Christmas will soon be upon us and that means only one thing in the world of Paddy Power Bingo – his elves have come out to play!

Everyday throughout advent these mischievous Elves will be unveiling a brand new promotion which will guarantee you’ll be full of seasonal cheer.

Paddy Power Bingo have got Escalator Jackpots, some amazing Christmas prize giveaways, free Bingo tickets and lots more. Make sure you go and visit the Paddy Power Bingo elves every day to see their new promotion.

That’s not all though, Paddy Power Bingo’s Elves are a competitive (and resourceful) bunch and have built a leaderboard to keep things interesting throughout the month. It’s really easy to earn points – simply play your favourite bingo rooms and side games and you’ll start earning! Don’t forget to check your position daily, there’s a massive prize pool of over £/€7,000!

For more information, go and visit Paddy Power Bingo now.

Oh….and if all this fun gets too much, we’ll give you the chance to tell Paddy Power Bingo your New Year’s Resolution in our New Year Paddy Room.

Paddy Power Bingo have launched a brand new room and what’s more YOU can help them decide the schedule. They’ve already ran one live lab and their Roomie Subjects came up with some cracking new games…..and they all survived! Are you ready for Paddy Power Bingo’s second experiment?

The Live Lab 2 – 7.00pm – 9.00pm – Wednesday 7th December

Here’s your chance to have a say in how a Bingo Room should really be run. Paddy Power Bingo will be giving all their roomies the chance to create their favourite Bingo game…. and then get free tickets to play it! You can select the speed of play, 1/2TG & BOGxF  options, the pattern and whether it is FFA/Even Stevens. Phew….and breathe*!

If your game gets chosen it will stay in the The Lab’s schedule for the next fortnight and you will be awarded 5 free tickets to each game**. Paddy Power Bingo will also let you nominate 10 friends to get free tickets to your game too (the game display name will include your chat name), that way you’ll get to show them what a Bingo expert you really are! Once the fortnight schedule is complete, Paddy Power Bingo will return to the test schedule…..Until the Live Lab runs again!

• 7pm-8pm           90 Ball Speed Bingo – the hour will get progressively quicker, can you keep up?

• 8pm-9pm            Discount Hour – Buy tickets in bulk and save £££

• 9pm – 10pm       Even Stevens & Fair For All games

• 10pm – 11pm     Strippers Bingo

*Players will not be able to request ticket price or seed as these will be within a pre-determined set of limits.

**Players will not receive free tickets on the evening of the Live Lab. They will receive tickets for their ‘named game’ on the day after the Live Lab. Certain game types do not allow for free tickets – where this happens free tickets will be allocated to other games. Paddy Power Bingo cannot accept responsibility for players nominating ‘friends’ incorrect i.e. if incorrect/incomplete/invalid user details are given.

Currently online bingo sites in Ireland such as Bingo.ie, Paddy Power Bingo and Bingo Ireland operate in a grey area because legislation on gambling in Ireland was written well before the advent of the Internet. Most gaming companies taking bingo bets from Irish citizens have gaming licences in places such as Alderney, Isle of Man and Gibraltar.

In a statement the Irish Minister for Justice and Law Reform said he expected legislaton to be brought forward shortly following consultation with gambling industry groups about reform of Ireland’s antiquated gambling laws.

He told the Irish Parliament: “The Deputy will be aware from my replies to previous Questions that the consultation phase of the major review of gambling, initiated by me, has drawn to a close. I was pleased that over 70 organisations and groups considered the topic important enough to submit written submissions, and that many followed up those submissions with face-to-face meetings with the review team.

“I have also indicated that I hope to be in a position to seek Government approval of policy proposals for a new gambling architecture in the State, following an evaluation of the material received. The policy proposals, which I would intend to publish, will be based on an examination of the submissions received, as well as the recommendations contained in the Report of the Casino Committee, Regulating Gaming in Ireland, and, of course, consideration of modern gambling regulation. The review team is currently engaged in developing the appropriate proposals for consideration.

“Any new policy aimed at modernising our gambling code must take account of the challenges and threats, but also opportunities, presented by new technologies, particularly the internet. In addition, policy must also be premised on the three important considerations which are the hallmark of most well-regulated gambling codes.

