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Thursday, May 22, 2008

Gala Bingo Pull Out Of The National Game

Brett was on the ball with this story, he published news on Gala's decision to pull out of the National Game earlier today. This has come out of the blue for me, it's a pretty staggering decision. Gala's reasoning is that they will enhance their High 5 game and use that as the big money replacement for the National at Gala clubs. They say this will improve on value for money for its customers.

This has raised a whole lot of questions that frankly only time will answer. Here's just a few buzzing around my head:

And I'm sure there will be many more to follow as this draws out. According to Gala the last Platinum jackpot they play will be on the 31st of August, so from September the new look two page High 5 will be in evidence. Personally, I can see the logic behind the move, as to if it's a good idea, I'm not so sure. The buzz of the National Game has always been one of the high points of a night out at Bingo. Doing the maths, there's no way Gala on its own can compete with the National prize money IMO. Let's hope Gala's customers don't feel the same way and rue the loss of this popular game.

Posted at 3:48 PM |

2 Comments:

Anonymous Dave Holt said...

The wider implications of this is that the Bingo association is funded by the National bingo game so it may not only be the death of the National game but also could spell a split and formations of new Associations which will be a complete disaster. For the time being Gala have agreed to still pay dividends through the high five but they are under no obligation to do so. Last game as we know it will be Sunday 31st August and coincidentally that would be a million pound game leaving the jackpots potless. Independents and Mecca are trying to come up with an alternative but I wouldn't hold your breath as Riva pulled out a few weeks ago and others may follow. Would you also believe that one of the directors charged with the running of the national game is Neil Goulden who is involved in the running and operation of Gala bingo. How can Gala leave it high and dry when they are largely responsible for it.

5:28 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

The majors have been flirting with this for a while now, I think it was always on the cards that Gala or Mecca would bite the bullet and go it alone. Gala don't really have to compete directly with the National prize pot pound for pound. They can easily generate enough money for a competitive headline prize which is what this is all about The big question to my mind is how will Mecca react now Gala have effectively handed control of the National Game too them. Its hard to see how the National could continue without the contribution to the prize pot from Mecca. So if Mecca pull out, and if Gala can do it so can they, the National is probably finished. If they don't they must surely be able to run it very much to their own commercial advantage based on the threat of pulling out. As for the Bingo Association I think the industry is as much in need of a trade body now as it has ever been so the funding will still come from the operators just not necessarily through the National Game.

10:18 PM  

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