Happy New Year - Takeovers, Rejections And Awards

Hi [firstname,fallback=Bingo Fan], welcome to January's Playing Bingo Newsletter. Just a reminder that you're receiving this email because you subscribed via our web site at playingbingo.co.uk. As promised, this issue includes news, updates and offers. But if you're no longer interested, click here to unsubscribe.

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Takeovers Abound

Firstly, Happy 2008! The New Year has been busy already in the industry with news of a number of new takeovers in the online sector, and there's continued speculation and activity around the possible purchase of The Rank Group. I'll start by looking at developments for online firms.

Firstly, there were rumours that the Virtue Fusion Bingo Network was the target for a take over by Playtech. Virtue Fusion power some of the UK's leading online Bingo sites, including Mecca Bingo and Ladbrokes Bingo. It's still a rumour at the moment so watch this space. There was also news that the Canadian PEIC Acquisition Corp are intending to buy the online Bingo software company Parlay. Both these potential buy-outs point to a continued confidence in the growth of the online Bingo market.

And there's more news in the retail space as the continued buzz around a takeover of Rank continues, despite the problems in the market. Alongside a number of interested parties, the Asian Guoco group have also staked a claim in the company behind Mecca Bingo. But it's not all good news, this week Ladbrokes announced that they've dropped out of the running for the Rank Group. There's no firm news of a buyer yet, so expect this one to run and run.

Gala Bingo To Close Five Halls?

2008 had barely got off to a start when Gala Bingo's boss Neil Goulden announced that five of Gala's Bingo halls are expected to close in the near future. It's not firm yet, but Gala believe that the closures will set them in a good stead to offset any losses in what's going to be a tough year for many Bingo halls. The clubs earmarked for closure are: Edinburgh, Bedminster in Bristol; Winton in Bournemouth; Lakeside in Essex, and Teesside.

White List Rejections And Admissions

I've covered the white list of areas of licensing following the 2005 Gambling Act back last year. Basically, if an online Bingo site wants to advertise in the UK, it has to be licensed in the EEA or one of the government approved white listed areas. So far there were only two - The Isle of Mann and Alderney. They've been joined now by Tasmania. Unfortunately for a couple of other well known licensing areas have been told they will not be white listed which means that any online Bingo sites licensed there will have to move to a white listed area if they want to advertise to a UK audience. Those areas are Kahnawáke and Antigua - both of which are home to UK focused Bingo sites who'll either have to stop advertising in the UK or move to an approved licensing region.

Online Bingo Award Winners Announced

The annual Which Bingo awards for online bingo sites in the UK has finished. Think Bingo (surprisingly to many of us) won the title UK Site Of The Year Award, with Gone Bingo UK picking up the best New Site Of They Year award.

£2 Free At Shipleys Bingo

Many of you will be familiar with Shipleys arcades on the high streets of the UK, but they also have a few Bingo halls to their name as well. So it's no surprise that they've taken a step into the online Bingo space with some help from the St Minver network. They're offering anyone interested the chance to give them a try out with their free £1 of games. However, I've sorted out a code to give Playing Bingo readers double the free game bonus as well as the standard cash match.

To claim your free £2, you will need to register here. On the registration form in the box marked Promotion Code use the following code: SBPB. Once you confirm your account by clicking on the link in the email you receive, you will receive the £2 of the free money in your account. When you make your first deposit you'll also get the first deposit match bonus of 100% up to £125. Be certain to check the full terms and conditions at the site.

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. Make your voice heard!

And Finally

If you've got any Bingo news that you think will be of interest - or special stories about Bingo that you 'd like to see featured at Playing Bingo, then drop us a line. We'd also love to hear from you if you have any ideas about stuff you'd like to see at the site. In the meantime, may the Bingo luck smile on you...

All the best!

David 'Dio Bach' Lloyd
January 24th 2008

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