“These are that young people and the vulnerable are protected; that gambling should in all respects be fairly and openly conducted and that gambling is kept free of crime.

“Following the settling of policy in relation to a new gambling architecture for the State, the House can expect the publication of legislative proposals in the normal course. As this will be the first comprehensive review of our gambling law, effectively since the enactment of the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956, it would be reasonable to expect that any new legislation would be complex and comprehensive.”

Gross win in bingo, casino and games grew by 32% while bet volumes in the Paddy Power’s online sportsbook grew 39 per cent. Profits were slightly ahead of the company’s expectations.

Paddy Power Bingo suffered several years of neglect as part of The Games Network, which was powered by Parlay Entertainment software. Company insiders told Bingo News that since they switched to Virtue Fusion software, which also powers brands such as Crown Bingo, Ladbrokes Bingo, William Hill Bingo and Sky Bingo, their financial performance and player retention has increased markedly. Virtue Fusion was recently acquired by online gambling software giant Playtech.

The Chairman of Paddy Power plc, Nigel Northridge, Chairman of Paddy Power plc told the company’s Annual General Meeting: “2009 was a year of significant developments for Paddy Power. We grew our turnover and market share across all our channels and expanded internationally through successful acquisitions in Australia, continued shop openings in the UK and a B2B agreement in France.

“Turning to 2010, the highlights of the year to date have been a very strong revenue performance in online (total gross win (ex Australia) +32%) and good bet volume growth across all channels. Significant investment has contributed to this growth and we continue to invest to maintain our business momentum and strong competitive position. Following a run of adverse sporting results in 2009, I am also pleased to report that the Group’s sportsbook gross win percentages have returned to normal expectations in the year to date.”

Shares in Paddy Power were up 1.92 per cent in early trading at 26.50 euros.

The community at Paddy Power Bingo has grown from strength to strength and it’s inspired the team at Paddy Power Bingo to put together an exclusive magazine just for their players – it’s a first for Paddy Power and we think it’s the first ever Ezine of its kind in the gaming industry!

“Our roomies are so fantastic, it made perfect sense to us to use player’s real life stories to create a magazine for players by players! The first issue went out on Friday and our roomies are already loving it!” said Sarah Bateson, Bingo Manager at Paddy Power bingo.

With a video from Guest Editor Paddy Power, a guide to promotions from CM Olive, a Real or Not Real viral game and our very own ‘Happyscopes’, roomies will wonder how they ever got by without Bingo Power!

The site, which only finished 18th in the awards in 2008, beat off Mecca Bingo, who finished second, and Wink Bingo in third place. Tombola Bingo finished fourth and Bingo Playground finished fifth. What was most suprising was to see Crown Bingo finish 12th and Foxy Bingo finish 17th, suggesting that the company’s management teams did not put the same effort into a high finish as in previous years. Gala Bingo’s 21st place was also suprisingly low for a site that until three years ago was the dominant presence in UK online bingo. The total absensce of William Hill Bingo and Paddy Power Bingo, both of whom have huge bingo sites, is also somewhat suprising.

In the New Bingo Site of the Year award Golden Hat Bingo saw off Giggle Bingo and Landmark Bingo. Cheeky Bingo and Costa Bingo were third and fourth respectively.

Ruairi Boyle, Head of Games & Bingo at Ladbrokes Bingo welcomed the award, saying: “It’s the most prestigious Award in online Bingo and we’re thrilled to win it. We want to share this success with all our roomies who voted for us and helped us to the top of the Bingo pile. We’re already looking to 2010 to retain our title. New players, exciting innovations for existing roomies and more promotions, games and jackpots than anyone else are all in our sights. But right now we’re in the mood to party and 31 January will be a great day for everyone in Bingo.” Ladbrokes Bingo will offer free bingo to all their players on 31 January.

