Riva Bingo clubs have sold off more than half of their bingo group to Brian Mattingley for an undisclosed fee.  The Beacon Bingo clubs in Loughborough, Northampton, Cricklewood, Hippodrome in Lowestoft as well as 2 Riva bingo clubs are now operating under a seperate group backed by a bank.  Brian Mattingley 54 is a a non executive director of 888 holdings and held a postion of Deputy chairman since March 2006.  He is no stranger to bingo after being the Chief executive of Gala Regional developments until 2005 whilst Gala was in it's strongest trading position.

The remaining clubs of Riva bingo are now in the control of Simon Hannah who will be in a strong position to concentrate on a smaller company to continue to operate the group in the current tough economic conditions without the crippling debt burden.

The move will bring a much improved focus to both companies and it is anticipated that although some bingo clubs have closed during the smoking ban, the outlook and future of land based bingo is promising.  The number of anticipated closures before the smoking ban in July 2007 has not happened and expect new bingo clubs to emerge in the next few years.  Mecca Beeston will be the first of many to be opening it's doors for the first time this year.