Bingo Connect Winter 2022 - Issue 3 by BingoAssociation

The Magazine for the Bingo Industry

Winter 2022 Issue 3 - £6

Clubingo

Is this the future of land-based bingo?

IN THIS ISSUE

In profile: Meet Shaun Homewood, a born entertainer Back by popular demand: Full House New clubs, new looks! The benefits and drawbacks of hybrid working

vouche r for grab up s! Ente wordsre our compet arch ition

The No.1 association for bingo Shaping policy Developing business Driving the industry agenda The association for all things bingo - working with senior management and operators for more than two decades - successfully promoting and developing the interests of all bingo operators. For industry news, comment and information on the benefits of membership, visit www.bingo-association.co.uk Call 01582 860921 or email info@bingo-association.co.uk

Introduction Welcome to Bingo Connect, the magazine for the bingo industry in the UK, and the official magazine of The Bingo Association. Published in hard copy and digital format (available on our website at www.bingoconnect.co.uk), Bingo Connect covers all things bingo, from news of regulatory development and new products, to industry profiles and charity support. Bingo is at the heart of the community and Bingo Connect is at the heart of the bingo industry. Bingo Connect magazine is published three times a year: Autumn, Spring and Summer, with www.bingoconnect.co.uk updated regularly with the very latest stories. You can register your email address online to ensure you receive the latest alerts and updates. Bingo Connect is about and for the bingo sector and we want to hear your news and stories: you can share them with us by emailing: info@bingoconnect.co.uk We hope you enjoy our latest edition – happy reading.

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Contents Winter 2022

Foreword 6

Miles Baron, Chief Executive, The Bingo Association

In profile 34

Jason Beauchamp-Hughes, GM at Majestic Bingo, Skegness Shaun Homewood, Duty Manager at Mecca Bingo, Swansea

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News round up

Features

Club 3000 offers a sneak peak into their new luxury venues

Buzz, hybrid working, mental health and putting its colleagues first

Hybrid working: Alec Coulson of Taylor Walton takes us through the benefits and drawbacks Clubingo: creating a fun, engaging night of bingo ‘with a difference’.

Cowells Arrow spend their time well during lockdown

Back by popular demand! We’re off to Tonypandy and Full House

Integration is the key for ISD and their customers

EY takes us through the highlights from the autumn budget

50 Publisher The Bingo Association™ www.bingo-association.co.uk

Editorial Editor Miles Baron miles@bingo-association.co.uk

Managing Editor Steve Baldwin steven@bingo-association.co.uk

Production and Advertising Sales Steve Pearce Tel: +44 (0) 117 957 5400 advertising@bingoconnect.co.uk

The Editorial Policy

14 Competition time 27

Eyes down for a themed wordsearch

The views and opinions expressed in Bingo Connect remain principally the views of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or publishers. The publishers wish to avoid inaccuracies and whilst every precaution has been taken to ensure that information contained in this publication is accurate, no liability is accepted by the editor or publishers for errors or omissions however caused. Unless otherwise stated, articles appearing in this publication remain the copyright of the publishers and may not be reproduced in any form without the publisher’s written consent.

ISSN 2752-6372

Bingo in pictures 50

Past & Present: Bingo’s celebrations and party nights

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Foreword

Miles Baron, Chief Executive, The Bingo Association

ear Bingo supporter, I write this having just returned from The Bingo Association roadshow in Leeds on December 1st last year. The idea of the roadshow is to update members on industry news and events. I was taken aback by the record numbers attending both from the industry supply chain and from largely independent operators. Over 60 attendees were updated on lobbying and regulatory affairs as well as on the latest industry research. There was also an update on our commercial operations: National Bingo Game, Meeron, and ISD. The atmosphere at the roadshow was collaborative and there was a real sense of ‘we are all in this together’. Operators who have made it through thus far should be congratulated and rightly proud of themselves. Unfortunately, trading starting to slide following a promising Autumn as Omicron concerns and fears started to kick in. Conservative estimates are that alarms over Omicron cost the industry a further 10% on already supressed admission levels and further 8% decline in levels of G.P. The battle to survive and then recover is therefore far from over. I hope that every one of our operators had a successful end to the year and festive season, doing what they do so

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The latest news from the Bingo Association’s Chief Executive Miles Baron well, which is to entertain and look after our fantastic customers in a safe, social and secure way. I am looking forward to working with everyone in what I hope will be a prosperous 2022: you certainly deserve it.

Miles Baron Chief Executive

News round up

Bingo’s all about the experience,

not just the numbers! Since the 1990s, Leisure Electronics have been supporting the bingo industry with the manufacture and supply of the latest bingo equipment: the team works hard to ensure customers are offered the very latest and best technology, that enhances player experience and business performance, all in line with the latest trends. Bingo Plus is getting a major facelift! Leisure Electronics already deliver their successful Bingo Plus product to customers such as Parkdean Resorts, Merkur, Admiral, and the soon-to-belaunched operator, LOL Bingo. With more and more products being

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delivered in the digital space, research shows that customers crave a more authentic bingo experience, rather than the more sterile game that is delivered through online bingo: bingo is in the entertainment business, after all! To that end, Leisure Electronics have just invested in a state-of the-art digital TV studio, located in their newly refurbished headquarters in Hull. Green screen technology allows the games to be tailored to a product, or brand with ease. The games are called ‘live’ by a presenter or caller in a modern style, giving players the full-on bingo experience. In fact, the experience goes much further because the players can chat directly with the caller via the live chat facility. Leisure Electronics are proud to be collaborating with several of the industry’s leading bingo callers, including Gary Marsden, formerly of Gala Bingo, who will

be leading the team responsible for presenting the Bingo Plus experience. Live games are available across the network 7 days a week, from 10am through to 10pm, and beyond. Sean Young, Managing Director of Leisure Electronics told us, “We’re really excited about the opportunities that Bingo Plus and our new studio brings to the sector. We’re already talking to several bingo operators and AGCs, to join our growing network of customers early in 2022. I’m always happy to welcome any operator to come and see our amazing new facility here in Hull, to see Bingo Plus and the studio for themselves.” Mike Smith, a consultant for Leisure Electronics added, “Having worked in the bingo sector for many years, I can honestly say that it’s a really polished and professional set-up, and testament to the hard work put in by the team. “Bingo Plus is the perfect system to run alongside or replace any current bingo offer, providing something that’s profitable, coupled with great prize money through pooled liquidity. Bingo is experiential, and coupling Bingo Plus, live streaming, and the best callers, ensures that operators can offer a high-quality, entertaining, and a credible bingo proposition.”