The top 30 finishers in the UK award were:

1 Ladbrokes Bingo
2 Mecca Bingo
3 Wink Bingo
4 Tombola Bingo
5 Bingo Playground
6 Golden Hat Bingo
7 Giggle Bingo
8 Betfred Bingo
9 Posh Bingo
10 Gone Bingo
11 Totesport Bingo
12 Crown Bingo
13 Harry’s Bingo
14 Jackpot Joy
15 CyberBingo.co.uk
16 Landmark Bingo
17 Foxy Bingo
18 House of Bingo
19 Costa Bingo
20 BingoSKY
21 Gala Bingo Online
22 FreeBingo.co.uk
23 Play2Win Bingo
24 Cheeky Bingo
25 888ladies
26 Bingo MagiX
27 Bingos.co.uk
28 BingoLiner UK
29 Platinum Play Bingo
30 Snap Bingo

New Bingo Site of the Year 2010
1 Golden Hat Bingo
2 Giggle Bingo
3 Landmark Bingo
4 Cheeky Bingo
5 Costa Bingo
6 Betfred Bingo
7 Moon Bingo
8 Eat Sleep Bingo
9 JackpotCity Bingo
10 Foxy Zero
11 Totesport Bingo
12 BOGOF Bingo
13 Play2Win Bingo
14 Tea Time Bingo
15 Epic Bingo
16 Kiss My Bingo
17 LiveBingo.co.uk
18 OK! Mag Bingo
19 Bloke Bingo
20 Eyes Down Bingo
21 Bingo Nation
22 3am Bingo
23 BingoG

Virtue Fusion, the software company that powers top bingo sites including Crown Bingo, Ladbrokes Bingo, WIlliam Hill Bingo, Bet365 Bingo, Mecca Bingo, Paddy Power Bingo and Sky Bingo, have signed a deal with Endemol, who own the rights to the Deal Or No Deal game show.

The exclusive deal has allowed Virtue Fusion to spend the last four months developing an exciting new variation on online bingo in which the winner gets to play against the Banker

Virtue Fusion will also launch scratchcards for Endemol formats including Big Brother and Golden Balls, as well as for Deal Or No Deal. They are expected to release mini games and slot games in future software updates.

Bob McCulloch, chief executive of Virtue Fusion, told Bingo News: “This represents a huge opportunity for our operators to partake in this exclusive contract. This deal with Endemol is further evidence of our determination to strengthen our product range and provide the tools with which to progress our business ahead of the competition.”

Jurian van der Meer, Endemol UK’s Head of Products and Brand Exploitation, said: “Deal or No Deal is one of Endemol’s biggest TV hits worldwide and I’m really excited to see it combined with bingo to create a new entertainment experience. By partnering with Virtue Fusion to develop the game we’re able to distribute to some of the biggest operators in the bingo industry.”

Party Gaming, parent company of Party Gaming and the new owner of Cashcade, who run Foxy Bingo, Cheeky Bingo, Little Big Bingo, Think Bingo and Bingo Scotland, was highest on the list at no 2.

Six of the top ten placed companies get significant revenue contributions from online bingo. Bet 365, who run Bet365 Bingo, came in at fourth, followed by William Hill and Ladbrokes at fifth and sixth. Paddy Power was placed eight with Unibet, who own Maria Bingo, placed at ninth.

Of the companies that are more closely associated with bingo rather than a portfolio of online gambling interests, Gamesys was placed highest at no 32, down from no 28 last year. Gamesys run Sun Bingo on behalf of News International as well Jackpot Joy, one of the most successful bingo, slots and scratchcards businesses in the UK.

Nerxt in the list were Gala Coral, parent company of Gala Bingo, who have slid rapidly down the Power 50 from a position of 11th last year.

NetPlay, who own the bingos.com brand and aim to bring interactive gambling to our TV screens, was placed at no 37, up six places from last year. While NetPlay seem great at doing deals, not everyone in the online gambling industry is convinced that they will generate the revenues that their share price seems to suggest they might.

At no 38 is a new entry in the shape of Tombola, who used to run Sun Bingo and now operate one of the biggest online bingo sites in the UK. Under the quiet but confident direction of owner Phil Cronin they have shown incredible growth and impressive player numbers.

Rank Group, the owner of Mecca Bingo, was placed at 40th, down from 26th last year. Like Gala Bingo they have struggled to convert their strong position in bingo halls into the online world and they have had difficulties making their middle managers cross-sell the bingo product to their real world customers.

Last on the list at no 50 was another new entry, Crown Bingo. Crown was praised for its management team and for punching above its weight in a crowded online gaming space.

