Gambling Thoughts
By GamblingSmarts.com

When National Bingo Night ads started appearing on ABC, I was hooked. I am disappointed in ways with national bingo night. For one, the play at home game is rigged - since the game is taped, they distribute the number of winning cards they choose. And second, I'm not a fan of the non-bingo game they play with the main contestant. However, I think the show moves at a pretty good speed - and while the outcome is predetermined, you dont know that until the bingo game ends. In any case, NBN helps put online bingo in the spotlight.

Can Bingo succeed like poker? Poker is a male dominated sport. Is Bingo the equivalent for female gamblers? And when you have women, the men are sure to follow. The profile of an online bingo player is blurring... But it is certainly getting younger and more mixed in terms of gender. Online bingo combines social aspects of internet chat with the excitement and suspense of bingo. And online rooms aren't limited by capacities set by fire marshalls - so jackpots can be much bigger!

There are a few different bingo networks and software providers, but currently only one software has much market share - and that is Parlay Entertainment. Their bingo software is world class, and as a result, the competition has had a tough time keeping up. These rooms offer such variety and so many features, it is hard to ignore. You can play many cards simultaneously and use the auto marking feature to keep them all up to date in the game. The chat features games and prizes in between bingo games (and sometimes during!). And the overall interface is very intuitive and easy to navigate.

So, will online bingo catch on? Does it have the same star potential that has made Texas Hold'em a phenomenon across the globe? Only time will tell, but dont be surprised if we look back on this column in as little as one year and laugh. I suspect online bingo is the next big thing.