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For more information visit: www.wexel.co.uk

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News round up

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News round up

Club 3000 invests £7 million in two new venues for 2022 Club 3000 Bingo, who are the largest independent bingo operator in the UK, have announced an investment of £7 million in two new clubs, located in Blackpool and Kilmarnock.

lub 3000 Bingo will not only be investing in creating luxury venues in both locations, but also creating around 100 jobs, helping to boost local employment opportunities and economies. Brian Fraser, founder of Club 3000 Bingo, commented, “We are delighted to extend our portfolio of clubs to 23 and bring the Club 3000 brand to Kilmarnock and Blackpool. They are both great venues and communities and we are looking forward to offering customers a fabulous bingo experience in firstclass, modern, and secure environments. We promise something special to look

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forward to – both for regular bingo lovers and new customers.” Club 3000 Blackpool is a new purpose built venue, currently being constructed at Festival Park, Rigby Road and while COVID-19 has caused a number of delays to the project opening plans are currently focused on summer 2022. Following the purchase of the freehold location in Kilmarnock from the landlord in late 2021 work is now underway on creating Club 3000 Kilmarnock which is expected to open in the spring 2022.

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www.club3000bingo.com

“ We are looking forward to offering customers a fabulous bingo experience.”

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Bingo of the future Mecca Bingo will shortly be revealing their latest interpretation of the modern day bingo space, bringing bingo of the future to their Luton venue. At the time of writing the final installations were taking place.

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News round up

he Luton club closed in March 2020, like all bingo clubs due to the national lockdown, but unlike other clubs remained closed while the teams at Mecca planned and designed the refurbishment, led by the results of extensive research. The venue was initially built in the late 1960s/early 70s as a bowling alley and ice rink and was first operated as a bingo club by Ladbrokes, before then being taken over by Top Rank Limited in 1986 (Rank purchased a number of Ladbrokes sites the same year). It was then extended in 1998. Bingo Connect spoke to Catrin White, Retail Marketing Director for Mecca about the exciting development of the new style leisure venue. What was the player/customer profile for the venue and how did this compare in comparison to other clubs before it was closed? Nationwide, we have seen a resurgence in popularity of bingo as people look for new and immersive experiences, especially since we came out of lockdown. With this in mind, we’re expecting to see a new and younger audience drawn to Mecca Luton, as well as our longstanding and much loved regular bingo players. With the safe space it offers to socialise and the huge variety of entertainment options, it has all the makings of a great night out; plus the added rush of a possible win! We’re expecting our customer base to continually grow and diversify.

When did the club close and where were the staff during the re-fit? Like all of our UK clubs, Mecca Luton closed temporarily because of the Covid-19 pandemic back in March 2020. Due to the club’s planned refurbishment and transformation, it has since stayed closed while works are completed. During the pandemic, in order to minimise any loss of jobs, Mecca, like many businesses, took the decision to furlough its team members. For Luton, this meant that 18 team members were furloughed. With the club’s closure continuing once lockdown restrictions lifted due to its refurbishments, some team members took the decision to find employment elsewhere, however we are happy to have retained a total of six team members at other local venues and to welcome others back once we reopen. What are the key features of the new club: design, layout, furniture, areas within the venue, facilities, bar, food, electronic bingo, etc? The newly refurbished Luton club will look completely different from the club our customers may remember – it is better than you could imagine: decked out in bright colours, stylish and with comfortable furniture, and social mediaworthy selfie spots. Spanning two floors, with a bright and airy atmosphere, there are lots of social spaces for cocktails, food – and of course bingo. The bingo tables themselves will be large and comfortable for socialising. All-new lighting, sound, video and graphics capabilities provide an enhanced bingo and entertainment experience, making it the perfect place to enjoy a night out with friends. What was the thinking and research that shaped the new venue – what customer insights did the process reveal? We’ve seen in our own research that people are looking for experience driven nights out, people want something thrilling and exciting that you can really get absorbed in. Bingo came out as the top activity people were looking to take up post lockdown and all signs of growth since May 2021 have been positive.

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News round up

How does this latest version of the Mecca club fit with Rank’s future leisure aims? The all-new Luton Mecca Bingo provides the blueprint for the future of Mecca. Its state of the art facilities elevate the bingo experience for all, providing a place for entertainment as well as bingo. Learning and takeaways from the Luton club will help guide future refurbishments and new venues for Mecca Bingo. What changes are Rank hoping to see at the site. Change of customer profile? Increased membership, increased visits, increased spend, changes in player behaviour etc? We’ve created a venue to appeal to customers of all ages, whether regular, occasional or new. We hope that the club we’ve created will encourage existing players to visit more often and stay for longer