Issuing a half yearly report, Paddy Power plc said that their bingo operations were a bright spot that had made up for the poor perfomance of poker. “This was driven by strong revenue growth in Games and our newer gaming businesses, Bingo and Financial Spread Betting, which more than offset the impact of a difficult Poker market,” the company said.

They also said the switch to Virtue Fusion has benefited profits from their bingo operations; “Our Bingo business made further progress in the period including a successful migration to a hosted network model with Virtue Fusion which had a positive impact on revenues and costs.”

Paddy Power are known to be very interested in the UK bingo market and looked carefully at buying Cashcade, the owners of Foxy Bingo, Think Bingo, Cheeky Bingo and Little Big Bingo. Sources close to the negotiation told Bingo News that Paddy Power offered in excess of £120 million for the Cashcade business but that the proposed terms of the buyout were so complex and onerous that the Cashcade management quickly rejected the offer in preference for a simpler and more easily understandable offer from Party Gaming.

In a separate move, Paddy Power announced that Jane Lighting will join the Board as a Non-Executive Director with immediate effect.

Lighting is a former Chief Executive of Five, the UK terrestrial television channel, and was previously Prior Chief Executive of Flextech plc.

Nigel Northridge, Chairman of Paddy Power, said: “I am very pleased that Jane has agreed to join the Board. As Paddy Power continues to grow its business in the UK, both in retail and online, Jane will bring general knowledge and experience of the market as well as specific media expertise, which is particularly relevant.”

It will be interesting to see whether her appointment leads Paddy Power to look more at digital TV channels for their bingo product and to perhaps launch their own bingo TV channel or a niche sports betting TV channel.

The £3000 Accumulator

Every Friday starting at 7pm, the pot starts at £500 increasing by £100 every hour! The pot reaches a guaranteed prize of £900 at 11pm. That’s £3000 over the four hours!

E.g. the 7pm pot is £500, the 8pm pot is £600 and so on until the massive £900 pot at 11pm pot.

Each hour the pot will be won and split between the 1 line, 2 line and full house winners.

Make sure to pre order tickets for these games (50p each and a max of 36 tickets per player) so you don’t miss out. These games are marked as “The Big One” in pre purchase.

BB Night

Well, its that time of the year again when some of us try to avoid watching BB, and others bask in its glory! Whether you love it or hate it this is night for you to vent your frustrations or seal your approval, so join Paddy Power Bingo in the Gold Room between 9pm-10pm and dont forget whats after from 10pm-1pm, its their Themed Quiz Night!!

Paddy Power Bingo promise a fun packed night of chat tournaments, banter and Extra Bonus Bucks!!

Naughty Night Tonight

It’s Friday, let your hair down! Come and join Paddy Power Bingo’s CMs and roomies for some Naughty Night action in the Sapphire Room every Friday night from 9pm till late!

There’ll be loads of BBs up for grabs, some cheeky chat, and many a laugh.

Be there, be frisky, be naughty!!!!

Customers were sent an email this morning telling them that the switch had taken place and their existing user name and password would work on the site.

The move takes Paddy Power away from Parlay Gaming software, which has powered their bingo site since launch. Paddy Power Bingo was originally on TGN (The Games Network) before they switched to a stand alone platform provided directly by Parlay.

Bingo News understands Paddy Power were unhappy with the performance of their bingo site on the previous network and are hoping Virtue Fusion’s network will increase the lifetime value of their bingo players substantially.

Paddy Power Bingo joins a host of top bingo brands powered by Virtue Fusion, including Crown Bingo, William Hill Bingo, Ladbrokes Bingo, Sky Bingo, Mecca Bingo and Scot Bingo. Click for a complete list of sites on Virtue Fusion software.

Like-for-like royalty revenues for the fourth quarter 2008 fell 53% to $871,661, dragging total fourth quarter revenues down by 38% to $1,241,621.

Chief executive Scott White said: “In 2008, Parlay took a very significant step to divest its US-facing business and focus on licensing its software to customers in the United Kingdom and Europe. The impact of that divestiture required that that we bring our cost structure into line with revenue, which efforts were substantially completed in Q4. We also anticipated that it could take up to three quarters to see the results of refocused sales and marketing initiatives translate into new royalty revenue.”

