A manager of Crown Bingo has been quoted in the paper as saying that bingo clubs are now attracting hen parties and groups of players in their 20’s due to its current high profile. But has there really been a change in the age of bingo players or was a younger crowd firmly established 15 years ago?

The article suggests that bingo which was once a game just for pensioners is now seen by the younger generations as the ideal opportunity to have some fun relax and socialise. I think the truth of the matter is that managers have been saying this for 20 years and if bingo players had really got any younger over the last 10 years the industry would be competing with primary schools for afternoon business.

Roxburgh Richmond, manager of Crown Bingo in Redcar, suggests that younger players have been attracted by the high profile of the game these days.

He said: “The game has been brought to the forefront.

“We are seeing it more and more on the TV, newspapers have got it in and there is online bingo.

“This has made people think ‘let’s give it a go’.

“This has helped the commercial bingo clubs.

“People are starting off online but you haven’t got the atmosphere there.”

The 53 year old bingo manager, who joined Crown Bingo seven months ago added: “What you will also find is, it is somebody’s daughter or granddaughter or even son and grandson coming in.

“They come along as families here. There has been two or three generations sat around the same table here.”

While I ma sure that he has worked for different clubs he admits he has only been working for Crown Bingo for the last seven months. It is no secret that different bingo clubs, depending on their locations décor and facilities will attract different age groups and more than likely the Crown Bingo club attracts a younger players than he his used to.

The reality is that young players, many in their 20’s have been regulars at bingo clubs for many years now. Ironically it is becoming old fashioned to suggest only pensioners play bingo. The first bingo club I worked at 16 years ago was the Beacon Bingo in Loughborough and that was far from old fashioned. The place then looked more like something from Las Vegas and attracted a lot of young woman, whether attending in their own groups or coming along with their mum or grandma. I clearly remember thinking this is like the perfect job; I don’t have to get up for work to early, I am working with loads of young woman, many of who are single, and there is no competition!! There are obviously some bingo clubs that clearly attract a much older player and younger players may feel a little uncomfortable, but this has become very very rare in the last 10 years, and in fact most of those clubs are no longer trading (mainly because their members passed away and they didn’t replace them).

If you look at bingo players at bingo clubs and those that play online bingo any changes are more apparent in the online bingo. Initially online gaming was only attractive to a younger generation that had experience of using computers, these days’ many of the older generation are using computers on a daily basis, having been introduced to them at work in their last fast few years or through free computer programs run by local authorities.