Along with his wife, Susan, he has just scooped a fantastic win of £7,706,631 on the lottery. The couple run a lightning protection business and are the first to admit that it has been a struggle over the last few years. They have 30 employees and have battled to keep things going throughout the recession, working every day of the week and going without a proper holiday for 4 years. However, because of their employees, they have vowed not to give up work, as they do not want to put them at risk of losing their jobs.

They plan to visit estate agents, travel agents and car dealerships soon, with a house with a pool and a Jaguar on their shopping list. Their first holiday though will be a £9.50 week bargain break in a caravan in Cornwall, which was booked as part of a newspaper promotion earlier in the summer.

62 year old Mrs Westbury bought the winning ticket for Saturday’s Lotto at a Morrisons supermarket in Nottingham last Wednesday. It was only when she visited a Tesco store on Sunday that she found out they
had won, when the ticket-reading machine advised her to contact Camelot, an action which only happens for big winners. She returned to her car ‘in a daze’ and called her 64 year old husband, who met her before they both called Camelot. They drove to a pub to celebrate and then, in an ironic moment, realised they had no money on them.

Mr Westbury returned to the headquarters of their company, Sentinel Lightning in Nottingham, to complete some unfinished business. He said; ‘I’m an ordinary man who has always worked. Susan and I have worked very hard to build the business up and we have got a dedicated workforce to think of. They have stood behind us through tough times recently so we cannot just walk away and leave them in the lurch now,
because there are no jobs out there. We will keep going in to work, although maybe only for four days a week, until we work out exactly what to do with the company. Perhaps we will sell it eventually, but
we will make sure the staff are safe. It has been a real struggle recently and I have worked virtually seven days a week for four years.’

The firm installs lightning protection and earthing systems on buildings all over the world, and was set up by Mr Westbury, a steeplejack by trade, 19 years ago – 2 years after the couple married. The couple have 3 children between them, from previous marriages, and 7 grandchildren, and live in a two-bedroom bungalow.

They enjoyed a champagne celebration with their staff who were also pleased with their win. Employee Ian Phillips said: ‘It couldn’t happen to nicer people. They are a very generous couple who work extremely long hours.’

Brought to you by London Bingo News. London Bingo gives you the latest lottery and UK bingo news and access to the newest Internet bingo rooms and exclusive bingo bonus offers.

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Of the universe of online casino sites, three major software providers stand out from the rest. The three elite online casino software providers are Microgaming, Playtech, and RTG. Each of these three top casino platforms has plenty to celebrate, as the best casino gaming experiences derive from the superior software that these casinos are known and respected for.

Microgaming Casinos are the elder statesman of the bunch, as they are thought of as the pioneers of the online casino. The first Microgaming online casino went live in 1994 and features well over four-hundred different games on their software. A little more than 100 online casino skins let Microgaming power their games, delivering slots, table games, and video poker games in both flash (no download) and a full downloadable software format. Players rave over how smooth the Microgaming software runs and whether you play by Mac or by PC – you can have a flawless and enjoyable day at the Microgaming Casino nearest you.

Playtech Casinos rely on the software developed by publicly listed company Playtech Ltd. Playtech has been in the online casino business for over ten years and serves a unique and wide variety of chance and skill games such as table games, scratch cards, video poker games, slots, and even arcade games, poker, and bingo. Playtech customers appreciate the attention to detail in the delivery of high quality graphics and some of the higher payouts you will find online come from Playtech Casinos. If popularity is rated in terms of player base, then Playtech is surely the most popular online casino software provider in Europe, as more European Casino players flock to Playtech driven casinos than any other online casino platform in the world.

When looking to USA casinos RTG stands out as the leader in the online casino marketplace. RTG Casinos are extremely popular in the United States and these RTG powered Internet casinos are well known for having some of the best graphics and interactive gaming of all online casinos. In addition to providing a captivating look to their games, the RTG Casinos software is fast, reliable, and quite flexible. Players truly appreciate that they can use the RTG flash (no download) casino or the full download version without sacrificing quality. Both the no download RTG Casino and the full download version provide innovative graphics, and sound effects that keep players interested and coming back for more.

Whether you play casino games with RTG, Microgaming, or Playtech – you really cannot go wrong, as these are the three most respected casino software companies around. All three provide licensing to ensure fair gaming and they each strive to deliver the highest quality online gaming experience they possibly can.

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The amount of Internet bingo operators has increased exponentially over the last ten years and while online players have far more alternatives as to where they can play online bingo, the rights and best interests of online players are not always taken into consideration. Industry wide, there is entirely too much fine print to read over and players do not always know exactly what they are getting into when signing up to a new bingo site. The online charter moves to make the extensive terms of free play and clearing bonuses more transparent, as well as player friendly and intends to address issues such as wagering requirements, the excessively higher minimum withdrawal restrictions, the practice of overselling bingo tickets, and even freezing online accounts – among other hot button issues. Far too often a player books a big win and they end up with an unpleasant surprise when the discover they are unable to cash out the huge win they booked while playing on either free money or on their bonus money and the charter looks to lessen the likelihood of such an unpleasant surprise and plans to reflect the level of player-friendliness in their bingo reviews.

