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What Are the Advantages of Online Bingo Networks?

- Updated by Mike Bennett on -

Array ( [0] => Once you start looking around the bingo websites, youā€™re bound to notice that some of them bear lots of similarities. [1] => This is because they are joined to an online network, which connects them all. [2] => They are not necessarily owned by the same company, but they have joined together so that they can provide better services for their members. [3] => There are a number of benefits to signing up with one of the sites that is linked in this way, but the main one is probably the level of familiarity that it brings. [4] => Youā€™ll be able to visit others in the group, and youā€™ll recognize the games on offer. [5] =>
It isnā€™t only the gaming content that is the same though. [6] => They all use the same software, and so they share the majority of the facilities, such as the hosting amenities and the payment systems. [7] => There is usually unity in the promotions, the jackpot prizes, and the chat rooms, too. [8] => Better still, the loyalty schemes tend to be connected, and this allows for a more generous programme. [9] => The points can be awarded more readily, which makes it easier and faster to climb up through the tiers. [10] => Given all of these advantages, itā€™s relatively easy to see why the shared networks have dominated the market place. )
Once you start looking around the bingo websites, youā€™re bound to notice that some of them bear lots of similarities. This is because they are joined to an online network, which connects them all. They are not necessarily owned by the same company, but they have joined together so that they can provide better services for their members. There are a number of benefits to signing up with one of the sites that is linked in this way, but the main one is probably the level of familiarity that it brings. Youā€™ll be able to visit others in the group, and youā€™ll recognize the games on offer.
It isnā€™t only the gaming content that is the same though. They all use the same software, and so they share the majority of the facilities, such as the hosting amenities and the payment systems. There is usually unity in the promotions, the jackpot prizes, and the chat rooms, too. Better still, the loyalty schemes tend to be connected, and this allows for a more generous programme. The points can be awarded more readily, which makes it easier and faster to climb up through the tiers. Given all of these advantages, itā€™s relatively easy to see why the shared networks have dominated the market place.

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How to Choose between the Bingo Networks

When youā€™re looking around for a bingo site to join, there are several points that you might want to note. The first thing is that the promotions and the bonuses are usually the same across a network. This tends to result in some special deals that are very lucrative. In addition to this, you may want to look at the freebies on offer, especially those for new members. Probably the most important of the considerations, however, is the size of the jackpots that are on offer.

When you sign up to a particular syndicate, the number of people participating affects the overall amount that is available to win. At a basic level, when there are more players taking part, the prize fund on offer will be higher. Naturally, the flip side of this is that there are more people trying to win it, and so the odds of you getting lucky are reduced. Nevertheless, for many, this is one of the most attractive features of the online networks.

Which Bingo Networks Are Dominating the Market?

A recent report revealed that there were 421 online bingo sites that were active in 2017, and only four of these use their own proprietary software. The majority of the others are linked to one of the top networks. Out of the providers, the front-runner in the field is Dragonfish, which is a part of Cassava Enterprises that is behind industry giants like Wink Bingo. This company has 192 websites using its software at last count, although it has to be noted that this has decreased slightly from the previous year. Dragonfishā€™s main rival is Cozy Games, whose share of the market expanded to 106 websites in the same year.

Some way behind in terms of numbers are Jumpman Gaming, and also Virtue Fusion, who are a subsidiary of Playtech. These two companies hold the middle ground, by catering for 42 and 31 sites respectively. The remaining names on the list are all in single figures. Somewhat surprisingly, Microgaming falls into this category, although it has to be said that bingo isnā€™t the main focus of its business. The future isnā€™t looking overly bright for the smaller providers, whose presence in the scene continues to diminish. At best, they can expect to hold their own, but the experts predict that they will continue to drop away.

The Distribution of Bingo Networks in 2017

Leading Bingo Networks

How the White Label Bingo Sites Are Structured

Many of the websites are described as ā€˜bingo skinsā€™ or ā€˜white labelā€™. This means that the site is run by an independent operator who uses a complete software package from one of the licensed providers. This package integrates the entire operation, and so everything to do with the process, from the registration to the customer support, is unified. The sites that use this kind of system are linked to the providerā€™s network, and their members will have access to all the facilities that are on offer there.

