dot com Seeks Dominance in the Low Roller Market

A relatively new bingo system from dot com Entertainment Group links bingo hall operators around the world, allowing players access to a larger pay-out than any one operator could provide. No matter what "bingo hall" players log onto, their money is commingled into one massive jackpot. Games run 120 times a day, 365 days a year.

Through CyberBingo Corporation, a licensee, dot com has successfully beta tested its bingo network concept for two years, and just announced the system's official launch today.

CyberBingo operates CyberBingo Network, which is used to attract new bingo site operators through a tiered licensing infrastructure. According to Business Development Manager Glenn Scott, CyberBingo has signed up 15 "Bingo Network Members", or sub-licensees.

It's easy to see why CyberBingo has become popular. Over the last two years, it has paid out more than $2.5 million in prizes, just under $100,000 each week, Scott said. In addition, there are about 40,000 regular "member" players.

"The CyberBingo Network program is unique in the online bingo industry because it takes the concept of satellite-based bingo, which links up numerous land-based halls for nightly jackpot games, and applies the concept to the Internet," Scott explained. "These individual bingo halls will be owned by participating members who will automatically link their players to the CyberBingo central system, which is located at www.cyberbingo.net."

Under CyberBingo the licensing model, each new operator earns referral fees, including 15 percent of the gross transactions made by each player referred for the first year of their membership, 10 percent for the second year and 7 percent for the duration of their membership with the bingo hall.

New operators also receive a basic web template for their hall, which can be easily modified and branded to give it a unique look. Part of the startup package includes member sign up and reporting pages (including a link to CBN's downloadable bingo software); and access to various CyberBingo house promotions and contests to post on each bingo hall home page. Operators also receive complete online access to secure reporting pages tracking their bingo hall profits; access to CyberBingo's referral program; a 10 percent sign-up bonus offer for new players; and a newsletter e-mailed to players.

It might seem odd to concentrate on low denomination games, which sell for as little as $.25 a card, but, as Scott points out, "Bingo is a $90 billion industry."

Players can set increments for their spending, such as $.25 to $6.00 per card while playing up to 24 cards through the CyberBingo Network. While this doesn't seem like much, Scott explained that bingo players tend to be very loyal to their favorite site, and play for longer periods of time.

Whether playing bingo in some hall or on the Internet, the target market is the same (picture lots of gray-haired old ladies frantically daubing away at their cards.)

There are some twists, however. For example, even though the main audience is comprised of women aged 30 to 70, 25 percent of CyberBingo's players are men. Additionally, many more young players are attracted to the game when it's on the Web, at least partially because it's considered one of the most socially acceptable forms of gambling.

CyberBingo players can also stop by one of six chat rooms available on the site and play games automatically while busy chatting. Plus, players can choose from several bingo caller options and even change the look of the game to their satisfaction.

dot com is banking on its easily used system as the key to success. The basic dot com bingo software features a completely customizable front end making each operator's virtual bingo hall unique. For example, CyberBingo Network has set up an easy-to-begin package for new bingo hall operators, including easily adapted web page templates, additional logos and other artwork, along with monthly financial reports showing how much money the operator is earning. As a result, new bingo hall operators need only minimal hands-on involvement to get their new virtual business operational.

The company is adding Spanish, Portuguese, Danish, and possibly German to the current English and French language offerings. Plus, they're looking to establish a presence in countries around the globe, and already are negotiating with a Danish company.

Further information about dot com's suite of products is available at their website, www.dceg.com. CyberBingo can be found at www.cyberbingonetwork.com.