After we recently wrote about how online bingo could be helping drive internet take-up amongst older players, our attention was drawn to three infographics published by comparison and review website www.BingoFind.com which reveal some interesting facts and trends.
According to the site, the UK’s bingo market is estimated to be worth almost £800m with players spending an average of £120 on the game each month.
Given that the worldwide online gambling market is estimated to be $35m (roughly £22.7m), UK online bingo players account for a pretty healthy share of the total online gambling market.
And yet despite the UK”s estimated 4 million players spending a colossal sum on the game, ours is only the third largest bingo market and trails behind both the US and Japan.
The site’s research also reveals some interesting differences between the UK’s general online gambling market and online bingo players.
UK bingo players tend to be older than other online gamblers – the average age of an online bingo player is 38 compared to 31 for the general online market.
And while only 18% of UK online gamblers are female, that’s true of over 80% of online bingo players.
The arrival of online bingo appears to be giving the old game a new lease of life – more than a third of players (38%) say they’ve been playing for less than 2 years – and the convenience of not having to leave home means nearly 50% of UK aficionados play every day.
But while ever larger numbers of us are hoping Lady Luck smiles on us – understandable given the UK’s near-stagnant economy – the figures contain a cautionary note, revealing that on average players lose approximately £3,000 every year.
Whether online or in a traditional betting shop or bingo hall, the message remains: only bet what you can afford to lose.