Holding bingo operators accountable and protecting the players’ best interests are of paramount importance to Bingo VG. In fact, Bingo VG founder & bingo industry insider David Lloyd points out, “For years, I have wanted to make a difference in the shoddy way some bingo sites treat their players. Setting up Bingo VG gave me the perfect opportunity to put this plan into action.”

Definitely worth noting, most online bingo portals avoid talking about the darker sides of bingo play online, in fear of irritating the bingo operators who pay their bills. By addressing the underhanded tactics brought on by bingo operators, as well as establishing a set of best practices, it is the hope of Bingo VG that David is able to make a difference within the industry and that bingo operators consider the player’s best interest.
David comments, “I know numerous bingo operators will attempt to mask their players’ problems by making legal threats to sites that dare air their issues. As far as we are concerned, any site that uses these tactics should take a good look at themselves. If a bingo operator sees a complaint about them that is featured on the site, they should view it as an opportunity to show the world that they can do the right thing and improve their offerings to their players, as opposed to being offended or getting defensive.”

The Online Bingo Players’ Charter is going to be built over the course of the next year. The public’s help is requested to assist in building the charter and it will represent the expectations players have from an online operator. The aim of the charter is to fight off the abuse and neglect that is found from some bingo sites as well as communicate to the bingo operators what players want out of a bingo operator. Those who respect the best interests of their players will be celebrated at Bingo VG, while those failing to meet the charter’s standards will be frowned upon and players will be appropriately warned.

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There are several factors blamed for the recent downfall in the bingo industry, and one was the smoking ban which was introduced in 2007. It is currently rumoured though that this ban might be reviewed by the Government, as it is claimed it is badly affecting Britain’s £6 billion a year pub and bingo industry.

Approximately 130 bingo clubs are said to have closed over the last 3 years, which works out to be 20%. As well as this 2365 pubs closed in 2009 with about 39 pubs closing per week now. Figures like these have supposedly led to the talked about review, although when the Health Bill was introduced in October 2005 MPs were told by Patricia Hewitt, the Health Secretary that; “We will monitor the impact from day one, and we will have a full review at the end of three years.”

There is much debate about the cause of these figures though, as bingo had been in decline for many years before the smoking ban came into place. This is despite many changes that took place in the late 1990s. These include the abolishment of charging periods (affecting spending limits), the abolishment of advertising rules and the 24 hour waiting rule (before players could join a club), rules relating to prizes, an increase in link game limits, allowing clubs to have both fruit and jackpot machines and the abolishment of tax on players stakes. All these combined to give the clubs greater freedom, which in turn allowed them to make more money from players.

Brian Binley, the non-smoking newly re-elected All Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group vice chairman and MP for Northampton South wants the law to be changed to allow smoking in separate well-ventilated rooms. He said; “The way Parliament handled the situation for pubs and clubs was draconian, crude and crass. You only have to look at these shanty town lean-tos in rural areas to know there is sizable damage being done to pubs. It’s just crazy and a rather crude answer to the problem.”

The cost of going out for an evening to play bingo has increased a lot over the last few years, and the smoking ban is probably the straw that broke the camels back, rather than the cause of the decline. It will be interesting to see if the smoking ban is amended, though whether it leads to an increase in bingo players is another matter altogether.

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An American judge has just sentenced a man who robbed a casino, threatening the lives of unlucky bystanders in the process, to more than 17 years in the federal prison.

UsS District Judge Richard Cebull sentenced 42 year old Jeffrey Lyle Schlepp, from Billings, Montana, to 17 years and 3 months in prison, as well as fining him $135.

Schlepp had previously pleaded guilty in April to the offence of robbing Sam’s Place on 11th June 2005. Altogether he was charged with interfering with interstate commerce by robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, being a felon in possession of a firearm and using a firearm in a crime of violence.

He had entered the casino at 1.47am, took out a short-barrelled shotgun and demanded money. He also smashed ashtrays and shouted; “I’ll kill you, I swear to God.”

He escaped from the casino with his haul of $905, yelling that he would kill anyone who watched him leave. Police managed to track down the getaway vehicle from witnesses’ descriptions. His companion, Hope Rathbun, admitted that she had conspired with Schlepp to rob the casino and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. Schlepp was found in a motor home where he showed police where the loot was hidden. The shotgun was also found in the home, but Schlepp claimed that it had been empty when the crime took place.

