That was the title of a report sponsored by the bingo Association, on the social impact of Bingo Club closures. Although it was produced in August 2007 (by Denise Hicks and Ray Stone), it contains some really interesting insights into our favourite game, and the change in popularity from land-based or live Bingo, to online Bingo. Following interviews and analysis of nearly 300 completed survey returns, these were the main conclusions:

For regular Bingo players, the game was their primary and sometimes only leisure pursuit outside of their home.

While winning money was a key trigger to begin playing and remains an important motivation, the drive to play Bingo regularly is largely orientated around a need for social interaction and belonging. Well I don’t think that would come as a surprise to many of us. I think this can also equally apply to online bingo, where chat rooms allow social interaction much as you can indulge in on Twitter and Facebook.

The surveys and interviews found that there was a strong belief that Bingo aids wellbeing of the older generation, and it is perceived by members and experts alike that, for the older 60+ audience especially, there are few alternatives that aid mental agility to such a great extent. This is good news for me as I’m only 3 years off 60 myself!

The conclusion of the report was that the closure of Bingo clubs, especially those in the small, rural venues and deprived urban locations,  meant not only the loss of a pastime and form of entertainment but the disappearance of a unique social support network, relied upon especially by retired women. The demise of this pastime and network can have a detrimental impact upon the physical and mental wellbeing of patrons, particularly as there are often few other opportunities for this group to socialise. The report ventured that Bingo closures also appear to be both a manifestation and catalyst for a wider breakdown of local communities that could have a negative impact upon society.

Because the report was written in 2007, before the explosion in online Bingo, there are no references to online Bingo. I wonder whether the finding that the Bingo Hall closures had caused a “loss of a unique social support network” might now be mitigated by the wealth of online Bingo providers and the healthy social interactions going on there?

In fact, online Bingo has some distinct advantages over live Bingo. You can play when it suits you and not when the Bingo Hall has an event. You don’t have to travel- it’s all there in front of you on your screen! And finally you can talk to a much wider variety of people from all over the country (and abroad!) through the chat room.  That’s not to say I don’t enjoy live Bingo. I like both!

Good luck!