Nevada-based company eQube International has entered into a deal with UK bingo operator Mecca Bingo to provide and install the company’s handheld e-bingo devices.  Mecca Bingo will use the devices in up to twenty-one of its land-based bingo halls.

”This represents a major milestone and validation of our new handheld bingo device,” said Gary Gardner, President and CEO of eQube. “By securing a contract with Mecca, one of the premier operators of bingo halls in the United Kingdom, we are demonstrating the acceptance of our handheld by customers and our ability to penetrate international markets.”

Mecca Bingo also operates online bingo games under its own name and is one of the bigger online bingo operators in the UK.

Media reports say UK gambling company Rank Group may be the subject of renewed takeover attempts with the news that Malaysian investment compnay Guoco Pty Ltd. has increased its stake from 13.09% to 14.15%.

The UK land and online bingo operator has often been subject to rumour of a possible takeover since announcing a profit warning last September.

In a previous development, Genting Berhad, also of Malaysia had to deny speculation it was planning a $959 million bid for Rank.

The Rank Group has suffered a poor run of form recently in its land bingo operations due largely to the implementation of a nation-wide smoking ban. The company is best known in the free online bingo industry for it’s Mecca Bingo brand which operates a popular online bingo hall under the same name.

A Norwich woman has become the latest Mecca Bingo player to walk away a major win – a £62,000 prize after playing the National Bingo Game.  The lucky winner also scored the house prize of £2,274 to go along with her £60,000 national jackpot.
The as-yet-unnamed player has been a member of Mecca Bingo’s All Saints Green club which recently saw another big win when a player took home a £29,857 prize just two days ago.
Mecca Bingo also operates an online bingo hall version of its famous brand of bingo and is a part of the Rank Group, one of the major players in the gaming industry.

UK Gambling Minister Gerry Sutcliffe recently addressed the Bingo Association’s AGM and is reportedly set to introduce measures aimed at helping land-based bingo clubs over the next few weeks.

The news has already been reflected in an increase in the shares of the Mecca Bingo chain, the land bingo operation owned by major gaming industry company Rank.
It is being speculated that the measures could include reducing restrictions currently placed on gaming machines found in many bingo clubs.  The industry is, however, still under pressure due to a double tax on bingo games and a UK-wide smoking ban.
However, land bingo is unlikely to see relief from the double tax burden which sees bingo clubs paying VAT of 17.5% and then a gross profits tax of 15% on all bingo participation fees.
Land bingo’s problems have been contrasted by the growth being experienced by its online bingo counterpart industry which has seen many traditional bingo players choose to play bingo online.  Rank’s Mecca Bingo chain operates a very successful online bingo hall which has remained a favourite choice for many online bingo players.

Its well documented that the major players in the UK Bingo industry have looked to make their online bingo prescence felt . They include Gala Bingo and Mecca Bingo . Gala Bingo are reportedly in the midst of selling a land based bingo club in Nuneaton as they prefer to concentrate on thier bigger Bingo Halls. That leaves the good people of Nuneaton with the simple choice of either going to a bigger town or converting to online bingo .

Online bingo has become exceptionally profitable and has become very big business. Bingo groups are in the midst of a bingo marketing blitz with Sharon Osbourne appearing for Gala Bingo and the delectable Jordan posing for Foxy Bingo . I wonder when were going to get a male figure like David Beckham advertising a Bingo room . Wink Bingo thats an idea for you . Bingo rooms are becoming increasingly sophisticated and are determined to mirror land based bingo halls by appealing to the social nature of bingo .

The latest online bingo room - Wink Bingo offers its bingo players a lot of bingo social networking features and has purposefully built this into their bingo site. Socializing at Bingo plays an important role in what makes Bingo Fun.

Looking at the different Bingo promotions and incentives for players is a bit of an eye opener as well . The bingo rooms that are far away and above in terms of generosity appear to be the Bridgend Software group . This is the software offering that is owned and run by the 888 Group .

In their Bingo Rooms you are offered a 100% Sign Up Bonus and a 50% bonus on each and every single subsequent purchase up to a maximum of £100 . This certainly is ensuring that your Bingo buck stretches a lot further. EyedDownBingo will be conducting an extensive study re the promotions at the different bingo operators and will publish this for your veiwing.

Well i think thats all for today,we are working on bringing all of our subscribers a very special offer from a online bingo room so keep your eyesdown on this bingo blog as this bingo special is heading your way on Monday