Listen to this article:Earlier this month, Buzz, one of the UK’s leading bingo brands, revealed that it is in advanced talks to acquire two of the country’s largest bingo halls, the MERKUR sites in Cricklewood and Northampton. The operator believes that these two well-established clubs will complement its existing locations and will add significant value to its retail presence.
If you want to learn more about this brand, you could check out our Buzz Bingo review.
The Cricklewood and Northampton clubs have been at the heart of their respective communities for over 25 years. Like Buzz, these clubs focus on providing low-stake bingo entertainment with frequent winners. In 2023, the two venues attracted 410,000 visitors and continue to grow, with a 5% increase in admissions so far this year. Together, they pay out over £1 million in winnings every month. The Cricklewood club alone averages more than 3,500 winners each month and holds the Guinness World Record for the largest single bingo house prize of £100,000.
The acquisition by Buzz Bingo is part of an ongoing growth strategy, which has been delivering excellent results. In 2023, the company saw a 5% increase in retail revenue, a 31% rise in online revenue, and a 14% increase in EBITDA. The business continues to develop its omnichannel approach, combining stability in its retail sector with digital innovation. Over the past two years, Buzz’s Digital business has doubled its market share, growing three times faster than the market average.
Buzz has positioned itself to make the most of the expected growth in the UK bingo market. This growth is driven by a return of consumer confidence in the leisure sector following the Covid-19 pandemic and increasing interest from younger audiences. There has been a large increase in the number of 25–34-year-olds playing bingo in recent years, and in 2023, the number was double that of 2018.
It is clear that the operator is making the most of the trend, running a number of events in its clubs designed to appeal to a wide range of demographics. These include bingo raves, events based upon classic bands, such as ABBA and Queen, and so on.
Additionally, Buzz Bingo international expansion is underway. As part of this, the company plans to relocate its Digital business to Gibraltar. This move will offer several advantages, including closer proximity to key suppliers and a platform for pursuing international opportunities.
Many of Buzz’s major competitors already have a presence in Gibraltar, making this relocation very much in line with industry standards.
Talking about these developments, Dominic Mansour, Chief Executive of Buzz, commented:
“Bingo in the UK is experiencing a renaissance, and Buzz Bingo, as a leading online brand with the largest retail footprint, is well-positioned to capture this growth. After a period of stabilisation, our business is thriving. We are delighted to acquire these two leading bingo clubs following a strong performance year. With the growing demand for bingo and our exceptional online performance, Buzz Bingo is positioning itself for accelerated growth. Moving our Digital business to Gibraltar is a key part of this strategy. These developments are exciting for Buzz Bingo as we continue to pursue our omnichannel strategy, aiming to be the nation’s top choice for bingo both online and in retail, while also seizing international opportunities.”
Buzz is not just working on expanding its network of bingo halls, it has also been developing its online bingo product. For instance, in January, Buzz partnered with Future Anthem in order to offer its online players a more personalised experience.
Buzz Bingo was also one of the first online operators to launch live online bingo. There are 10 hours of live bingo sessions every day with presenters who create a fantastic atmosphere and plenty of jackpot prizes up for grabs.
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