A news release this week from the Associated Press has reported on the turnaround of a bingo club in Baghdad, Iraq.

The Alwiyah club used to thrive when Iraq was ruled by Britain but started to depreciate in the early 90's due to the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein.  The bingo club lost many customers an alcohol ban was put on the club to favour the Muslims and women started to fear going out at night because of sexual predators from the Saddam Hussein regime.

Abdul Rahman Hamza, is a lawyer and a family member of the founders and commented "What kind of club has no drinking, parties?  It became like a military club".

The turnaround began in 2003 after the invasion by Britain and America to destroy the Saddam Hussein regime.  The club took time to rebuild though as many of its bingo players were afraid to visit due to the bombings and shootings.

The bingo club however did escape from any bomb damage although had a near miss which the bomb vibration cracked a nearby pool.

The real turnaround came last year when Baghdad became much safer and the public returned to the streets without fearing for their lives.  The club is busy and the car park is full on bingo night and the atmosphere is electric.

Alcohol is served at the bar and has almost a cosmopolitan feel to the place.  Bingo players pay around £2 for a table to play bingo on all night for cash and small prizes.

Plans to expand the club to a multi venue including a bowling alley, gym and cafe are also on the table as the bosses now claim the club is back to the levels it enjoyed in its heyday.

Unfortunately. unlike the UK bingo clubs, membership is not free.  A one time fee of around £500 and then £50 a year thereafter is in operation.

Bingo is played at the Alwiyah every Saturday and boast around 4000 members, who knows Iraq could be the next emerging market for bingo.