Although much of the content is shared, the operators can put their own themes onto the websites, and so each of them retains its individuality. Once again, the three main providers for this kind of service are Dragonfish, Cozy Games, and Jumpman Gaming. The fourth name in this leading group, Virtue Fusion, has taken a different approach to this aspect of its operation, and provides a more bespoke service for its clients, among which big names like bet365 Bingo.

The Variety of Games Found on the Bingo Networks

The standard bingo choices can be found on all of the online networks, and so you wonā€™t have any difficulty finding the 90-ball option, which has its roots in the UK. Its American cousin, the 75-ball game, is the other mainstay. You are also likely to see the 80-ball version as this is listed on many of the providerā€™s sites. In addition to the three standard games, there are some other alternatives on offer, and these provide some quirky variations to the regular format.

The Variations of Bingo on the Networks

The Networked Games with the Large Jackpots

Probably the best thing about joining one of the online bingo networks is that youā€™ll be given access to some of the larger prize funds. These are generally divided into two types. There are those with fixed awards, and then others that have pooled winnings. In this case, the prize fund is relative to the number of participants. Some of the versions have sliding jackpots. In this situation, the amount that is paid out is dependent on the time that it takes to win. For instance, if you achieve bingo within 44 calls, you will receive a bigger sum than you would for being within 48. If you would like to take part in one of the big money sessions, the advice is to pre-buy your tickets. Many players donā€™t realise that there are limited places for some of the rounds, and it is all too easy to miss out on the opportunity to take part.

The Possibility of Integrated Bonuses and Promotions

A quick glance at some of the recent bingo sites that share the same provider will soon reveal that the welcome bonuses and many of the other promotions are all the same. This can be one of the most positive aspects of the networks for online players as it sometimes means that the sums on offer are far larger. The wagering requirements are also standardised in this situation. At Dragonfish, these are referred to as ā€˜shared gamesā€™ in the terms and conditions, and the members from several venues will all be playing for the same jackpot. Itā€™s a similar case with Cozy Games and Jumpman Gaming, who both run collective games across their networks.

The Benefits of Joining the Networked Loyalty Clubs

Each of the bingo networks takes a different approach when it comes to the loyalty or VIP schemes. Some donā€™t link them at all, preferring to leave the websites to decide for themselves whether to run them and the structure that they should take. Others run linked schemes that can be customized. The Daub network, for instance, has 6 levels, in which players start as newbies and work up to emerald. At each of the stages, there are various rewards, and every site puts its own spin on these. Itā€™s probably Dragonfish that runs the most coordinated loyalty programme out of them all. The Joy Gem Club has members from what they describe as ā€˜the whole family of sitesā€™ including leading names like 888Ladies. This allows members of one website to access the VIP rooms in several others too.

If the site belongs to one of the online networks that has a loyalty scheme in place, there may be some exclusive games for VIP members. These can be very lucrative as the top prizes are generally bigger and the ticket prices are lower. In addition, these rooms often have additional giveaways, such as extra loyalty points or one-off treats. Some of the bingo rooms are for players at all levels of the schemes, but others are targeted at those on a specific tier. If this is the case, the rewards tend to be more generous for those who have reached the upper ranks of the programmes.

Some Final Considerations When Choosing a Network

There are some key considerations that should be taken into account when youā€™re choosing which of the online bingo networks to join. As always, the value attributed to each of these will very much depend on which of the factors are most important to you.

The Future Prospects for the Bingo Networks

There have been many recent changes in the bingo world, and more are expected in the coming year. Although these are unlikely to affect players directly, they are still interesting to note. Cozy Games was acquired by GVC Holdings late in 2017, and the sites that are on this platform now hold a licence under ElectraWorks Limited. This network is now expected to expand its provision. A new platform has been touted by the mysterious ā€˜Mr Qā€™. This has yet to materialise though, and there is very little information available about it. The other games provider who is joining the arena is Yggdrasil Gaming. This company has plans to launch its bingo software within the coming months.