The 2nd Annual Online Bingo Summit And Smoke Free UK

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The 2nd Annual Online Bingo Summit

Last years Online Bingo Summit proved to be a successful gathering of a range of people and businesses from the online bingo world. This year's event is set to be even bigger. The event is being held on the 25th - 26th September 2007 at The Regents Park Marriott, London.

If you'd like to attend, registration is sill open. There will be representatives from many of the UK's biggest sites ready to discuss the ongoing growth of the game and related concerns, opportunities and more. We missed last year's event, but given it's continued growth - Playing Bingo is aiming to be there this year to bring you more inside information and gossip. If you'd like to find out more about the event, run by Bullet Business there's more info (and the chance of a £100 off your ticket) here.

Smoke Free UK

The first of July saw the entire country finally go smoke free in enclosed public spaces when England joined the rest of the UK in the smoking ban. One thing's for certain, it'll be an interesting year for the Bingo industry. There's plenty of fears around of short term losses and closures around the country, but one year on in Scotland, there are early signs of the start of a recovery, for Gala Bingo at least.

Hopefully the news of a rally in their shares will persuade Gala to hold off their proposed closures of 13 Bingo halls around the UK. They are already prepared to take some short term hits to their profits - but if the initial losses can lead to a healthier and more mainstream audience, there's hope for the game yet.

People have already been taking the game in new directions, last month we mentioned Big Screen Bingo, this month there's a new weekly satellite TV Bingo game called Big Box Bingo, Riva open an automated hall and Gala are experimenting with electronic terminals as well. It's innovations like these that could potentially mark the ban as a major opportunity for the industry, rather than the death sentence it's currently being painted as.

FreeBingo.co.uk Goes International

We've feature FreeBingo.co.uk around these parts before. They offer a 100% free online Bingo game for thousands of members, and have a large community of players. Their winning formula of prizes and free games has been such a hit, they're expanding their operation to make an international free bingo site, which will no doubt be a hit with all the American players missing their online bingo thanks to the UIGEA.

Brett's Corner - Bingo USA Style!

In his latest column, Bingo Caller Of The Year Brett Hyrjak shares his holiday snaps with us. As part of the prize of winning the 2006 competition, Brett and his girlfriend went to Las Vegas to sample the joys of American Bingo. He got to take a look at the how the game is played in The States as well as getting to call a couple of games in the 75 ball Bingo style. It's a different world alright.

Get £5 Free At Gala To Play For The Chance Of Winning A Million

If you haven't already spotted it Gala Bingo have launched a new promotion for a massive prize game called Kerchingo - where one lucky player will be in with the chance of winning £1,000,000. They've also introduced a new special offer for new players to coincide with the games launch. It's a bit of a drop on their last offer, but if you haven't joined them yet, then it's better than nothing. With the chance of winning a £1,000,000 - I can see a lot of people out there wanting to give them a go. I know I have been giving it a go. :)

The Kerchingo game for the big prize will be played on the 29th July, when one lucky winner will walk away a millionaire. To be in that game, you need to win one of the many daily Kerchingo games being played at Gala Bingo online and Gala TV. If you win the house of one of these special games, you 'll get an entry to the special game which you'll need to activate online.

Gala are offering all new players a sign up bonus of £5 free for a £5 deposit. I know many of us are already Gala members, but it if you're not - then now is the time to jump in. It would give me a real pleasure to see one of our readers get the biggy.

Join Us At The Bingo Forums

If you'd like to discuss any of the things in this newsletter, add your own opinions or just hang out and chat with like-minded Bingo players and fans, drop into the free forum and grab yourself a free account. You won't regret it!

And Finally

If you're away on holidays and playing Bingo in new places, good luck. Don't forget you can share your holiday related Bingo snaps in our photogallery. Have a nice time and may the Bingo luck be with you.

All the best!

David 'Dio Bach' Lloyd
July 12th 2007