There seems to be no end of stories about the big winners in online bingo, and various tales of how they managed to scoop a jackpot thanks to a helping hand from lady luck! But with the online bingo world growing at a rapid rate, the operators of online bingo have had to head back to the drawing board when it comes to making the players happy. The result? A distinct widening of the goalposts when it comes to being an “online bingo winner”. If the latest range of promotions are anything to go by, it seems even second best deserves some credit in online bingo – and sure enough, the players aren’t complaining!
Perhaps it was inevitable given the sheer volume of players of online bingo that something had to be done for the growing number of losers. With online bingo becoming an industry that has topped the $1billion mark in terms of value, there are now more players than ever. Take a recent competition at the increasingly popular Wink Bingo site. The promotion, which offered a top prize of a brand new MINI car, attracted more than 40,000 players. Although as online bingo grows there are more and more stories of winners, equally, there are a growing number of players that are finding lady luck is simply not on their side.
Although one answer is to demand even more online bingo action, this may not be the ideal solution for bingo fans or operators. Many online bingo sites are increasing in size, but as a result, it can turn into a glass half empty situation. Although it can reduce room size down, at the same time, it encourages new acquisitions, leading to a vicious circle where more chances to win can also mean more chances to lose. And so simply opening more bingo rooms to accommodate demand is not the only solution. Sure enough, in a way, this exacerbates the problem, and moreover, runs the risk of losing the personal touch many bingo sites treasure as a means of avoiding turning into “just another gaming site”. And so rather than increasing the volume of bingo available, to avoid saturation and encourage player loyalty, online bingo bosses have had a rather clever trick up their sleeve.
The secret weapon? Turn the bingo losers into bingo winners! Over the last few months, more and more sites have been offering consolation prizes for players pipped to the post in online bingo games. It’s a move employed a lot by sites known for their bingo community credentials, such as Think Bingo. Another great example is the recent consolation promotion launched at Posh Bingo. On one of their daily games, where £100 is up for grabs, all players that are 1 number off of winning (1TG) are given a share of bonus funds allocated specifically for them! Meaning all “nearly made it’s” are still given a little prize!
It’s a compromise that looks set to make a big impact in terms of player retention. For bingo operators, it means more players will return, and for players, it’s offering more chances to win, without giving them more opportunity to lose! Seems like the consolation prize really has meant everyone can be a winner when it comes to online bingo!
