Over the past few years, it would be fair to say that the rise in online gambling, and that of online bingo sites, in particular, has been nothing short of astronomical. Seemingly, a new bingo site pops up every week, as people are turning to online bingo as a way of entertaining themselves while at home. In this post, we take a look at why online bingo is so popular, and in particular, why online bingo participation rose in 2020.
Online bingo in 2020
2020 saw a rise in people playing online bingo, and we also learned of other interesting findings thanks to a recent report released by WhichBingo. The report disclosed that, in 2020, 78% of players play online bingo at least once a week, and 78% of the players are female. Moreover, 72% of online bingo players play across two or more different sites, perhaps to make the most of sign up offers and regular promotions. 27% of players deposit more than £50 every month, and Tombola remains the most prominent online bingo site, reaching more than 21,000 players in a single day.
Why is online bingo so popular in 2020?
There are several reasons why online bingo is so popular in 2020, and we’re going to take a look at some of the reasons why that’s the case.
Coronavirus affected sports betting
Sports betting is incredibly popular in the UK, with so many markets available to gamblers and many events they can bet on. However, in March 2020, the national lockdown imposed by the UK government essentially prevented all sports from operating, meaning people were unable to place bets on the most popular markets. One of the few European football leagues to continue operating, for example, was the Belarussian football league, which resulted in large pots of money being gambled on the games in that league, as sports betters were looking for their fix.
With this in mind, it’s safe to assume that many people turned to online casino sites as another way of getting their online gambling fix. While the lockdown stopped people from betting on their favourite teams and sports, they could still bet on popular online slots and casino games, which is likely to be one of the most significant reasons why online casino betting participation rose in 2020.
The sheer volume of online bingo sites
Another reason why online bingo is becoming so popular is the sheer volume of online bingo sites available. As well as the big sports bookmakers like William Hill offering online casino and bingo games, there are also specialist online bingo sites like Tombola who provide industry specific casino offers. There are literally hundreds of bingo websites to choose from, with TrustedBingo estimating that there are over 300 sites currently available to UK gamblers . With so many sites to choose from, it’s obvious why people have been turning to online bingo in 2020.
It’s fun and sociable
Of course, playing bingo has always been fun, but strangely, players are commenting that playing bingo is actually more sociable than attending a traditional bingo hall. This is because you can sit and chat with your friends and make new friends in chat halls while playing. This interactive experience, alongside the convenience of playing bingo from the comfort of your own home, is undoubtedly one of the most significant reasons why online bingo is booming in 2020.
Whatever the reason for the extraordinary rise of online bingo in recent years, it’s likely to continue, as online players have so many reasons why they would continue betting online and having fun in their spare time.