Brought to you by London Bingo News

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The last couple of weeks have seen several awards ceremonies, notably the Online Bingo Summit and eGaming Awards. As well as being a time when companies and sites were rewarded for their work it was also a time when leading people in the bingo industry aired their views, and an interesting one was the discussion on whether free bingo is a good or bad thing for the industry.

Leigh Nissim of GTech chaired a debate on the subject of sites offering free bingo. There are a large number of operators who believe that there is a place in the industry for free bingo, but they also believe that some websites have gone too far with this. This in turn has spoilt the game for players who like to spend money.

In 2009 many sites offered ‘play for free’ and ‘win for free’ promotions, but although this approach is great in the short term it is not sustainable in the long term, and could in fact cause the industry to go into decline by giving players the expectation of free bingo, rather than a loyalty ot trial bonus.

Simon Hannah, a well respected bingo operator who has seen the problems caused by free bingo in land based clubs can see the online bingo sector facing the same difficulties. He believes that now is the time to think seriously about how free bingo is controlled, and to act on this before everyone jumps on the bandwagon.

Another panellist, Wayne Howe, expressed his belief that free bingo was a great tool in introducing players to a site and allowing them to have a taste of the games. It was agreed that bingo sites should make a larger distinction between free and pay to play bingo, thereby making the games more attractive to players that do want to make a deposit after their initial free trial.

Tombola recently offered free bingo to their players, but only to those who have previously made a deposit. This is seen as a good tactic, as otherwise loyal paying players could end up subsidising those who just hunt for bonuses and free money. This in turn may lead to depositing players either doing the same themselves and stop making deposits, or getting so disillusioned that they stop playing bingo altogether.

Operators such as Tombola give out free money wisely and have a large number of loyal players who believe they get great value for money. They have several years experience in the bingo industry and seem to have developed a successful long term strategy.

Last year Cheeky Bingo was introduced onto the scene, with their emphasis on free bingo, but after an introductory push Cashcade soon decided to concentrate their efforts on Foxy Bingo instead.

Brought to you by London Bingo News

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In addition to expanding their portfolio of Internet bingo websites, London Bingo plans to release reviews of live bingo venues and UK bingo clubs to include the likes of Gala Bingo, as well as Mecca Bingo clubs at various locations. On top of that, London Bingo plans to release informative bingo articles, teaching bingo players about the different types of bingo games, as well as providing general commentary, instructions, and bingo tips in the London Bingo Articles section.

This bingo article library, combined with the live & online bingo review expansion is sure to further cement the LondonBingo website as a leading source of online bingo information. In their efforts, London Bingo will naturally continue to provide the best bingo bonuses found anywhere.

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Online bingo is a very profitable, and popular business in many countries, but there are fears that this soon may change following new legislation in Europe regarding online gaming.

France in particular is a country that has many Internet gambling sites in turmoil and deciding on the best course of action. To give some historical background all games which were considered to be a game of chance (such as slots, as well as Internet casino games) were banned on 12th July 1983, apart from some casinos where games were approved by the ministry, which led to 200 gaming venues which were operating legally. There was no common system for bingo which meant technically it wasn’t allowed, although again there were some exceptions to this.

According to European Community Law, Article 49 of the treaty establishes the principle of freedom to provide services across the European Community. In a nutshell this means that, unless there is a valid reason, no member state can prevent another state from offering services on its territory. Article 49 is supported by Article 43, which concerns the freedom of establishment.

Italy has also experienced problems with the monopoly of gaming. It was ruled that member states were not able to restrict the cross border supply of gambling services. In 2003 the court held that “the Italian Government does not pursue any coherent policy to limit and to remove and play activities”. Because of this other state members could not be restrained from providing services within it’s territory. Since this time European states have kept to this ruling and online bingo operators have been able to operate without restriction.

As France are extending the monopoly to the internet it seems that they do not support this policy and so are making a stand against it. In order to prevent the European Court of Justice forcing it to open its market to competition the French Government have created new legislation. With the new legislation the French wanted to control the level of turnover in gaming on the internet, as well as tackling the problems of under age players and problem gaming.

Certain games, including slot machines and roulette, are banned as they are considered to offer exceptionally high risk levels for addiction. Liberalisation will occur however for Internet poker and sports book betting. The operating license will be free and valid for 5 years, after which time it can be renewed. Limits will be placed on player account balances and player stakes. There must also be a system whereby the player knows how long they have been playing for, and how much money has been lost in a session. These restrictions are an attempt to prevent compulsive gambling and to deter money laundering. France has also said that they will not recognize any license that has been issued by other European countries, even if they are fellow State members. Any companies that gain the license and operate on French territory will have to have separate accounting departments to deal with French players.