“Recently executed licensing arrangements and new customer launches will increasingly contribute to revenue throughout 2009, while our cost base will remain static. Parlay ended 2008 with in excess of $3,200,000 in cash. We have continued to invest in our technology and human resources with our share re-purchases exceeding 1,700,000 shares since the commencement of our normal course issuer bid.”

The final results for 2008 showed that total revenues hit $8,537,669, down 1% from 2007, royalty revenues were $4,696,576, down 40% from 2007,  software license fees were $2,922,089, versus zero in 2007 and net income was $497,909, or $0.04 per share.

Parlay’s software is used by bingo sites including Yahoo Bingo, NetPlay TV’s Bingos.com and three bingo networks,  St Minver, TGN and BingoNexus. Parlay is based in Oakville, Canada and has offices in Bridgetown, Barbados, and Valletta, Malta.

Parlay Entertainment were the subject of a bid from by PEIC Aquisition Corp, a vehicle led by online gambling legend Mark Blandford, the founder of Sportingbet. PEIC pulled out of the bidding in March 2008 after two more parties became involved in the potential sale, only for the remaining bidders to also pull out.

Parlay is widely considered to have dropped behind many online bingo software providers in recent months, most noticeably Virtue Fusion who are said to have persuaded several clients using Parlay software to switch to VF software. Announcements of the changes are expected in May.

Shares in Parlay stand at 40 cents at the moment, valuing the company at around $5 million.

Chief executive Patrick Kennedy, who was delivering the company’s 2008 final results, said: “There remain many opportunities which we intend to progress over the next number of years in the UK, Ireland and further afield. Many of these will have the UK as one of, if not the, major market, as has been the case with recent initiatives such as online bingo, financial spread betting and sports risk management. In addition, successful expansion of our existing online, shop and telephone businesses in the UK will be a key driver of future success for Paddy Power.”

It was the only mention of bingo in the final results, which were largely dedicated to the state of the Irish economy and the Irish government’s decision to double taxation on Irish bookmakers, which has hit Paddy Power hard.

Online operations provided the bulk of Paddy Power’s profits, although Paddy Power Bingo’s contribution was not separated out. Online operating profit in 2008 grew 34% to €42.8 million and in the second half of 2008 70% of the group’s operating profit came from the online division.

Paddy Power Bingo is one of the three leading online bingo operators in the Irish market, along with Rehab Bingo and Bingo.ie.

Paid exhibitors listed by CAP Euro are:

Party Bingo

Ladbrokes Bingo

Income Access Bingo Partners (Bingo.com, Tombola, Bunny Bingo, Bingo Fun, Big Bingo)

Virgin Bingo

Maria Bingo

Bingos.com

William Hill Bingo

The Gaming Network/Bingo Affiliates (Astro Bingo, Bingonanza, Bingo Boogie and Bingo Mania)

We also know there will be representatives of the following companies at the conference:

Crown Bingo

Love Bingo

Bingo Suerte

Event Bingo

Paddy Power Bingo

Scot Bingo

Bingo panellists are in short supply among the speakers at the CAP Euro conference.

Roo Wright from Live Bingo sneaks on the SEO panel while Simon Burrige of Virgin Games is on the CEO panel and with a bit of luck will mention Virgin Bingo.

There will of course be online bingo companies represented in the CAP Awards in the voting for the best bingo affiliate programme.

If you know of any other bingo companies represented at CAP, whether formally or informally, let us know and we’ll add to the list.

The award was voted for by roomies who play online bingo every day and is considered one of the most important bingo awards to be won.

It is interesting to see that some of the top sites in terms of traffic – Jackpot Joy, Mecca Bingo, Gala Bingo, Ladbrokes Bingo and William Hill Bingo – failed to make the top 10 listing, suggesting that the smaller sites are focussing on great CMing to keep players happy.

Top 10 sites in the 2008 UK Bingo CM of the Year

1. Gone Bingo

2. Crown Bingo

3. Free Bingo

4. Rehab Bingo

5. Paddy Power Bingo

6. Cyber Bingo

7. Bingo Sky

8. Bet Fred Bingo

9. Bingo Liner

10. Cashcade sites (includes Foxy Bingo, Think Bingo, Think Bingo Cosy, Mirror Bingo and much more)

2008 Bingo CM of the Year website

In the new site of the year award Bingo Playground took top spot, followed by Tombola Bingo and Wink Bingo.