A key part of the new club is not just the environment but also the offer, accommodating a new bingo schedule with more bingo to play throughout the day, entertainment at the weekends and great food and drink When will the club open and what can customers look forward to? Mecca Luton will be complete in late January and will reopen to the public in February. We are excited to be welcoming customers back after so long and have some amazing treats in store as part of the club’s transformation. Mecca Luton is coming back bigger and better than ever. We’re ready to show off our ‘wow’ factor and get the bingo balls rolling again. Existing or new customers can come and play anytime – with a game of bingo at a time to suit everyone. There will be some exclusive nights especially for our loyal existing customers to welcome them back to club and introduce them to their new club. We will be using social media – Facebook and a new Instagram page, email, and direct mail, plus local advertising to keep everyone informed of the relaunch. As well as a new leisure venue, there are new food and drink menus, with something for everyone, including vegan and gluten-free options. There is a new open kitchen, with pizza oven and chargrill. Food options range from small plates that can be mixed and matched, pizzas, burgers and steak, as well as some fabulous new dessert options. Guests will get to quench their thirst with Mecca’s new drinks menu, which includes well known brands, a new cheeky cocktail and wine range, a wide range of premium gins and beers, as well as alcohol free options. In addition to bingo, Mecca Luton will play host to a wide variety of themed nights and events, including brunches, comedy nights, live music, Bonkers Bingo and takeovers, as well as great prizes and top of the range machines. And finally, which lucky GM will be leading the launch and the new club? The General Manager will be Tim Perry, who was the previous GM for Mecca in Hayes. The relaunch of Mecca Luton is creating more than 50 new jobs and we have been busy recruiting for a wide range of roles, including team members, kitchen team members, and bingo callers.

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www.meccabingo.com

Featured article: Employment update from Taylor Walton

The benefits and drawbacks of hybrid working “Hybrid Working” where employees split their working time between the office and their home is now seen as inevitable in some business sectors due to the effects of the COVID 19 pandemic and will eventually become the normal working arrangements for many employees.

hilst some employers were initially reluctant to send their employees to work from home at the beginning of the pandemic, there is an increasing expectation that many employees will now work from home for at least part of their working week. For some staff home working is not an option for example, in certain roles in the bingo business. Therefore, within an organisation a “two- tier” workforce could emerge where office staff work primarily from home with hospitality staff unable to do so. This can be challenging to manage with the business. Therefore what are the benefits and drawbacks to allowing employees hybrid working arrangements and what should employers be considering going forward?

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Benefits The benefits of hybrid working are commonly seen as follows: 1. Reduced overhead costs – the need for expensive offices and other related overheads may be reduced. 2. Increased productivity – there is evidence to suggest that employees working from home without the need for a long commute to work are more productive. 3. Better work/life balance – many workers respond well to working from home for at least a few days per week. 4. Skills retention – workers who might otherwise be lost because of family relocation, new family or caring responsibilities, or temporary or permanent disability may stay if offered appropriate arrangements. 5. Recruitment – employers that allow some homeworking will have access to a wider geographical talent pool. The ability to work from home is also likely to be seen as a benefit by potential candidates. 6. Team flexibility – geography and travel time are less of an impediment and teams of workers can be assembled more easily. 7. Resilience – organisations geared to homeworking and hybrid working may be better able to withstand external disruptions such as transport problems or adverse weather conditions.

Featured article: Employment update from Taylor Walton

Drawbacks The drawbacks to a hybrid working arrangement for employers include: 1. Culture – potential damage to team working and company culture. 2. Collaboration and innovation – reduced face-toface collaboration among colleagues and teams, which is not only important for innovation but also for employee social interaction and wellbeing. 3. Learning and development – reduced on-the-job learning and training opportunities for junior or less experienced workers. 4. Productivity – the employer will be reliant to a large degree on trust and may fear that some workers will not “pull their weight”. 5. Data security – potential confidential information, data security and data protection breaches. 6. Inclusivity – employers may face challenges ensuring inclusivity and participation with a dispersed workforce, where some employees attend meetings from the workplace and others join remotely. 7. Mental health – employees working from home may experience loneliness and boredom, feel alienated from their organisation and developments within it. They may also find it more difficult to separate their work life from their home life. 8. Supervision – more difficult to supervise junior employees and provide on the job training.

Legal Implications Discrimination An employer considering or introducing hybrid working, or if it’s already in place, needs to be aware of the potential for discrimination claims arising. For example, the refusal to accept a hybrid working request from a male employee who has child care responsibilities, but accepting a similar request from a female employee. A disabled employee may also have protection in relation to a homeworking or hybrid working request as such a request could amount to a duty on the employer to make a reasonable adjustment. If hybrid working is only allowed for experienced staff, this may lead to age discrimination claims from younger employees. Therefore, it is important employers think through the implications of agreeing to or refusing a hybrid working request from a discrimination perspective. Change to Employment Contract Employers may also need to consider the fact that a change from workplace-based working to remote working, either from home or as part of a hybrid working arrangement, is bingoconnect.co.uk

likely to amount to a change to the terms and conditions of employment. Therefore, if the employer wishes to end or amend the hybrid arrangement this will amount to a change of contract requiring the employee’s consent. Flexible Working There is currently no automatic right for employees to work remotely. Employees with 26 weeks’ continuous service at the date the request is made can apply for “flexible working” arrangements. A request could involve changing the number of hours they work, the times they work or the location. Only one request may be made under the statutory scheme in any 12-month period. However, the Government is currently reviewing the flexible working arrangements with a view to removing the requirement for the 26 weeks requirement therefore making a right to request flexible working a day 1 right. The legislation recognises that an employer may have entirely legitimate business reasons why it cannot accommodate a flexible working request, and there are currently eight specific grounds that an employer may rely on for rejecting a request which are also being reviewed by the Government. These are: • The burden of additional costs. • Detrimental effect on ability to meet customer demand. • Inability to reorganise work among existing staff. • Inability to recruit additional staff. • Detrimental impact on quality. • Detrimental impact on performance. • Insufficiency of work during the periods the employee proposes to work. • Planned structural changes. However, it may be harder for employers to refuse flexible working requests for homeworking or hybrid working where the temporary arrangements that have applied during the COVID-19 pandemic have worked well although in many cases this will be a matter of opinion. Practical Steps If employers want to introduce hybrid working, they should: • create a hybrid working policy; • review and adapt any related policies or procedures; and • consult with employees before implementing. A hybrid working policy allows for such arrangements to apply on a discretionary basis, whereby staff are permitted to split their work time between home and the workplace, without the need for a formal statutory flexible working request to be made, if agreed with their line manager or HR.