The sudden rush to introduce the legislation was triggered by the soon to start World Cup, and the increased betting levels that goes with it. Several bingo companies are currently deciding whether to continue operating in France or not. William Hill for one have decided to withdraw all casino services from France, although they are still operating in other European states. Betfair have also withdrawn from the French market. The Director of European Affairs, Tim Phillips said; “We are looking very hard at the French market and how we may operate within the new license regime. Although it is not impossible for a newcomer to create a commercially viable business most projections show it will be difficult to do so given the proposed restrictions imposed on license holders”

It is anticipated that 30-50 operating licenses will soon be granted, and that the majority of license holders will not be able to operate profitably. The proposed tax levels are quite high, and companies which operate in French territory will have to pay tax on players’ stakes, which will be a boost to the coffers of the French Government. In view of the current economic situation in Europe we’re sure that leaders of other European states will be closely monitoring the situation to see if it something they can too introduce.

Gaming operators will no doubt remember the effects of the US enforcing their gaming legislation. Many senior executives of gaming companies were arrested, threatened with jail and faced huge fines. Party Gaming for one were pursued by the US Justice Department and reached an out of court agreement for $105 million.

With several countries looking at their existing legislation we are sure that others will soon announce amendments, none of which will probably be in favour of online gaming sites. Internet bingo operators have faced many challenges of late, and we are sure that there will be more to follow.

Brought to you by London Bingo News

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In a landmark decision Ladbrokes have lost a long running legal battle to overturn an injunction which stopped them from taking bets from people living in Holland. The marathon battle has lasted 7 years and could lead to Britain and other countries banning foreign online gambling sites.

The injunction was granted to De Lotto, who run the Dutch lottery, after they argued that Ladbrokes did not have a licence to operate gaming activities in the Netherlands. Ladbrokes appealed to the Dutch Supreme Court, who in turn passed this to the European Court of Justice to rule on. They acknowledged that Dutch gaming legislation is technically a restriction on EU rules guaranteeing freedom of movement and freedom to provide services, but however also said that such a restriction; ‘may be justified by the objectives of consumer protection and the prevention of both fraud and incitement to squander money on gambling, as well as the need to preserve public order’. They decided that it was up to national authorities to decide on the measures needed to protect consumers, as currently there is no EU-level harmonisation of the online gaming industry.

The judgement stated that; ‘A member state is therefore entitled to take the view that the mere fact that an operator such as the Ladbrokes companies lawfully offer services in that sector via the internet in another member state is not a sufficient assurance that national consumers will be protected.’

Ladbrokes had a licence, issued in the UK, which meant it could offer ‘sports-related prize competitions and other games of chance’ via the telephone and the internet, and their argument was that this allowed them to operate elsewhere in the EU. They claimed that the UK licence was subject to ‘very strict legislation for the prevention of fraud and of addiction to games of chance’ – and the Dutch ban on its internet services to Dutch gamblers amounted to an unnecessary ‘duplication of controls and safeguards’.

In the ruling though, just made today, the judges stated; ‘A member state can prohibit the operation of games of chance on the internet. This prohibition may, on account of the specific features associated with the provision of games of chance on the internet, be regarded as justified by the objective of combating fraud and crime.’

Last December, after losing an earlier stage of the legal battle, John Reilly, Ladbrokes’ Managing Director of Remote Betting and Gaming, urged the judges to ‘uphold principles of free and fair competition across borders as there is no logic in the fact that the Dutch monopoly could freely compete against us in the UK but we are prevented from accepting bets from any Dutch resident that finds us on the internet.’

This news is a blow for Ladbrokes, and will probably lead to a few sleepless nights for a few other operators too.

Brought to you by London Bingo News

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This is well known in the industry as being one of the most important online bingo meetings in Europe, and focuses just on online bingo. It’s well known for having expert speakers on various subjects, who are more than happy to share certain pearls of wisdom with you, and also gives participants a great chance to socialise and network with other attendees. It’s truly a key event where you can find out about various aspects of running an online bingo site, and discuss changes and innovations in the industry.

The venue this year is the luxury Victoria Park Plaza Hotel in London, and the event will take place Tuesday the 8th and Wednesday the 9th of June. Every year it seems to get more and more popular, and this year it’s rumoured that 400 people will be attending. The full programme is still being fine tuned, although it is said that amongst the key speakers will be Angus Nisbet, the Director of Gaming at Mecca Bingo, Raj Ramanandi, the founder of Tea and Bingo, and Gabi Campos, the MD of Dragonfish.

As well as being a networking and learning event there is also a very eagerly awaited awards ceremony. The plaudits this year will be announced on 8th of June, and the awards up for grabs are for Best Online Bingo Information Portal, Online Bingo Operator, Best Newcomer, Best Marketing Campaign, Best Bingo Affiliate and Online Bingo Software. We’re still waiting at the moment to find out who has been short-listed for these prestigious awards, so can’t even give you a clue right now.