The votes were something of a surprise as Platinum Play Bingo was a new site in 2008 and they must have worked very hard to get all their players and friends voting for them. By contrast Jackpot Joy is a huge site and has thousands of players every day. Crown Bingo, who finished third last year as well, continues to build on its reputation as being the friendliest online bingo site in the UK.

Top 98 bingo sites in the UK, according to Which Bingo:

1 Jackpot Joy
2 Platinum Play Bingo
3 Crown Bingo
4 Bingo Liner (UK)
5 Sun Bingo
6 Tombola Bingo
7 Bingo Playground
8 House Of Bingo
9 Gone Bingo UK
10 Foxy Bingo
11 Bingo MagiX
12 Free Bingo.co.uk
13 Rehab Bingo
14 Wink Bingo
15 Gala Bingo
16 Harry’s Bingo
17 All Bingo Club
18 Ladbrokes Bingo
19 Mecca Bingo
20 888Ladies
21 King Jackpot UK
22 Bingo.com
23 BingoSKY.co.uk
24 Paddy Power Bingo
25 Game Village
26 Think Bingo
27 Blackpool Club Bingo
28 Cyber Bingo
29 Bingo Cafe
30 Wow Bingo
31 Daily Express Bingo
32 Butlins Bingo
33 Bet365 Bingo
34 32Red Bingo
35 Betfred Bingo
36 Mirror Bingo
37 Bingo Zest
38 King.com
39 Jackpot City Bingo
40 Bingo Palace
41 Carlton Bingo
42 Bingo Scotland
43 Virgin Bingo
44 Sky Bingo
45 Best Bingo
46 Blackpool Bingo
47 321Bingo
48 Chit Chat Bingo
49 Moon Bingo
50 Think Bingo Cosy
51 Bingo Joy
52 William Hill Bingo
53 Daily Record Bingo
54 Dream Bingo
55 Astro Bingo UK
56 Bucky Bingo
57 Bingo Wags
58 Betsson
59 Love Bingo
60 Desperate Housewives Bingo
61 Bingo On The Box
62 Simply Bingo
63 ITV Bingo
64 Bingo Britain
65 We Luv Bingo
66 Bingos UK
67 Love it! Bingo
68 Winzingo
69 Kingsway Bingo
70 The Palaces Bingo
71 Yahoo Bingo
72 STV Bingo
73 BingoBallroom
74 UK-Bingo.net
75 Premier Bingo
76 Riva Bingo
77 BingoRooms
78 Loquax Bingo
79 Bingolore
80 BingoFriends
81 Jackpot Bingo
82 Bingo Jetset
83 Kiss My Bingo
84 News of the World Bingo
85 Yours Bingo
86 Fruit Bingo
87 BingoDay UK
88 BingoFun
89 Party Bingo
90 Riverbelle Bingo
91 BingoMania UK
92 Palace Bingo
93 abcBingo
94 Take A Break Bingo
95 BellaBingo
96 Bingo Chest
97 Closer Bingo
98 Purely Bingo

Which Bingo UK Site of the Year website

A statement by the company said that the exchange had approved amendments that would allow up to  1,482,500 options to vest at the point of takeover and also allow the board to issue up to 494,903 more options. With 12,685,765 common shares in issue at the moment, the new shares that could be issued equal approximately 15.5% of the total shares currently issued.

These amendments had previously been approved by Parlay’s board of directors on August 27, 2008 but also needed approval by the Toronto Stock Exchange. The amended plan does not increase the number of stock options which Parlay is able to grant.

Parlay’s software is used by bingo sites including Virgin Bingo, Yahoo Bingo, Paddy Power Bingo, NetPlay TV’s Bingos.com and three bingo networks,  St Minver, TGN and BingoNexus. Parlay is based in Oakville, Canada and has offices in Bridgetown, Barbados, and Valletta, Malta.

Parlay Entertainment were the subject of a bid from by PEIC Aquisition Corp, a vehicle led by online gambling legend Mark Blandford, the founder of Sportingbet. PEIC pulled out of the bidding in March 2008 after two more parties became involved in the potential sale, only for the remaining bidders to also pull out.

Shares in Parlay Entertainment were today trading at 45 cents, valuing the company at approxiately $5.7 million. It trades on a price-earnings ratio of 45.