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Alec Colson is a Solicitor and Partner at Taylor Walton LLP, in Taylor Walton’s Employment team. Alec has specialised in Employment and Industrial Relations Law for over 20 years. taylorwalton.com

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News round up

Working from home: mental health, flexibility and hybrid working By Gary Fielden, HR Director, Buzz Bingo.

hanks to Government guidance and Covid-19 many people were furloughed in 2020 and working from home (WFH) became a reality for millions. As we moved into 2021 with changing restrictions and conditions, we all learned to be more flexible in our approach to things and recognise that plans may have to change last minute. It also presented new challenges both in terms of finding and creating a work environment away from the office and, for some, feelings of isolation. Whether we loathe or like the enforced changes Covid has wrought in terms of how we work, it has certainly shaken things up. It has led to one of the largest workplace changes in living memory that is increasingly making hybrid working a very real situation for millions of people. As a consequence of Covid-19 office based employees at Buzz Bingo experienced a variety of opportunities and challenges as they quickly adjusted to furlough or a new balance of work, family, pets, and time to explore new hobbies. Because who doesn’t have a friend who became a passionate banana bread or indoor plant enthusiast over lockdown? Identifying new priorities Business needs changed as the pandemic evolved. As always, colleague and customer health was our primary concern and we rapidly identified three priorities when focusing specifically on WFH. We needed to quickly: 1. Equip our WFH colleagues with the right tools, software, and processes to work safely and effectively;

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2. Empower our WFH colleagues with the autonomy to choose ways of working that was best for them; 3. Ramp up mental health support and business communications for all WFH and furloughed colleagues. With all our colleagues furloughed or WFH, we took the opportunity to move out of our long-term Head Office at New Castle House in Nottingham and immediately focus on our new priorities. We gave all WFH colleagues laptops, peripherals, second monitors, office

chairs, and anything else they needed to efficiently WFH. We provided intranet training on everything from how to set up equipment safely to how to use Microsoft Teams as a platform for meetings, creative collaboration, and casual conversation. Many colleagues were juggling WFH with home-schooling children, caring for family members and pets, handling mental health challenges, developing new sleep habits, and countless other variables. In response, we offered flexible working where

News round up

possible, including compressed hours, part time options, and self-dictated times of working. We also enhanced and extended our mental health services and communication processes to meet our employees’ growing need for support. We conducted regular check-ins and surveys with all WFH colleagues, and our team of volunteer Mental Health Advocates acted as a touchpoint for anyone wanting to chat about mental health or be signposted to appropriate NHS services and resources. Exploring the idea of hybrid working After the first few weeks of working from home, we learned via anonymous surveys that a significant number of colleagues enjoyed working from home and wanted to retain it as an option even after a new office opened. Noting this as a fantastic opportunity to offer our employees the flexibility they wanted and look for a bright new office space, we began exploring how hybrid working - a mix of WFH and in the office - could fit in with our future. Moving into our new office We opened our new office in Nottingham’s Castle Marina in November 2021 and are currently trialling hybrid working with around 90 hot desks. If a colleague would like to come to the office, they book their desk, parking space, and meeting rooms online. We’ve ditched department seating layouts, permanent parking spaces, and private offices for senior management in favour of desks and spaces open to everyone. The goal is to create an environment where mixing with colleagues from other departments is inevitable. We believe this is an excellent way to encourage positive relationships to form across the business. Our new office has a whole floor dedicated to collaboration. It has a mixture of high and low seating options with a café culture vibe to encourage groups to come together, catch up, and be creative. 20-foot dry wipe boards dominate two meeting rooms and we’ve installed four interactive screens across the office to create even more opportunities for bingoconnect.co.uk

impromptu creativity and to capture ideas as they flow. Newly installed state-of-the-art technology means remote colleagues can be ‘in the room’ with in-office colleagues via seamless connections to Microsoft Teams and other platforms. Everyone can work together, easily, from wherever they happen to be. The Buzz Bingo hybrid working trial Many organisations are trialling hybrid working, but often in a strictly limited sense. For example, WFH is only allowed one day a week, or in-office days and working times are stipulated by managers. At Buzz Bingo, we recognise that every colleague is an individual with personal working-style preferences and unique home-life situations. We’re proud to be trialling a highly flexible approach to hybrid working with full support of the Executive Team. All colleagues who used to work in Head Office full time can now decide where and when they want to work. If someone works best from home, they might only come in for important meetings and social catch ups. If someone wants to be in the office some or all days a week, that’s great too - hot desks can be reserved up to 28 days in advance. As long as Buzz Bingo colleagues continue achieving the high standards we strive for, they have the freedom to choose what works best for them - and we will trust their judgement. We believe this level of trust and flexibility will vastly improve employee happiness, health, productivity, and retention.

We partnered with a highly regarded Management Consultancy to design our hybrid working trial, which included conducting extensive analysis to understand potential risks and creating solutions to mitigate against them. For example, in January 2022, the business will switch to an updated performance management process which is more forward-thinking and colleague-focused than before. We’re also ready to hit go on a new “engine room” process to foster faster, more accurate communication across the business, irrespective of where colleagues are working from. The future of hybrid working at Buzz Bingo We’re excited about the changes planned for 2022 and we’ll be carefully monitoring the results of our hybrid working trial. We’re determined to offer our colleagues the flexibility, autonomy, and trust they want. Of course, our trial and new changes are just the beginning. If the pandemic has shown us anything, it’s that nobody knows what challenges we could face in the future. So, we’ve vowed to monitor what’s going on in the world, search for great examples of hybrid working at other organisations, and frequently check in with our colleagues to hear how they’re feeling and what they want. We’ll keep changing things for the better, and you can be sure we’ll grab hold of every opportunity we get to make Buzz Bingo one of the most fulfilling places to work in the UK.

