Bingo and Beyond: Devon’s Role in Reconnecting Players with a Revolutionised Gaming Industry
Throughout the 21st century, significant developments have advanced the gaming industry. The rise of digitalisation has affected web-based productions as well as the forward-thinking ideologies of real-world activities. Despite its population of approximately 795,000 people, as per statistics from 2019, the southwest county has been quick to embrace the ever-changing impact of technology and alerting social trends on old-school hobbies. So, let’s take a look at how Devon is reconnecting players to new forms of traditional games.
A Hub for Bingo's Resurgence
Within the United Kingdom, Bingo has long been one of the nation's favourite activities since the 1800s. However, much has changed since then regarding the numbers-based game. Following a decline in popularity during the early 2000s, bingo has enjoyed a digital resurgence over the past few years as numerous variants of the pastime rose to prominence across several online operators.
As well as these platforms being widely available to the people of Devon, the card-marking game has since branched out into new markets, including scratchcards. At Paddy Power, prospective players can immerse themselves in a wide array of bingo scratchcards, many of which are based on television game shows, such as Golden Balls Quick Scratch and Deal or No Deal Quick Scratch. Aside from their accessibility, these bingo-orientated adaptations offer the prospect of winning six-figure prizes on desktops, mobiles, and tablets.
The continual modernisation of online bingo reflects the efforts to revolutionise land-based events. Oktoberfest Bubble Bingo, for example, seeks to intertwine the world’s largest Volkfests’ atmosphere with the action-packed thrills of in-house bingo. The “bizarre” combination of the two culminated in The Foundry Torquay hosting a local event, thus highlighting the county’s role in reconnecting audiences with the old-school games.
What Does the Future Hold?
Back in 2014, it was clear that Devon was striving to move towards a game-focused future. As per an article by Construction, local bodies came together to restore Devonport Market Hall for the purpose of putting digital gaming at the heart of the community. Furthermore, four years on from that project, reports suggested that Plymouth were in line to home a Belong eSports arena, according to the Plymouth Herald. Should the plan come to fruition in the coming years, it will see the county move into a global market that’s forecast to generate revenues of around £1.22 billion by 2023.
For both Devon and the UK, the opening of a Belong gaming centre would boost participation levels, while also potentially finding the next generation of local players to compete in global events. To date, the organisation have numerous arenas throughout the UK, including several already in South England, such as in Portsmouth and West Thurrock. However, at present, the industry has yet to branch out into Devon. In reality, that decision could prove fruitful, especially when you consider how the county has recently embraced forward-thinking gaming concepts, like online bingo and scratchcards.
Leading by Example and With Huge Potential
While it remains unclear as to how much further Devon can grow its gaming sector, few can argue that there isn’t scope for long-term progression. Even though the rise of digitalisation has drastically altered modern-day engagement, the current foundations within the southwest county point to a positive future. If bingo and eSports can spearhead Devon’s gaming focus throughout the next decade, then the local sector could undoubtedly reach new, unprecedented heights.
