Many businesses in the United Kingdom are struggling after the negative impact of the lockdown and the ensuing restrictions. The biggest companies have money put aside for rainy days and they can always find new resources not only to stay afloat but also to make the much-needed investments.
Smaller venues on the other hand are on the brink of collapse and even the popular UK bingo halls are in danger. They were already struggling before the pandemic hit and many are concerned that they may never recover.
Storm clouds gather at the horizon
The first half of 2020 was nothing short of terrible for UK bingo halls according to the bingosites.co.uk research team, which were unable to meet even the most reasonable expectations. They had to stay close for two months and even when they were allowed to reopen, the number of patrons was well below expectations. Significant investments were made to abide by the rules set by the government, while creating a secure environment for players. This added additional pressure on what was already a tiny budget and pushed them on the brink of bankruptcy.
The last couple of weeks were slightly better, but one of the things the gaming industry feared the most is about to happen. The second coronavirus wave has hit Europe and the United Kingdom doesn’t fare too well even compared to the worst hit nations. This prompted the government to act decisively and one of the measures proposed is another lockdown. Even if this won’t affect the entire nation, there will be plenty of businesses hit and gambling operators are almost certain to appear on the list.
In the wake of the first lockdown, UK bingo halls returned to business, but the money they made was barely enough to pay the wages and the bank loans. There are plenty of small ventures that consider the prospect of laying people off, as the flow of customers has reduced significantly. The game is still popular, but many people are afraid of getting sick, so they prefer not to visit crowded places. A second lockdown will shatter their confidence and leave the bingo halls in dire straits.
The alternative of online bingo is attractive
Bingo fans can consider themselves lucky that the online industry has adopted this popular game some years ago. At the time of writing, there are already plenty of Internet gambling operators that feature bingo in their collection of games. There are even dedicated online bingo halls that offer this game exclusively and have special promotions and offers for their players. A significant percentage of their members are women, which have traditionally enjoyed bingo regardless of location.
What is good news for bingo fans is terrible news for UK bingo halls. They were already bleeding cash as many of their players decided to switch to the online arena and this trend is only gaining strength. Now that people also fear for their health, they are even more inclined to trade land-based bingo for its online counterpart. If this happens, then many brick-and-mortar halls will not survive winter.