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www.buzzbingo.com

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News round up

Safer Gambling Standard Annual Review 21/22 GamCare, the leading national provider of information, advice and support for anyone affected by gambling related harms, has published its Trustee’s Annual Review detailing the charity’s work over the past year. And what a year it was.

gainst the backdrop of the pandemic, GamCare reached more people than ever, providing 24/7, year-round support through the National Gambling Helpline and online support services. Throughout the course of the past year GamCare have seen a 9% increase in calls and chats, answering over 42,000 in total; the number of actual treatment sessions and assessments also increased by 14% to over 55,000 sessions provided. GamCare also worked with 35 gambling brands, across 13 businesses, who are all working towards or have achieved the Safer Gambling Standard. In addition to this, nearly 15,000 professionals working with at risk individuals received gambling awareness training, an increase of 64% on the previous year. To protect people from experiencing gambling-related harm, it is important that the measures put in place by gambling businesses be independently assessed, which is exactly what the Safer Gambling Standard does, in addition to helping achieve best practice in these important areas of the business. Joining the Safer Gambling Standard scheme demonstrates that a business has adopted a wide range of safer gambling measures that go beyond the social responsibility provisions of a gambling licence. To build further on the work of the Standard GamCare also recently launched a new Business to Business (B2B) version, specifically for businesses that supply products to gambling operators, such as games software and platform providers, which will greatly enable the sector as a whole to put customer care at the centre of what they do, no longer singularly leaving the emphasis on customer facing businesses to do so alone. A focal point of the year is always Safer Gambling Week, now in its sixth year. In collaboration with YouGov, GamCare undertook some consumer research asking 1,510 people who gamble at least once a year what they do to gamble safely. The results were encouraging with over a third (39%) of people saying that they stuck to spending limits to keep / Winter 2022

themselves safe, and nearly a quarter (23%) stating that they avoid betting on fixed-odds type machines. Just over half (52%) of people in the survey mentioned that they would only gamble on specific things such as certain sports or events.

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To find out more about the Standard please email safergamblingstandard@gamcare.org.uk or visit www.safergamblingstandard.org.uk

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News round up

Keeping it local

Majestic Bingo operates thirteen licensed bingo clubs across England and Wales, each of which is at the heart of its community and presented in Majestic’s bright signature style.

hile Majestic firmly have their sights set on their overarching ‘generations’ strategy, focused on how they talk to customers, another key strategy has been ‘keep it local’, which allows each cub manager the flexibility to deliver a bingo experience that speaks to their local market and customers: it works by tapping into what the local community wants, as the Majestic team understands that one size rarely fits all. The success of this approach has been clearly seen by the back-to-back events held at their Rio Bingo Club in Canvey Island. The first event was a bespoke night supporting a local charity, followed by a Pearly Kings and Queens Cockney event later the same week. This cockney ‘knees up’ included pie & mash, and jellied eels, all being served while customers were doing the Lambeth walk, led by a Pearly King and Queen! These special local events were all planned by Chris Fletcher, Assistant Manager in the Club, who understood what appealed to and connected with, his customers.

The charity, Indee Rose Trust (a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting children during and after treatment for brain and spinal tumours), were approached as they had a close association with a number of customers and were delighted with the response and funds raised on the night. The recent Rio events are only two examples of a long list of local activities at Canvey Island, which demonstrate the positive impact that they can deliver both for the business and local community. Another great and completely different example of local engagement has been in Camborne, a town that had a very poor reputation for holiday decorations, having been held to have the worst Christmas tree in the country! This is the third year in which Apollo Bingo Camborne has paid for the town’s tree, helping the town to shake its reputation for a terrible tree and creating press headlines ‘Majestic Bingo saves Christmas’. Going forward Majestic have decided to give each GM the autonomy to create and deliver local activities that tap into what people in their local communities’ want, keeping it local.

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www.majesticbingo.com

Keep up to date with everything that’s happening in the World of Bingo Visit bingoconnect.co.uk / Winter 2022

News round up

Moving on up Bingo Connect, visits Shipley Creative to hear news of their planned expansion.

ecently we visited the team at Shipley Creative to gain an insight into to how one of the UK’s favourite print and design companies services much of the independent arcade and bingo sector and delivers over 5.8 million pieces of Direct Mail on behalf of its customers. Arriving at Shipley Creative’s Greater Manchester base in Leigh on an (unusually) bright and sunny Monday morning in January, we are greeted by Anthony Halliwell, General Manager, who is excited to give us a guided tour. The ground floor office is already a hive of activity and we are first introduced to the Graphic Design team. The day’s jobs are being collated and processed and the first Client Briefs have been distributed. Within the hour, the first artwork proofs have been turned around and sent back to the client for amends or sign off. It’s amazing to see just how quickly

➜ Before images of the derelict first floor

artwork is turned around. The designers know their clients, they know how bingo works and they know the best way to communicate a promotion to the final customer. Through the door and we are led into the main production area. It is the start of the working day, but already the printers are in full flow. Three state of the art Richo 9100 Commercial Print Engines rapidly churn out Direct Mail pieces for their clients. Once printed, the mail is moved to the finishing area where they are quality checked before being cut to size via mechanised guillotines, sorted by Postcode and packed ready to be collected by Royal Mail. 2021 has obviously been a difficult year for Shipley Creative and their clients but the business is optimistic for the future and the continued recovery of the sector. In fact, plans are well advanced to double the floor size of the facility by bringing the previously derelict first floor back into use. Anthony guides us upstairs to share with us the refurbishment plans. The whole floor has been totally redesigned to accomodate the entire team of designers and support staff to larger, more modern facilities, leaving the entire ground floor for