There’s a lot of pride at stake, as well as all important bragging rights. The announcement of the winners is always waited with baited breath, and we’ll certainly looking forward to seeing who the winners are in 2010.

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A Reading pensioner has claimed that over £6000 was ‘lost’ after thieves hacked into 3 accounts at different internet bingo sites, one of them being Dream Bingo. She says that a total of £9000 had been gambled and lost, with only £3000 being withdrawn back.

Rita Tapping started to play online bingo in 2007 after her husband suffered a stroke. He would go to bed at 6pm and she would play online, though she said only a maximum of £20 at a time. Despite her claims though both the Financial Ombudsman and her bank, Natwest, have said that she is not entitled to any compensation as any winnings could only be withdrawn to Mrs Tapping’s bank account and therefore they could find no motive for anyone to play bingo on her accounts.

She believes that thieves hacked into her unsecure wireless network and played without her knowledge. Dream Bingo are alleged to have offered her a refund of £3,600, which Natwest advised her not to accept as that would mean she could no longer claim she had been a victim of fraud.

She says that the stress caused by this led her into having a breakdown and that she had to then put her husband into a care home as she was no longer able to look after him herself.

Mrs Tapping told the Reading Post: “My only crime was I used an unprotected wireless router. I think somebody local picked up on that. They did not need to get into my account because I was already in it. They picked up on where I was and I believe they gambled for fun and kicks. If I had been mentally strong enough and had not had this on my mind I would have had him at home, but I had to put him in a home. I had a total mental breakdown. He was aware of it but there was nothing he could do. He was incontinent and paralysed. I used to go to the nursing home and he would just say, ‘I want to come home’. It was definitely a contributing factor in his death, definitely. He could see that I was stressed. I was so stressed I could not look after him. I had to have him put in a home. It was a very sad time in my life and he died still worrying about the money.”

As strange stories go this is one of the strangest we’ve heard in a long time, and one which will probably never come to a satisfactory conclusion.

This sad news is brought to you by London Bingo News

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Although we don’t know if it was won by a man, woman or syndicate we do know that they’ve entered the Sunday Times Rich List in the 789th position, which makes them richer than veteran actor Sir Sean Connery,who has a mere £80 million, and level with Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts and pop star Robbie Williams.

A spokesman for National Lottery operator Camelot said last night: ‘The lucky ticket holder(s) of this prize have taken the decision to remain anonymous and therefore no further details about this prize, or the location of where the winning ticket was purchased, will be revealed.’

Mark Dampier, of financial advisors Hargreaves Lansdown, also had some advice on keeping their identity secret. He said: ‘The only way to keep it completely quiet would be not to give up your job, not to tell any relatives at all, and not to change your lifestyle. Parking a Ferrari outside your council house would be a giveaway.’ He also recommended they
should bank at a branch far away from their home, to avoid a cashier spilling the beans.

We’re sure they’ve got many ideas on how to spend their millions, but couldn’t resist giving them a couple of ideas. If they fancy moving house £80 million would get them a 5-storey Kensington mansion, complete with swimming pool, gym and sauna. If they don’t have such fancy tastes they
could buy themselves a village, as the average house price in the UK is now £205,000 and they could buy 410 of these! For getting around why not buy 2 Boeing 737-700 jets – 2 in case the first one has any problems! If you’re a sports fan you can now watch any game or event you want. If you want to take it further though you could even buy your very own player. Cristiano Ronaldo was bought by Real Madrid for £80 million in 2009, though maybe consider the lower leagues if you’d like a pair.

At the end of the day if you just invested the money in a high interest account at 5.4% interest you’d get £370,712 a month in interest – which we could very happily live on. Ah well, let’s keep our fingers crossed now for next week!

Brought to you by Lodon Bingo News

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54 year old Maureen Klopocinski saved hard to get £1,300 to treat her 59 year old husband Michael to a cruise after he survived a heart attack. Along with her father, 80 year old Harry Kinney and niece, 36 year old Kate Grant they were enjoying a week long cruise, visiting Dubrovnik, Greece, Corfu and Venice on the Royal Caribbean operated cruise. After Maureen won the internet bingo game though they were upgraded to a £1,400 per-night suite, ending up next door to the captain.

Their original suite would have fitted inside the bathroom of their new home, the Royal Suite, which came complete with a grand piano, two balconies, a spa bath and even their own bar. Maureen said she was so excited about the fact that the bathroom, complete with mirrored ceiling, came fitted with a telephone next to the toilet, she ‘screamed like a banshee’ when she realised she had won.

The lucky bingo winner commented: “It was an incredible prize to win. I couldn’t believe it when they took us up to the suite. We had never even been on a cruise before and we ended up treated like royalty. The suite was unbelievable. Our original room didn’t even have a window and then we ended up staying next door to the captain.” She added: “It really was an out of this world holiday and we were so pleased. On the first night we held a little party in the room for all of the friends we made on the trip and even hired a professional pianist to entertain us.

