Tag Archives: pensioners

Bingo a Cure For Depression?

November 30, 2019   Game skill   No comments

It is well known that a large portion of the players at land based bingo clubs are pensioners. Many pensioners use bingo not only as entertainment but as an opportunity for social interaction with others. Smoking bans and a government policy of double taxation has forced many long established bingo clubs to close leaving many pensioners without their usual entertainment. Several studies have pointed out the fact that playing bingo keeps the mind sharp and can even delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Bingo requires quick physical and mental reactions. As anyone who has been to a bingo club knows, most players are playing several bingo cards simultaneously which requires a great deal of mental agility and concentration. Recently a pensioner from Derby revealed that playing bingo helped her to overcome severe depression.

In a newspaper interview the 67 year old pensioner described the crippling effects of depression and how playing bingo turned her life around. Jill Gemmell of derby described how severe depression left her feeling isolated and how playing bingo helped her to cope with her depression. In the interview Gemmell recalled; “I was very down and rarely left the house. “Then a friend of mine took me along to one of the bingo sessions and I loved it. I joined in more and more and, when one of the committee members resigned, I offered to step in.” Thanks to her friend and bingo Gemmell is now an active member of the Alvaston and Boulton Old People’s Welfare Club in Derby. The club which has about 100 members sponsors bingo games on Tuesdays and Thursdays in addition to a wide variety of activities for pensioners.

The bingo games are now threatened by the town council’s search for cost cutting measures which could affect funding for the club. Some council members believe the games should be scrapped and that pensioners should play bingo at clubs sponsored by commercial operators. Many pensioners in rural areas are facing similar situations due to the ongoing global recession.

Many pensioners who are computer literate have made the switch to internet bingo. While land based bingo clubs are closing across the country internet bingo is thriving in the midst of the worst recession since the post war era. Internet bingo sites are locked in fierce competition for players and are offering ever increasing bingo bonuses. A bingo sign up bonus can enable players to double and even triple their initial deposits. For pensioners facing the closure of their favorite bingo clubs viable solution.

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Mobile Bingo Popular With Pensioners

November 15, 2019   Game skill   No comments

Since its beginnings in the 15th century bingo has evolved into the modern game and enjoys widespread popularity around the world. Bingo is a game of pure chance and no special skills are required to play this exciting game. The modern version of the game is a direct descendant of ‘beano’ which was first played at a carnival near Atlanta Georgia around 1929. The internet has had a dramatic effect on the game and now millions around the world play online. Traditionally bingo has been looked at as the domain of older women but thanks to the introduction of internet bingo the demographics have changed. In the UK where bingo is especially popular recent developments such as the governments double taxation of bingo and strict national smoking bans have caused the demise of many high street bingo clubs across the UK.

Internet bingo has attracted a younger tech savvy group of bingo players but many older bingo players without computer skills have found themselves shut out of the exciting world of internet bingo. The relatively recent introduction of mobile bingo has enabled many older people to participate in online bingo games. Cell phones are ubiquitous and most older people are comfortable with mobile technology. A majority of the population uses mobile technology on a daily basis and since no special skills are required to use mobile technology older bingo players are back in business!

Cell phones and most mobile devices are much less expensive than computers and are also much simpler to operate. Most telecommunications companies offer internet access at cheaper rates than land based internet access rates. Since many pensioners are living on fixed incomes mobile bingo eliminates affordability issues for most pensioners. Mobile players can log on to the internet, access an internet bingo website and play away. Mobile bingo players can also access the same bingo bonuses and player perks offered by most internet bingo websites. Players can deposit finds into their mobile bingo accounts safely and securely.

In the UK internet and mobile bingo providers have gone all out to attract players. Most mobile providers will offer players a substantial bingo deposit bonus in addition to a bingo sign up bonus and free play options. Jackpots for internet and mobile bingo are usually much larger than those at land based bingo clubs. Many pensioners have already discovered the exciting world of mobile bingo without having to invest hundreds of pounds for computer equipment.

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