➜ Work in progress on the new state of the art studio

production and finishing space. New technology is being installed everywhere including hyperoptic broadband (important when dealing with huge artwork files) upgraded Adobe design packages and the installation of an commercial goods lift. Anthony still has photo’s of the same area just a few weeks ago. As a former “Co-operative” head office and store, it was like stepping back into the 1980s. The old fixtures and fittings were still in place including an antiquated clocking in machine, canteen and a memo board displaying important communications from over 30 years ago. Now, the area will be a state of the art design studio – it even has windows! Back down to the production area and the first mailshots have been finished and are being packed ready for collection by Royal Mail later in the day. Many of these jobs are submitted by clients, designed, proofed, produced and posted in the same day – unbeatable service that will further improve with increased capacity and resources – it’s little surprize that their clients love the ease and speed.

➜ bingoconnect.co.uk

Email theteam@shipleycreative.com or call 01942 364 500

Winter 2022 /

News round up

Watch this space We talk to Andrew Ludow of NRM.

➜ Steve Cook, Andrew Ludlow, Pete Fagg znd Freddie Shreeve

In October last year you made two big announcements confirming the purchase of Probability Jones and Air Dice as an equity partner – how will this impact bingo operators and what changes will they notice? When I announced the purchase of the Probability Jones games studio and confirmed Air Dice as our new equity partner I described it as being a step change for the business. Concluding the deal with Air Dice has given us additional firepower to fully develop what have always been consistently ambitious innovation pipelines. Air Dice has been an important supply partner for us in the UK Bingo sector for many years and has development studios based across Europe. It will be able to provide us with additional support across the key strategic areas of resource, technology and distribution. Both organisations are comfortable challenging conventional thinking, exploring new ways of doing things and combining both online and offline. We are both 100 percent customer focussed and there’s a very positive chemistry and a shared outlook on how to run and develop a technology and ideas driven business. In terms of the future nothing is off the table and our shared mantra is to ask why not, rather than why – which is a hugely positive starting point to build from. These twin developments are game / Winter 2022

changers and it’s very much a case of watch this space as we open the next chapter in the development of the company.

NRM recently added two new developers to its team – is this a case of NRM addressing gaps or part of a broader more strategic recruitment campaign? After right-sizing the business and following the acquisition of Probability Jones we are in the right place to further develop the business and I am delighted to have been able to attract two highly qualified and motivated developers to join our already fantastic development team at NRM, In the form of 23-year old Manchester-based Dominic Melloy and 25-year old Pierluigi Pascarella from London. Both have first class honours degrees: Dominic in Computer Forensics and Security and Pierluigi in Computer Science. The appointments reflect the changing nature of employment not just within our industry but throughout the economy. The Covid experience has shown that with the right amount of support and planning that it’s perfectly achievable to run a team that works remotely and by being flexible in terms of our approach to home working it opens up the opportunity to recruit from a much deeper pool of talent.

News round up

You have announced NRM’s anticipated participation in a clean sweep of UK gaming exhibitions comprising ACOS, EAG and ICE London. What was it like to return to in-person events when you attended ACOS and what aspirations do you have for the Bingo Hub at ICE London hopefully later this year? ACOS was a fantastic experience which provided an opportunity to have proper conversations about product, about the industry and about how smart technology empowered products engage with customers and in the process, help support the recovery. ACOS was the first industry event for some twenty months and I think no one fully recognised how important exhibitions are in building confidence and reflecting positivity. I’m pleased The Bingo Association is once again working with Clarion Gaming, the organisers of ICE London, rebranding of the Bingo Pavilion as the Bingo Hub: everyone with an interest in bricks and mortar bingo should drop by to see the companies that exhibit in this space and it’s a good opportunity to network. We are very much looking forward to the attending the show later this year.

“ In terms of the future nothing is off the table and our shared mantra is to ask why not, rather than why – which is a hugely positive starting point to build from.”

What’s in the NRM product pipeline? We have a committed product and development plan, and from all of the feedback received it seems to be very much in-line with our customers’ needs and requirements. NRM is known for being an innovative and agile company and we have been working on some really cool projects. All the products from our mobile applications, membership, the Budde Platform, Ad-Go advertising platform, Jigsaw and Bingo Express 2 are receiving very positive reviews and also orders. Operators are looking for something which as well as being proven will also make a difference and succeed in driving customer engagement and that’s what we have been able to demonstrate courtesy of our commitment to and ongoing investment in R&D.

How would you review the last 12-months and what are your aims and objectives for 2022? Obviously, you cannot escape or ignore the difficulties of the last twenty plus months that have impacted everyone in land-based gaming. Despite the challenges the industry has faced and continues to face, the overriding mood is not one of pessimism. In fact, there’s a focus on forward investment and a desire to explore solutions that enable operators and retailers to deliver products and services that improve the customer in-venue experience. There’s a lot of positivity out there which is really encouraging – and the future certainly looks much brighter. NRM is in an exciting place and fully-committed to meeting the business needs of all of our customers, not least those in bricks and mortar bingo, a sector in which we have a rich and successful heritage.

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For further information please visit: www.nrmgroup.com

Got a job vacancy you need to fill?

