Online Bingo Business Behind the Curtain

Bingo is one of the most preferable online gambling activities in the UK. Usually, players have a favourite online bingo hall where they spend their free time. But have anyone of you thought of the team standing behind the scene, people who run the business so that we can all have fun and enjoy the ball game the way it is? It is hardly a coincidence that online bingo business is growing so fast and has reached that successful level. Each company which provides online bingo has a team of professionals who have done quite a good job so that we can reap the maximum pleasure from the game. As a mark of gratitude, I decided to write an article about the CEOs of the most successful bingo sites in the UK and tell you their success stories. My goal is to reveal what’s behind the doors and explain how bingo directors lead their business and create successful strategies to cope with that constantly-growing and competitive business environment.

Little-Known Facts About Three Bingo Managers

• Richard Skelhorn, Chief executive of Costa Bingo Originally, Richard Skelhorn has started his bingo career as a manager of a couple of the most popular online gambling portals in the UK. In 2009 he came up with the idea of expanding his own business and creating his bingo site. That’s how, in the same year he established the later award-winner Costa bingo. Costa has reaped huge success and soon after its launch the website became one of the two most visited online bingo sites in the UK. Richard Skelhorn believes that Costa bingo success was due to the implementation of the ‘free bingo model’. While Mr. Skelhorn was hardly trying to succeed in that competitive business environment, he decided to offer free access to Costa bingo games and win players’ hearts. He believed there are two types of players, ones who prefer playing for free and others who play with real money. To win over the free bingo games fans all over to their side, he decided to provide separate rooms where ‘free riders’ won’t compete against ‘real-money’ players. Costa Bingo CEO relied on the theory that once a player is attracted to enter the site (even though without a deposit), then it’s more likely to stay in and play for real. And that actually worked! That was a very far-sighted strategy and as Mr. Skelhorn claimed, the longer they keep their customers satisfied and spoilt for exclusive bonuses and loyalty programs, the easier to convert them into real players.
• Mark Jones, Managing Director of Mecca Bingo Mark Jones took up the position of Managing director at Mecca bingo in 2009 when he replaced the previous manager, Simon Wykes. Mark Jones has a significant experience in the leisure and hospitality sector. He had managed some big brands, such as Pizza Hut UK and Premium Bars and Restaurants. By the time he filled the chair at Mecca bingo, it was a very tough period for the brand which was experiencing some difficulties, though still holding their leading positions on the UK gambling scene. Mr. Mark Jones took up the challenge of expanding Mecca customers’ reach by initiating innovative products and services. In 2013 Mecca bingo re-structured their both retail and online business and compiled them under one roof. One of Mecca’s key goals is promoting their online division by encouraging bingo fans to start playing online. Mr. Jones took the command over completing that task as well as the accomplishment of a multi-channel marketing strategy. Currently, Mecca brand is working on to complement an innovative service, called ‘bring your own device’ where bingo players may bring in the land-based halls their mobile device (a tablet or a smartphone). Mecca Bingo is now making efforts towards improving their mobile platform and providing faster payments and as Mark Jones says in an interview for Which Bingo: ‘…We are working on paying people within 24h…’. Despite all the difficulties at the online bingo market, Mark Jones is running Mecca Bingo quite well so they’re still standing on the forefront of the market. Mecca bingo took the prize ‘Best Mobile Bingo Experience’ at the WhichBingo awards in May 2014, which was indicative for their success and players satisfaction.

Brian Mattingley, CEO of 888 Holdings

Now, that we have outlined the founders of 888 it’s time to learn who’s their manager. That’s probably the most popular gambling brand in the world and there is no doubt that most of you are curious who’s the person managing the business. The CEO of 888, Brian Mattingley is definitely a very important person and he’s carrying on his back the huge responsibility of running that big company. He is actually a veteran in the online gambling industry. Before taking the helm of 888 in March 2014, he had took a couple of CEO roles, including: Finance director at Gala Group Plc and several senior executive positions. Although most players might associate 888 with their casino and sports betting web sites, for the last couple of years their bingo division has shown remarkable progress, especially when it comes to revenues. For the first quarter of 2014, 888 bingo has reached a new record, bringing the company a revenue of $12.1 million. That is a result of the refreshed look and gaming experience driven by the hard work of both business-to-customer and business-to-business lines under the direction of Brian Mattingley. The Chief executive of 888 expects even better results by the end of the year as well as further growth in their bingo department.