Bingo Bosses have gathered together over recent weeks to discuss the possibility of an Online Bingo Association. The Bingo Association for Great Britain is headed up by Chief executive My Paul Talboys and some members of the Bingo Association are suggesting that an online Bingo Association due to the synergies and popularity of UK Bingo should be considered.

Online Bingo operators could benefit from having a common voice in bingo and this could lead the online bingo industry towards self regulation. An online Bingo Association could also be a contact point for the Government to discuss and raise concerns over the industry and address any future issues that may arise. Already the bingo summit has proved popular over the last 4 years and some online operators have expressed an interest in coming together and forming an online Bingo Association.

Land based bingo operators who are already operating bingo websites are behind opening the doors of the existing Bingo Association to online Operators to raise more funds and also control the industry from splinter groups that could harm the reputation that the bingo industry holds.

However, many land based operators are opposed to inviting the online bingo operators to the Association as regulation for the majority of online bingo sites are based off shore. It also raises concerns that the Bingo Association operates and protects members in the UK and this would be difficult in finding common ground amongst many variations in various jurisdictions.

Online Operators could set up a Bingo Association of their own but this would come with many challenges as it would struggle with its inexperience and the Government may only wish to negotiate with companies that are regulated and operating in the UK.

Due to the costs and financial difficulties of Gala Bingo who are the largest bingo operator in the UK for land based and the largest UK Bingo site are no longer members of the Bingo Association due to cost cutting and found the Bingo Association subscription fees did not hold value in the Gala Bingo group.

BingoSupermarket are a company committed to marketing and increasing the popularity of the Bingo game whether it is in land based bingo clubs or online. At the moment land based bingo needs to fight the government on the recent tax hike and bring it back to the 15% duty in line with all other forms of gaming. Online Bingo operators should really contribute to the UK government in some form and this will pave the way for a more coherent UK Bingo industry and land based may find the online median including social networks etc as a way of inviting bingo players to visit their local bingo club.

In contrast this could also break down the barriers whereby independent bingo operators may want to join forces or merge with online bingo operators and both could benefit.