Reach the whole of the bingo industry Email advertising@bingoconnect.co.uk bingoconnect.co.uk

Winter 2022 /

News round up

Pair, pay and play

The latest payment solution application from Game Payment Technology, Game Payment, makes it as easy as possible for players to track their spend and play, across multiple venues and machines.

ame Payment Technology (GPT) is a joint venture between amusement and gaming machine industry trade association, BACTA, and payment industry specialists Polar Moment, who have developed, implemented, and advised upon many of the leading card payment systems in use today. GPT brings together the ambition and skills to drive the industry forward with payment solutions suited to an increasingly cashless society with high penetration of mobile phone ownership and use. The ‘Game Payment’ app is solely focused on gaming and amusements and is the only multi-machine solution that works across all machine types in all venues, such as fruit machines, grabber machines, virtual reality machines, pool tables, and jukeboxes. A player can use one app to play on all the machines in a pub, club, or arcade, without the need for cash. The app is simple to use, with a quick, hassle-free registration process and also includes features to help players manage their spending responsibly, with features to set limit session spend/time, set reminders, and breaks from play, with easy access to full transaction histories. The Game Payment cashless solution has been implemented and tested with several manufacturers, including Blueprint Gaming, Reflex Gaming and NSM Music and retrospectively installed in a wide range of amusement machines in Brighton Palace Pier’s Dome arcade. GPT’s latest product is the TR-SLU, a unit that can GPenable any machine that uses a coin pulse interface for enabling play, for example, pool tables. This revolutionary new unit can operate in both a mains and battery-powered environment, having been designed to be extremely / Winter 2022

power efficient with a battery life of up to three years. New developments are constantly being added to the solution, including a fresh new app that will be launching in 2022 to make the player experience even better and provide retailers with the options to brand the appearance of the app. Such has been the demand for Game Payment that the initial production run of TR-SLUs sold out within a day. The good news is that GPT have secured more components and are taking orders for the next shipment in early 2022.

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For more information please visit: www.gamepayment.technology

News round up

The future’s bright

Cowells Arrow is name that will be familiar to the majority of those involved in the gaming and bingo sectors, which along with Arrow Games, Capital, Capital Games and Specialty Manufacturing are part of US based Arrow International: industry leaders in North America and Europe for over 50 years.

n the UK, Cowells Arrow has long been synonymous with high quality, innovative gaming products. A position which has been firmly cemented with significant investment at their Suffolk based production facilities, highlighting their commitment to innovation and the UK market as a whole, with specific focus on the bingo sector. Managing Director Tony Lister commented, “Like many businesses, the recent Covid-enforced downtime had all members of our team thinking how we could further expand and improve our offering; sharing our expertise and collective knowledge with other sectors? The result of our collective and collaborative labours is Clubmate, of which we are particularly proud. “Clubmate is a unique and exciting product that seamlessly combines decades of Cowells Arrow’s commercial bingo expertise with the specific requirements of the bingo club bingo market, all delivered in a simple and easy to use tablet-based system.” Tony continued, “At the heart of Clubmate lies a reliable and well proven Random Number Generator (RNG) that can call bingo games day in, day out without fuss or fear of failure. And because it’s based on a professional operating system you have the option to track ticket sales, display prize money, and have “claim imminent” notifications should you wish. Working exclusively with a specially created bingo perm, Clubmate is professional and remains second nature to use.” Firm fans and champions of

bingoconnect.co.uk

club bingo the team at Cowells understood immediately that clubs need to play additional customer participation games to maximise revenues. This is where Clubmate really delivers. As the leading supplier of ancillary products to the marketplace Cowells already had a unique insight into what bingo clubs would want to see on their entertainment system, which is exactly what has been included, at no additional cost. Perennial favourites such as Tote, Lottery Draws and Lucky Draws feature large on the home screen, alongside the familiar audience participation games; Higher or Lower, Open The Box and Spin The Wheel. All easy to play and guaranteed to generate fun and revenue for the club, without the need to purchase expensive stage displays. In sharing details of Clubmate with potential customers it became very clear to the Cowells’ team that what clubs wanted to see was a

pipeline of planned fresh content for the system, that changed from time to time, helping to retain longterm customer interest and in doing so maximise their return on the investment in the product. Cowells took note and made the decision to make it a product that could be updated with new games and features as they were developed, should the customer choose; keeping the content relevant to their specific audience at all times. To make integration and implementation of Clubmate into day to day club life as easy as possible, in addition to the usual high level of customer service support, Cowells Arrow are also happy to provide a full “in club” demonstration (pre-sale), tailored installation and post-sale technical support; total piece of mind. Produced with the end user in mind and developed in collaboration with customers Clubmate is set for a bright future with lots of engaging content.

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For more information visit: www.cowellsarrow.co.uk

Winter 2022 /

News round up

Charity Golf Day 2022 After a forced absence of two years The Bingo Association’s Annual Charity Golf Day is set to make a welcome return this year on Thursday June 9th, at the stunning Mottram Hall, Cheshire.

he Charity Golf Day is always a popular event, which raises funds for the Association’s national charity, currently Variety - The Children’s Charity, in addition to offering a great day’s golf, rounded off with a gala dinner. The event is always well supported as it is a great opportunity to network, not just on the links but especially at the drinks reception and dinner in the evening, when the awards from the day’s play are presented. Previous Golf Days have understandably been well attended by golfers, but The Bingo Association is hoping to encourage wider support this year and has chosen Mottram Hall, part of the exclusive Champney’s Spa group, as this year’s venue as it offers world class golf, leisure and spa facilities: following a £10million investment Champneys at Mottram Hall has become one of the regions leading spa destinations. Mottram Hall’s golf course is one of a kind, set in 270 acres of Cheshire’s finest parkland, the 7,006 yard 18-hole, Par 72 course was the host venue for the 2013 European Senior’s PGA Championship and presents a challenge to even the most seasoned golfer. Options for attending include golf only, golf and dinner, or dinner only, with overnight accommodation also available to book directly with the hotel. Full details of the day, together with booking forms and accommodation information will be sent to Association members early in the New Year and will also be available from the Association’s website.

/ Winter 2022

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If you would like to sponsor an Award at the Golf Day, or provide a prize, please contact Sharon Salmon at The Bingo Association, sharon@nationalbingo.co.uk

Wordsearch

Our winning entry from Issu e 2, goes to

Joanne C raig, Club3000

WIN a £25 Amazon voucher!

