Two English bingo companies are offering an original plan to celebrate the traditional Halloween holiday this year. This October 31st, besides the classical bonfires, trick or treating, costumes and horror stories, bingo fans will be jumping of joy and horror at the same time as they play their favorite game.

The two companies behind this celebration are Bingos UK and Virgin Bingo, both have turned a variety of spooky images into designs for the bingo site’s cards made specially for the occasion.

Three of Federico Martone’s aunts are fighting over a huge bingo prize. The women were supposed to share the money they won at a Glasgow bingo hall but when one of them, named Jean McCullagh, hit the £1 million jackpot, she refused to split it with her two sisters-in-law, Rose and Jessie.

Big Brother Four Fed, who owns a restaurant in Glasgow, said the situation has driven a big wedge in his family. “My aunt Rose is a lovely woman and would never tell a lie,” Federico explained. “She and Jessie feel very betrayed. You have to wonder if any amount of money is worth causing all these emotional wounds.”

The latest trend in themed baby showers seems to be bingo baby showers. The reason they have become so popular is because they combine all the fun of a bingo game and the thrill of baby showers. Besides, playing bingo is a great way of breaking the ice, particularly when people don’t know each other.

Only a few things are necessary to organize a bingo baby shower: bingo cards, markers, prizes and snacks. When it comes to cards, hosts can use regular bingo sets with some adjustments, make their own cards or ask guests to bring their homemade cards.

Margaret Shearer, a regular bingo player from Glasgow, was the lucky winner of a £1 million Bingo Jackpot during a lunchtime bingo game held at the Mecca Bingo Club in Glasgow. Margaret, who was playing with her mother and regular bingo partner, lost her job at the McVitie’s factory only three weeks ago.

“It’s such an enormous amount that it’s difficult to grasp what it really means”, Margaret said. “I experienced hot flushes just before I started playing the bingo session, which I took as a sign that something was going to happen!” What happened was a life-changing prize that came a few weeks after laws were changed to allow such big prizes in bingo clubs.

Bingo halls in Wales are having trouble to stay in business due to the negative effects of the smoking ban. Many bingo operators have already reported a decrease in profits of up to 20 percent. Tony Willis, Crystal Bingo general manager, said revenue dropped about 25 percent, in spite of special promotions aimed to lure players.

“We are getting through it now, but the winter will be the worst. Our customers have put up with the rain the last few weeks but it has not been cold,” Willis explained. "Everyone is waiting with bated breath to see how things turn out in England. We've already heard of a bingo hall is closing in Gloucester.”

Gala Coral, one of the most important bingo and gaming operators in the UK, announced in a press release that its bingo profits increased £4.4 million to £128 million in one year. This period includes six months since the smoking ban came into effect in Scotland.

The company also informed that, mainly due to the purchase of the Scottish bingo chain County, admissions at its clubs also increased. However, a spokesperson for Gala Coral explained that attendance had been partially affected by the smoking ban introduced in Scotland in March 2006 and the extended hot weather during the summer.

A new group of regulations still pending in the Legislature, aim to give local clubs, fire departments and fraternal organizations a little relief from the fierce competition slot machines represent. One of these provisions is House Bill 169, still pending Senate approval, which would increase prizes for bingo clubs and allow for multiple drawings.

Another bill under consideration is House Bill 1467, which would also raise bingo jackpots but requires strict licensing procedures. Some impending regulations also request the authorization and regulation of poker tournaments and video poker games in clubs.

The Brazilian national soccer team has found an original way to relax between America Cup games. Americo Faria, one of the team’s supervisors, organizes bingo games for the group, which allows them to release some pressure and have fun while having the chance to win interesting prizes.

Bingo cards are green, yellow, red and blue and numbers are marked with black pens. Mr. Faria is in charge of giving the cards to the players and calling the bingo numbers. This quite uncommon bingo game has become a ritual for Brazilian players who reunite every night around a table to play.

Members of the bingo industry have called bingo fans to save Irish clubs, which have been severely affected by the smoking ban. The plea to save bingo halls was launched at Holyrood and it included the consequences of the new Gambling Act and the Vat and gambling taxes imposed on the activities of bingo operators.

Besides, the most important bingo operators in Ireland have addressed the petitions committee and urged MSPs to request the Executive a discussion of their case with Westminster. They want the tax on bingo clubs to be brought into line with the rest of the gaming industry.

Riva Gaming Group has introduced a new concept for London bingo fans to try out. This week, the bingo operator opened the first fully electronic bingo hall in the UK, which offers 582 personal hand-held bingo terminals. These new machines are intended to replace traditional paper bingo tickets.

“Riva is at the forefront of bingo technology and product development,” Simon Hannah, CEO of Riva, said. “We are operating in a challenging environment but we believe there is still plenty of room for growth for operators who provide unique and exciting facilities.”