When Maureen entered the game she admits she was not feeling very optimistic – she said: “It sounded like fun but I was up against hundreds of others. At the end they made everyone who was down to just one number stand up. There was a lot of us standing and I was just waiting for 37 to come up. When I did I went wild. They told me that porters would come to the room to help transfer us but I couldn’t wait. I raced to our room and took everything up myself. I was so excited!”

We think this is a lovely story, and proof that you have to speculate to accumulate!

Brought to you by London Bingo News

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“When providing coverage of the London area bingo scene, it is important to be thorough. Our reviews are by far the best in the business, but we need to expand our focus to include all the London Bingo halls, as well as a strong portfolio of Internet bingo rooms so that our visitors & bingo players in the London area can get a full picture of just how great the London Bingo scene is,” comments Mabel.

“We additionally anticipate offering special deals to both the live bingo venues and Internet bingo sites we cover, so that our visitors and bingo site customers will do be rewarded for doing their part in supporting the game that they love both live and online.”

Mabel and the rest of the London Bingo staff are working diligently to line up reviews of all the top Internet bingo rooms, as well as a full overview of bingo life in London.

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The new show will see him talking about funny experiences and stories with people from many different walks of life, amongst them bingo callers. This is the chance for you to share anything strange and bizarre that has happened to you, or that you have witnessed, whilst you’ve been calling the numbers. The show is scheduled to include Vox pop polls, interviews with the featured professionals and some of John Bishop’s routine.

Any bingo callers who would like the chance to appear in the show are asked to send an email to takepart@objectiveproductions.com, giving details of their name and address, age, telephone number, and experiences. The closing date for this fantastic opportunity is July 16th, so get your thinking caps on soon.

The production team have said though that evem if you’re not a bingo caller you should still apply if you believe you have a funny story to share, as they will not just be focusing on the bingo industry but will be looking at other industries and points of view too. Basically the producers are looking for people who have ‘outgoing’ personalities and who are ‘characters’, so if you think this applies to you then why not give it a go. They have mentioned on the Bingo Association website that all aspects of modern life will be considered, from politics to sport, love and relationships and growing up in the UK.

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The increase in bingo revenue was particularly welcome as the company’s poker side suffered a fall in revenue, largely caused by stiff competition from Poker Stars and Full Tilt Poker who dominate the US market.
Jim Ryan, the Chief Executive of Party Gaming chief said: “Total revenue was up by 27% year-on-year with strong increases in all product verticals except poker which fell due to competition from US-facing sites. On a quarter-on-quarter basis and as expected, we have seen a slight softening in average daily revenue overall following the exceptional casino performance in the previous quarter. While Clean EBITDA margins for the year to-date were ahead of our expectations in the first quarter of 2010, we are maintaining our previous full year guidance for 2010 Clean EBITDA margins of approximately 28%. In line with our expectations, since the end of March gross average daily revenues have softened and were down between 6% and 7% versus the average for the previous quarter, reflecting the normal seasonal pattern seen in previous years.”

Despite the positive announcement shares in Party Gaming fell just under 3 per cent in early trading, down 7 pence at 278 pence.

brought to you by london bingo news

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It was just a couple of months ago that Nigel Page won £56 million on the lottery, much to the delight of him and his long-term partner, Justine Laycock. The couple were both working at the time, him running a property maintenance company and her as a sales negotiator for an estate agents. The massive win was the largest in the UK and took them to 980th place on Britain’s Rich List. However, when the cheque was presented to Mr Page it only had his name on it, as the couple, although together for 8 years weren’t married.

This has now changed, as it has been revealed the couple got married at Easter in a low key ceremony, to which not even their friends and family were invited. Instead they used staff from the registry office as their witnesses. Mrs Page’s father explained that the wedding was basic as they didn’t want any publicity; ‘They had so much publicity that they now just want to live their lives.’ The couple from Cirencester, Gloucestershire were both divorcees and have 3 children between them from their previous relationships. Following the wedding the couple whisked away their children and other lucky relatives to a honeymoon/holiday at the luxury Atlantis Hotel in Dubai, which is said to have cost them £70,000. However, as the couple receive approximately £47,000 a week in interest from their Euromillions win this isn’t going to bother them too much.

Legal experts say that the wedding now gives the new Mrs Page far more financial right to the huge win than before, as by law co-habitees are not treated the same as married people.

In this cynical age of pre-nuptial agreements and life long friendships falling apart after a much smaller win we report this story with a smile on our face, and wish the couple much happiness.