Solve our word search puzzle by finding the 12 words hidden in the grid below. Note: The words may be written in any direction including backwards and diagonally. This issue we’re searching for the sunshine! Find the following destinations:

St Kitts and Nevis Koh Samui Mauritius The Maldives Barbados Bora Bora Seychelles St Lucia Skegness Basilicata Santorini Hawaii

E Y Y Y U S N E Q D T M S S K

H S K E G N E S S A P L T V L

S S T W Y K K Y T T H T L Q M

I I P H K B R J C X S E U Q C

U K F L E E V T I H S I C F T

M S V Z Q M D I P A E Y I B U

A J E U M M A N Y W O L A S O

S J O M P W G L D A C K L D J

H R H A A S I I D C D B C E X

O Z W H F M A U R I T I U S S

K B B O R A B O R A V O B Z R

S T K I T T S A N D N E V I S

S A N T O R I N I B M E S Z B

Y S O D A B R A B J T S N U Z

N B B A S I L I C A T A J X T

All Bingo Connect Wordsearch competition entries must be received by 28th February 2022. Please email a clear picture or scan of your completed Bingo Connect Wordsearch to info@bingo-association.co.uk along with your full name by the closing date. Alternatively please remove your completed Wordsearch from the magazine, write your name and either your email address or telephone number clearly at the bottom of the page, and send it by post in an envelope addressed to: WORDSEARCH, The Bingo Association, Lexham House, 75 High Street North, Dunstable, Beds LU6 1JF by the closing date. Terms and Conditions: All entrants must be aged 18 or over. The Prize is a single Amazon Gift Voucher to the value of £25.00 and no alternative prize is available. All entries, whether sent by email or post, must be received no later than 30th November 2021. Proof of postage or transmission is not proof of receipt. All correct Bingo Connect Wordsearch entries will be entered into a draw and a single Winner drawn at random by The Bingo Association Limited. The Winner will be notified, either by email or telephone, and the Prize sent within 30 days of the closing date and the Winner’s name published in the following issue of Bingo Connect. The competition is organised by The Bingo Association Limited and their decision is final in all matters relating to this. bingoconnect.co.uk

Winter 2022 /

News round up

Integration all the way For ISD 2021 proved to be a busy year. As businesses were facing new challenges and actively seeking ways to streamline processes and maximise benefits of customer interactions, efficiency of IT and digital comms came firmly into focus, and with them the need to ensure that systems integrated seamlessly. As we start 2022 the pace of development at ISD shows no sign of slowing down.

SD’s flagship product Maxim is the backbone of many membership venues/businesses and a leader in the sector. As we enter 2022 the product offers an increased ability to integrate with a wide range of third party applications, allowing users to seamlessly link their customer accounts into mobile apps, tills, gaming tablets and much more. “All existing customers have been upgraded to a new version of Maxim” ISD’s Managing Director, Chris Wrigley said. “This latest upgrade has the added capability of being able to send promotional vouchers directly to customers’ Electronic Gaming Tablets and Rich SMS messages to their mobiles too. “Both of these new marketing channels are already proving popular with our users and their customers.” Leisure, gaming and hospitality venues have found the impact of Covid extremely challenging, managing periods of forced closure, re-opening in a Covid safe way, altering processes to help ensure customer safety and all the while adapting to an everchanging background of operating restrictions and requirements. In navigating this landscape having effective IT has been critical, not just in regard to business processes, but also customer transactions and data management relating to Covid requirements. Chris said, “We have also been busy assisting customers with bespoke software to help manage the complexities and requirements of Covid passports and reporting, trying to ensure that these integrations are as future proof as they can be at this time.” ISD work with clients across the / Winter 2022

“ These new marketing channels are already proving popular with our users and their customers.” leisure sector and have also been busy with designing and launching the BACTA Portal. Rolled out to over a thousand high street gaming outlets the portal was launched to assist BACTA members with Customer Interaction and Self Exclusion but will have additional functionality added shortly. The ISD 2022 pipeline includes new products along with redesigns. There will be a new Banking and Accounting system to replace Orion, a mobile

version of Maxim and a range of APIs (Application Process Interface) to expand product integration. ISD have long standing relationships with a number of service providers in the gaming industry and specialise in providing APIs which allows systems to integrate and share data (all in accordance with GDPR requirements). Development of more APIs in 2022 will deliver greater integration across systems, critical for many shared and new customers.

News round up

Maxim users will be able to look at all sorts of new systems in the full knowledge that Maxim and other ISD products will integrate easily with them, including ISD’s newest product Scratch Card management, shortly to be joined by a full lottery software system. The combination of operational experience, software expertise and market awareness at ISD ensures that they continue to deliver high quality products, that are relevant to the marketplace and operating conditions. All of which helps their customers deliver a great end-user experience, through smart data collection and easy to use applications. ISD has been externally reviewed and awarded ISO27001 accreditation, which means clients can trust the processes used regarding data protection and general security protocols. To receive campaign updates and access marketing assets supporters must be registered, which they can do on the website in the GET INVOLVED section.

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For more information visit www.isdgroup.uk

Caller of the year 2022 Calling all bingo callers, hosts and presenters: get ready to shine! • Do you ‘call’ the numbers with passion and flair? • Do you have a talent you are able to share? • And would your customers follow you anywhere? You could be Bingo’s next ambassador, the National Bingo Game ‘Bingo Caller Of The Year’ and join bingo’s Hall of Fame. The search begins this Spring in all Buzz, Mecca and independent clubs, with current title holder Donna Kunyo from Club 3000 joining the judging panel for the National Final. Details of this year’s competition will be available shortly and shared in the next issue of Bingo Connect and through the Bingo Connect website. If you would like to enter you can register your interest now, by emailing Alastair Stuart at the National Bingo Game: alastair@nationalbingo.co.uk

THE SEARCH IS ON! bingoconnect.co.uk

Winter 2022 /