Virtue Fusion claim to be the largest dedicated online bingo software company in the world. They have a stellar list of the world’s top gambling companies using their bingo software.

Virtue Fusion holds an Alderney gaming licence and is in the process of applying for a Maltese licence.

Virtue Fusion is run by Alex Haig-Thomas and Robert Keown-Boyd. They are unusual in the world of online bingo in that both are old Etonians. The company has approximately 340 employees, of which 260 are chat moderators.

Virtue Fusion’s bingo product grew out of bingo software developed for Gala Group. Following Gala’s decision to build their own bingo platform, Virtue Fusion signed Mecca Bingo as their first client in 2005. They then signed Crown Bingo as their second client and first end-to-end bingo solution client in November 2005.

Sites currently running on Virtue Fusion software include:

UK Facing Online Bingo Sites

Mecca Bingo

Crown Bingo

Sky Bingo

Bet365 Bingo

Jackpot City Bingo

Jackpot Bingo

Ladbrokes Bingo

William Hill Bingo

Paddy Power Bingo

Carlton Bingo

Blue Square Bingo

Vernons Bingo

Scot Bingo

Bingo Loopy

Crazy Bingo

Minxy Bingo

Buckingham Bingo

Capitol Bingo

Take A Break Bingo

Fruit Bingo

Bonanza Bingo

Big8 Gaming

River Belle Bingo

Beach Bingo

Bingo Crazy

Bunny Bingo

European facing online bingo sites

Bingo Corona

Bingo.ie

Other territories and forthcoming launches

Virtue Fusion are planning to launch sites in Sweden and Denmark in early 2009. Virtue Fusion does not accept clients from the United States.

• 2x £500 Jackpots!
• Thursday, 4th December between 12pm-2pm
• Tickets cost 25p, with a buy 4 get 1 free (Max tickets 12)

New for December!!!

Win £1000 in Santa’s Dash for Cash!

Paddy Power Bingo are giving all roomies the chance to win £1000 cash in time for Christmas! Simply buy £1 of bingo tickets on any five days before the 10th of December, and you’ll automatically be entered in the draw to win £1000 cash.

If roomies play all ten days from today until the 10th of December, and we’ll give them a bonus entry into the draw.  Plus, if players play 5 times, they’ll also qualify to play for free in January as part of our 5 Alive promotion!

Profits grew thanks to new product offerings and signing new customers, as well as the strength of the US dollar, the company said.

Earnings for the first nine months of 2008 totalled $1,050,524 on revenues of $7,158,118.

Parlay provides bingo and interactive television software to the St Minver Network and to Unibet, Stan James and Irish boomakers Paddy Power. They also claim to own the patent for multi player online bingo in Canada and the United States, although their competitors in the online bingo industry would argue about how sustainable that patent is.

Chief executive officer Scott White said: “We remain committed to increasing our cash reserves through revenue growth from existing and new customers as well as from new product and service offerings and software licensing fees. We have a number of new customers who are in various stages of advancing their Internet bingo offerings and we anticipate these new customer launches to contribute to revenue commencing in Q1 2009. Our quarter just passed also included significant foreign exchange expense reflecting the remarkable strength of our reporting currency against each of sterling, the Euro and the Canadian dollar.”

“We are also beginning to see,” continued Mr. White, “the results of various restructuring initiatives which we commenced in Q2 2008 and which we have expanded. We anticipate that the full benefit of these adjustments will fully impact our cost structure in Q1 2009.”

Parlay’s share price stands at 40 cents, valuing the company at just over $5 million. The company was the subject of a bid by PEIC Aquisition Corp, a vehicle led by online gambling pioneer Mark Blandford. PEIC pulled out of the bidding in March 2008 after two more parties became involved in the potential sale, only for the remaining bidders to also pull out.

In June 2008 Parlay sold all their US facing assets for $2.8 million but any future buyer would potentially risk taking on the past liability of the company accepting bets from US citizens.

Doubts also surround the company in terms of how long they are likely to hold on to the St Minver contract. St Minver was sold to American gaming giant GTech this summer and they already own their own bingo software through Boss Media. The loss of the St Minver contract, which includes brands such as Littlewoods Bingo, Virgin Bingo and Love Bingo, would be a major concern for Parlay.