Brought to you by london bingo news

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One of the biggest disruptions came with the introduction of the smoking ban in the UK, back on 1st July 2007. Great Britain not having the warmest climate in the world saw many bingo players choosing to stay away, when faced with the prospect of not being able to enjoy a cigarette as they marked off their numbers. Although some clubs had, or soon made, outdoor covered areas many players felt that the atmosphere was lost, and as outdoor shelters can, by law, only be 50% covered, the solution wasn’t ideal by any means. Following the smoking ban in Scotland Rank reported a 10% drop in admissions, a 7% decrease in spend per head, and a 17% drop in turnover. This of course led to a decrease in prize money, which could have also led to the fall in admissions. Since the introduction of the ban in England over 200 halls are said to have closed as a direct consequence of the ban.

Many organisations have long lobbied for a fall in the rate of tax which is imposed upon bingo halls. In the last budget a decrease was announced, taking the duty down to 20% from 22%. This only came into action last month, so the affects cannot be seen yet, although as other forms of gambling have as low as a 15% duty there is still a lot of work to be done.

The general recession has also had an affect on bingo takings. With many people suffering with unemployment, people only be able to find part time or poorly paid jobs, coupled with the high cost of living a
night out at the bingo is a treat that not all players have been able to keep up. Although many players still make their outings, both as a night out and the hope of winning a large cash prize, many either now stay at home or have cut down on their outings and expenditure.

The disruption caused by the volcanic ash from Iceland will undoubtedly add to these problems. Forget about the short term fact that some people have been forced to extend their holidays overseas and so have missed out on a session or two. The long term cost will be seen as many people, having spent vast amounts of money to either extend their stay abroad or to make long and expensive trips to get back to the UK, will now be forced to drastically cut back on any non-essential spending in order to recoup their outlay. A fortunate
few may have been covered by insurance, or were lucky enough to have family and friends to help them, many have maxed out their credit cards to survive and return.

If you’re lucky enough to still have your favourite bingo hall open make sure you support it, as your hall needs you!

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The game, After Dark Bingo, was first launched in Beeston, Nottingham when Rank opened a new bingo hall last May. In a bid to attract more and younger players they decided to give the hall a more modern look, as well as concentrating more on the food and drink on offer and coming up with new games. The venture proved to be a huge success, with the spend per head 10-20% higher than the average Mecca, and admission levels 66% higher. The concept was then rolled out to Oldbury, Birmingham as well as the Catford branch. Labelled as Full House sites the idea is to have a hall divided into two by the use of soundproof glass. One half will remain as usual, as they don’t want to deter the traditional players, but the other half will be geared to a younger age group, with amusement machines, a bar and TVs in the pipeline.

The game itself has also been adapted. The traditional calls have been updated, no more Legs Eleven and 2 Little Ducks – instead you’ll hear things like ‘Your place or mine – 29′ by the callers, known as the Binglets. There are also a few tweaks to the usual rules – ranging from giving the host a hug if you get a full house to making sure you’ve got your face and arms daubed before going up to claim a prize. The whole thing is louder and brighter then the traditional game, but with a big increase in players it seems to be a big step in the right direction.

Approximately 50 sites will convert to Full House sites, with the others staying as they are. Plans though are also being discussed for other events, including mecca’s Got Talent shows and snail racing. So, if you haven’t been down to your local hall before as you think bingo’s not the game for you then think again – you might be pleasantly surprised!

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London Bingo halls

London has a very happening bingo scene for anyone looking to get in on an exciting game of bingo. Since playing bingo is one of the more popular pastimes, it makes sense that there would be a lot of great options available when it comes to bingo. The places you will have to choose from will vary in what it is that they have to offer, but one thing is for sure; you will have a great time!

When you experience live bingo in London, you will experience laughs, fun, and the chance to walk away a winner. One choice you will have when it comes to live bingo halls are the Carlton Bingo Clubs. With 19 live clubs, there is a good chance that one is near you. Not only do the Carlton Bingo Clubs offer very entertaining bingo games, but they also have a fully licensed café and bar where you can let off some steam, slot machines, and both electronic and traditional bingo.

When you are in the bingo scene in London, you will be able to enjoy a lot of great fun while you are waiting for your numbers to bring you a win. The bingo clubs offer you the ability to connect with others that share in your love of the game of bingo. The atmosphere is one of fun, excitement, and adventure. London is definitely a great place to be if you are interested in bingo, as it caters to bingo players.

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Costa Bingo Welcome Deposit Bonus

Costa bingo is matching 200% on all first time deposit bonus as a way to welcome London Bingo players to their new and exciting online bingo hall. The 200% first time deposit bonus is good on all deposits giving you up to £150 in free money to play bingo on the web at Costa Bingo!

Costa Bingo Regular Bonus

As if the initial deposit bonus isn’t enough – Costa Bingo is willing to pay you to stay and play bingo with them. Costa offers London Bingo players a regular deposit bonus of 50% on all bingo reloads, allowing you to claim up to £150 in reload bonus money at Costa Bingo.

