If you are one of those people who still visits a Bingo hall on a regular basis, you have surely noticed the recent growing popularity of slot machines in these venues. The truth is that the number of these high-staked machines has tripled in the past several years. And many people are wondering if this is a good or a bad thing.
Many punters are against them because they are highly addictive and you can lose massive sums in a manner of minutes. On the other hand, Bingo halls are doing everything they can to keep these slot machines, as they are their primary source of income.
This will not come as a surprise to you, but Bingo halls have been slowly dying for several years. The main reason for this is the fact that most of their customers prefer to use online websites because they do not have to leave their homes to enjoy their hobby. And perhaps, these high-staked machines are the main reason your local Bingo Hall is still operating. So the question here is – do you prefer slot machines or Bingo? At the end of the day, it all bows down to personal preferences and what you prefer to spend your hard-earned money on in Bingo halls. If you do not like them, they should not bother you. That is, of course, if they are not hurting anyone. However, it looks like they are.
BBC News released a report which takes a closer look at the growing number of slot machines in our favourite Bingo halls and asked whether the increased numbers have a negative effect on problem gambling. The article is called The slot machines that changed bingo. For his research, the author visited a hall in east London and spoke to regulars about their personal experiences with these machines.
A woman explained that she was drawn by winning a £500 jackpot, but after that, she lost more than £70,000 on these machines in just a few years. A man whom the writer identified as a former manager of the venue stated that these slots are simply “legalised mugging”. This information might look scathing but remember that responsible gambling checks are in place at this and all Bingo halls.
The Bingo Association’s comment on the matter was that the industry’s attitude to problem gambling has improved considerably and that the staff members of each venue are now properly trained to both recognise and deal with addicted customers.
So, the UKGC is now undertaking a complete review of these machines and the laws that are attached to them. They will make their decision in less than a year, and it can dramatically impact the numbers of slots in Bingo halls.
Responsible gambling is crucial in this industry, and organisations like GamCare and GambleAware work tirelessly to make sure that people have the help and support they need. So, if you or anyone close to you have symptoms of problem gambling, contact them to get the proper treatment.