Online Bingo Babes Drive Growth at 888 Holdings
Even though gambling may be a predominantly male hobby, there is still a sizable female portion of the gaming market, and online casino operator 888 has used a strategy appealing to this often-ignored demographic to great profit.
888 Holdings experienced a 36% growth in income during the second quarter, fueled largely by its 888ladies.com site. The page features bingo as the main attraction, with ads and news geared toward women patrons.
Gigi Levy, CEO of 888, said that the image of little old ladies playing bingo was outdated and inaccurate, and that a significant number of gamblers were young, female, and had above-average incomes.
Levy said bingo was the fastest-growing division, as income was up 400% to $12 million over the last quarter.
Online bingo in the United Kingdom is escalating sharply as attendance at bingo halls drops. Internet "bingo babes" seem to prefer the online convenience and find the sites useful as social bonding aids, as chatrooms and forums accompany the sites as popular features.
OCA's gaming analyst, Sherman Bradley, praised the foresightedness of 888. "This company has often been an industry leader in bringing new ideas to Internet gambling, and the pursuit of undeveloped markets is a good business plan for an industry looking to continue growth.
"The identification of women's desires, and the acknowledgement that women may want their gambling in different formats than men, have spurred new revenue streams for 888."