Play Costa Bingo Now

Don’t miss the free bingo money at the newest and brightest bingo site on the web. Play Costa Bingo now!

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Thursday 2^nd – Friday 3^rd – deposit £50 or more and they’ll give you a 30% deposit bonus, but if you deposit £100 or more they’ll give you an amazing 40% bonus.

Saturday and Sunday – the weekend is here, and they’ve got more bonuses to celebrate with. Get 10% bonus on your 1^st deposit, 20% on your 2^nd deposit and 30% on your 3^rd deposit, and this pattern repeats itself over and over again!

Monday – the weekend may be over, but the bonuses just keep on rolling. On every deposit you make today you’ll get a 20% bonus – that’s a nice way to start the week!

Scratch Surprise Tuesday – you just have to take a look to see for yourself what’s on offer.

This month’s challenge is to email Prime Scratchcards and tell them what your dream holiday would be. 5 lucky winners from June’s challenge have already received their cash prize, so email care@primescratchcards.com now and see if you can also be a winner!

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Whether playing Bingo, or Wink Bingo’s Instant Games, if you have booked a loss, Wink Bingo helps to offset that. Wink Bingo Cashback will be credited to your Bingo player account and can be used on all regular Bingo Games on Wink Bingo. Get playing now, and take advantage of this bingo bonus offer from Wink Bingo!

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5. Wink Bingo bonus

Players who have accessed Wink Bingo through the London Bingo website that are first time depositing players at Wink Bingo are eligible for 250% bonus on their first deposit. This great bingo promo runs from NOW until 23:59 on Tuesday 30th June on deposits between £5 and £100.

Bingo Bonus Code

To take advantage of this limited offer through Wink Bingo, enter the bingo bonus code: WINK250 in the cashier making your deposit.

Wink Bingo Review

Need more convincing? Have a glance at the London Bingo Wink Bingo review.

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• Posh Bingo Bonus code for Friday: POSHFRI,
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Get with the game and begin taking advantage of the great reload bonuses at Posh Bingo today!

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Each day at 6pm, Virgin Bingo hosts a £2,000 guaranteed prize money bingo game, and again at 10:30pm, where a £4,000 Full House is up for grabs! That makes for £6,000 in guaranteed money each day at Virgin’s Bingo!

The bingo games take place at the Necker Island and Marrakesh rooms on the Virgin Bingo gaming platform. Tickets cost 50p each and you can purchase a maximum of 36 tickets for each game!

No sense waiting on this guaranteed prize money, get started playing at Virgin Bingo now! Still need more convincing? Take a look at the official London Bingo review of Virgin Bingo.

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If you’re in need of a bingo break at the end of the week, why not head down to Necker Island this Friday for a chance to win over £1,500 worth of guaranteed prize money.

As the evening progresses, the bingo games get hotter. The Full House prize money jumps up by an extra £100 every hour.

To get in on the guaranteed prize bingo action, head over to Virgin Bingo’s Necker Island today!

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Every second Thursday at 9.45pm, you will have the opportunity to win a flatscreen television from Bingo Fabulous.  For a mere £1, Bingo Fabulous gives you the opportunity to take down the fabulous flatscreen TV.

With the cash match bonus us to £100, Bingo Fabulous is the place to be to play bingo online on Thursdays!  Not convinced yet, check out our London Bingo official  review of Bingo Fabulous to learn more.

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At Virgin Bingo, you can win the tennis rackets used by Andy Murray and Maria Sharapova, as well as Nadal and Ivanovic’s Trainers.  Additionally, you have a shot at winning  a tour for two around Wimbledon, along with hampers full of Strawberries and Cream and Pimms up for grabs too.  Furthermore, Virgin Bingo are throwing in a Nintendo Wii, complete with EA Sports Tennis and an Xbox 360 with Virtua Tennis 2009.

To win these prizes, battle it out amongst your fellow bingo players, by playing in the Virgin Bingo Tennis Tournament. For every £1 you spend on bingo tickets between Monday 22nd and Sunday 28th, you’ll earn yourself 1 point. And by the end of the week, the top 10 players win themselves the corresponding prizes! Serve up an ace now by competing for Wimbledon tennis prize packages at Virgin Bingo.

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In addition to this attractive welcome bonus offer by Virgin Bingo, Virgin also offers several programs aimed at rewarding and retaining the London Bingo community.  For example, you can play bingo and accumulate Virgin Bingo reward points to fly from London to Vegas for the gambling vacation of a lifetime.  Additionally, Virgin Bingo offers their players a free scratch card every day!

Take a look at our London Bingo review of Virgin Bingo, and get the bingo winnings rolling in today!

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Virgin Bingo additionally offers a welcome cash match bonus of £10 for newly depositing bingo players.  Take advantage of the bingo cash match bonus, and begin winning your way to Vegas via Virgin Bingo today!

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