| Have you turned on your television recently and seen a swimming pool full of pink bingo balls, a fox dressed in a purple suit or Vic Reeves dressing in women’s clothing and sitting down to play online bingo?
If so, you are not alone. A swarm of online bingo adverts have swept across the nation in the last 12 months, adding momentum to the already rapid growth in popularity of online bingo games in the UK.
A range of online bingo sites have tried their hands at putting together television adverts since Think Bingo became the first to dip their toes in the water in September 2005. A number of the adverts have become well-known throughout the country, while others have been somewhat more forgettable.
Early appearances of online bingo adverts on television included Jackpotjoy’s 30 second promotional commercial for the site’s ‘The Price Is Right’ game. The advert, launched in May 2007, depicted a woman playing bingo in her living room, which was suddenly turned into the set of a game show, complete with audience, presenters and camera crew.
The Sun newspaper’s bingo site took a slightly different approach to their advert, which showed a number of people enjoying a game of online bingo, while singing “I’m on my way to play Sun Bingo” to the tune of Tony Christie’s “Show me the way to Amarillo”.
Foxy Bingo has made a name for itself through its infamous campaign, fronted by the site’s mascot, ‘Foxy’ – a man dressed in a rather smart purple suit, wearing a large fox’s head.
In the Foxy Bingo TV advert, we see Foxy parading through the streets of Liverpool, gathering a large crowd behind him. As the parade progresses, a number of famous bingo calls are played out, including the appearance of two fat ladies (88), a knock on the door (number four) and two little ducks (22).
Even WhichBingo UK has made its first appearance on the small screen. Think Bingo’s brand new advert features ladies at a health spa and a swimming pool full of pink bingo balls, before the viewers are reminded that Think Bingo was named Which Bingo UK’s Site of the Year in 2007.
Celebrity appearances in online bingo adverts are becoming more common and don’t be surprised if you spot former ‘It’s A Knockout’ presenter Stuart Hall climbing out of someone’s laptop as part of Betfred Bingo’s promotional campaign.
Perhaps the most memorable celebrity outing in a bingo advert is Vic Reeves’ appearance in the latest 888 Ladies bingo commercial. The Darlington-born comic is seen putting on a dress, make up and a pink wig, before sitting down with a pint of beer to play some bingo online!
His antics even prompted fellow bingo celebrity Sharon Osbourne, who is the face of Gala Bingo, to comment on his newfound bingo fame as the pair presented the Brit Awards in February 2008.
Whilst the success of each advert is difficult to gauge, there can be no doubt that online bingo’s presence on the small screen is growing and, as public awareness continues to increase, the future looks very bright for online bingo in the UK. |
Article Details