(Monday 19th of April 2010)
The air travel ban has left many Buckingham Bingo members with a lot of time on their hands. In case you haven't heard, a huge eruption in Iceland has brought many European airports to a standstill. So if you're stuck in the UK, don't just sit at home watching the news bulletins. Our UK bingo clubs and online bingo site are still open for business so why not play a few lines of your favourite numbers game instead?
(Wednesday 24th of March 2010)
Alistair Darling has overlooked the issue of bingo tax in today's budget. There was speculation that the chancellor would return gross profit tax to 15 per cent or at least drop it by a couple of points. Instead, it seems that bingo club duty will be held at 20 per cent for the foreseeable future. This is likely to disappoint the I'm Backing Bingo campaign group, which enjoys the support of countless players and UK operators like Buckingham Bingo.
(Monday 22nd of March 2010)
Online bingo is a great way to play your favourite numbers game. But despite the rise of the internet, it's worth pointing out that millions of gamers still flock to land-based bingo clubs across the UK. Traditional clubs give players the opportunity to meet up with friends and play for huge cash prizes like the £25,000 National Bingo Game and £50,000 Bucky Bullseye. In Rugby, meanwhile, a lady has just scooped a £135,000 jackpot at her local bingo club.
(Tuesday 12th of January 2010)
Many senior citizens enjoy playing bingo games every now and then. But what about those people who call the numbers? Incredible as it may seem, an Australian bingo caller is still going strong after celebrating her 100th birthday earlier this month. Cecily Gaunson, who lives in New South Wales, reads out the numbers three times a week and has no plans to stop anytime soon. Having reached triple figures, Cecily is also perfectly placed to divulge the secrets of a long life.
(Thursday 10th of December 2009)
Yesterday, chancellor Alistair Darling announced during the pre-budget report that bingo club duty would be lowered from 22 per cent to 20 per cent. It's the latest twist in a turbulent year for the industry - prior to April, gross profit tax stood at just 15 per cent. The Bingo Association, the trade body for bingo clubs in the UK, has welcomed the cuts but warned they still don't go far enough and pledged to keep fighting.
(Saturday 31st of October 2009)
It's the tallest mountain in Africa. But one plucky woman plans to climb Kilimanjaro to raise £4,000 for the charity set up in memory of her late father. Of course, the trip itself won't be cheap so she has organised a series of bingo nights to raise the necessary funds. There has been a spate of mountain-climbing escapades recently. British bingo club employees recently took on Everest to fundraise for Sue Ryder Care, while staff at Buckingham Bingo Huyton climbed Snowdon to support Breakthrough for Breast Cancer.
(Sunday 25th of October 2009)
A new report suggests online bingo is continuing to grow regardless of the recession. The study, published by Ernst & Young, noted that operators are investing heavily in online bingo to improve the playing experience. It's thought that many people are turning to online bingo as it offers a "fun, cost-effective" alternative to traditional hobbies. The report concluded that the bingo industry was on course to emerge stronger as the economic recovery gathers pace.
