact that they are more likely to survive in the online market than most of the online bingo sites set up over the last 5 years and you have a more realistic picture. The truth of the matter is, is that bingo clubs are likely to do well now there has been a re-balance in the industry. With competition continuing to increase in the online bingo market, stories of closures are likely to be more focused on online bingo sites in the future.

Anyway on to the new book on bingo, ‘Bingo and Social Club’, it would be an ideal read for portal operators and those writing articles and promotional material on bingo clubs as it will more than likely give the reader a good understanding of the industry. Online bingo players that have never been to a land based bingo club or have only been to one and have had a bad experience would also do well to read the book. Over the next few months I will take the time to read the book myself and provide my own thoughts and views.

“Bingo and Social Club” Available from Amazon at a discount price of £16.99 (£3 off RRP)

Description of Book (taken from Amazon)

Around 1pm, every day of the week, nearly 600 bingo halls across the UK open their doors to thousands of loyal customers. But, although they can be found on almost every British high street, surprisingly few people ever see what goes on inside. Photographer Michael Hess opens up this world. Behind the often crumbling exteriors, he finds vibrant places full of strong characters, quirky details and more than a hint of nostalgia. As he says: 'I want people to feel they've spent a night at the bingo to sense what it s really like to be there.' Michael explains how the project started. 'I played bingo one night in 2005, just out of curiosity about what went on inside the big old converted cinema near my house. I was instantly fascinated by the characters. And so the next time I visited, I took my camera. 4 years and more than 60 bingo halls later I was ready to make Bingo & Social Club.' Michael Hess and Maxine Gallagher spent many nights in the clubs, playing bingo, chatting with the managers and customers, and collecting stories from the people they met. They wanted to find out who these people really were. 'Bingo halls are not just about gambling; they're about human beings. They really do act as social hubs for many communities. Jack, the manager of a bingo club in Newcastle, forms the backbone of the book. He's quite a character - tough and yet extremely dignified - and I knew straight away he could add the extra dimension I was looking for.'

About the Author

Michael Hess was born in 1977 in Eisenach, Germany, and now lives in London. His work has been exhibited in Host Gallery, London; The Millennium Centre, Cardiff; and Picturehouse Cinema, Southampton. As well as his own projects, he has freelanced for corporate publications and music magazines. Bingo & Social Club is his first book.