Mecca Bingo: Difference between revisions

Mecca Bingo
Company type	Limited company
Industry	Gambling
Founded	1961
Headquarters	Maidenhead, Berkshire, England
Area served	United Kingdom
Key people	John O'Reilly
Products	Bingo clubs
Revenue	£221.5m (2015/16)
Net income	£32.9m (2015/16)
Parent	The Rank Group
Website	www.meccabingo.com

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Mecca Bingo (formerly called Top Rank) is a British operator of bingo clubs, with 55 locations throughout the country. Mecca Bingo is owned by the Rank Group, which operates bingos, casinos and online gambling in Belgium, Spain and Britain. The Rank Group also own Grosvenor Casinos and Enracha. Mecca Bingo was established in 1961, and its headquarters are in Maidenhead.^[1] An extension of the Mecca Bingo brand includes meccabingo.com and a number of mobile apps. Mecca Bingo is the largest National Bingo Game operator in Britain.

As of June 2015, Mecca Bingo's revenue was recorded at £224.4 million, with an operating profit of £28.9 million.^[2] The Rank Group reports there are one million customers who visit Mecca each year, with £65.2 million revenue generated from digital. The Mecca network currently employs more than 11,000 people across Britain.^[3] Their halls host traditional and electronic versions of bingo, including slot-style games. Mecca are licensed and regulated by the British Gambling Commission and the Alderney Gambling Control Commission.

History

Eric Morley, British television host and founder of the Miss World pageant, is accredited with popularising the game of bingo in Britain during the early sixties, as a tactic to fill Britain's dance halls. In 1952, he was Mecca's general manager of dancing. He changed the company from a small catering and dancing firm into a leading entertainment and catering company. A director of the company from 1953 up until 1978, Morley left the business after a disagreement with its then parent company, Grand Metropolitan.^[4]

In 1990, the Rank Organisation made an offer of £512m to acquire Mecca Leisure Group. This was initially rejected, then accepted two months later.^[5] In 2007, Mecca Bingo and its parent company suffered significant losses, attributed to the implementation of the smoking ban in Britain. Rank shut nine Mecca Bingo clubs, with 230 people losing their jobs.^[6] In 2015, Mecca Bingo launched a marketing campaign featuring a twerking cactus. The campaign adverts helped to increase Mecca's digital sales by 18 per cent, year on year, in the 20 weeks to 17 May.^[7]

In 2022, Mecca Bingo partnered with Britain's Got Talent and became the show's official bingo partner.^[8] The deal allows Mecca Bingo to produce Britain's Got Talent-themed bingo games for their online offering and in-person venues.^[9]

Controversies

In 1997, members of the Muslim community in Luton, Bedfordshire were dissatisfied with the renaming of a local bingo hall under the Mecca Bingo brand, whose name is phonetically identical with Mecca, the holiest city of Islam, a religion in which gambling is not permitted. On Christmas Day that year, bricks were thrown through the bingo hall's windows, causing £3000 of damage.^[10] Company management subsequently announced that the Mecca branding would be discontinued at the location as a result of the unrest and offence caused;^[11] as of 2018, however, the company's own branch locator on their website confirms that the location is still operating under the Mecca brand.

In December 2015, Mecca Bingo was ordered to forfeit nearly £1 million after allowing a woman to spend up to £50,000 a month on her gambling addiction.^[12]

Awards

Mecca Bingo was awarded "Bingo Operator of the Year" at the 2016 International Gaming Awards.^[13] It won the same award in 2014 and 2015, with the Rank Group also winning "Socially Responsible Operator of the Year (Land Based)".^[14]^[15]

Mecca Bingo won two awards at the 2016 EGR Innovation and Marketing Awards:^[16] "Best Native App" and "Innovation in Bingo" for their Emoji Bingo game – an app that swaps bingo balls for emojis.

In 2017, Mecca Bingo won WhichBingo awards for Best Customer Services and Most Socially Responsible, along with the EGR award for Best Mobile Bingo Product.

References

^ "Our Business - Rank Group Plc". www.rank.com. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
^ "Mecca - Rank Group Plc". www.rank.com. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
^ "Meet the man trying to breathe new life into bingo". Retrieved 2016-09-12.
^ "The Long History Of Mecca Bingo". 2009-12-10. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
^ "The Rank Group plc - Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on The Rank Group plc". www.referenceforbusiness.com. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
^ Kollewe, Julia (2007-03-03). "Mecca Bingo halls struggle in face of all-out smoking ban". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
^ "This is how a dancing cactus has helped boost business at Mecca bingo". Independent.co.uk. 2015-05-21. Archived from the original on 2022-05-12. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
^ "Britain's Got Talent Bingo". meccabingo.com. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
^ "Mecca Bingo Enters Partnership Deal with Britain's Got Talent". casinoreviews.net. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
^ "Mecca bingo hall outrages Muslims". Independent.co.uk. 1998-01-07. Archived from the original on 2022-05-12. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
^ "Mecca bingo hall drops name after Muslim protests". BBC. 1998-01-14. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
^ "Bets pay off for Mecca bingo owner Rank Group". Retrieved 2016-09-12. (subscription required)
^ "IGA Winners 2016". 2015-12-01. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
^ "IGA Winners 2014". 2014-01-02. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
^ "IGA Winners 2015". 2015-01-22. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
^ "Winners". Retrieved 2016-09-12.

External links

[1] "Our Business - Rank Group Plc". www.rank.com. Retrieved 2016-09-12.

[2] "Mecca - Rank Group Plc". www.rank.com. Retrieved 2016-09-12.

[3] "Meet the man trying to breathe new life into bingo". Retrieved 2016-09-12.

[4] "The Long History Of Mecca Bingo". 2009-12-10. Retrieved 2016-09-12.

[5] "The Rank Group plc - Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on The Rank Group plc". www.referenceforbusiness.com. Retrieved 2016-09-12.

[6] Kollewe, Julia (2007-03-03). "Mecca Bingo halls struggle in face of all-out smoking ban". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-09-12.

[7] "This is how a dancing cactus has helped boost business at Mecca bingo". Independent.co.uk. 2015-05-21. Archived from the original on 2022-05-12. Retrieved 2016-09-12.

[8] "Britain's Got Talent Bingo". meccabingo.com. Retrieved 1 April 2022.

[9] "Mecca Bingo Enters Partnership Deal with Britain's Got Talent". casinoreviews.net. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.

[10] "Mecca bingo hall outrages Muslims". Independent.co.uk. 1998-01-07. Archived from the original on 2022-05-12. Retrieved 2016-09-12.

[11] "Mecca bingo hall drops name after Muslim protests". BBC. 1998-01-14. Retrieved 2016-09-12.

[12] "Bets pay off for Mecca bingo owner Rank Group". Retrieved 2016-09-12. (subscription required)

[13] "IGA Winners 2016". 2015-12-01. Retrieved 2016-09-12.

[14] "IGA Winners 2014". 2014-01-02. Retrieved 2016-09-12.

[15] "IGA Winners 2015". 2015-01-22. Retrieved 2016-09-12.

[16] "Winners". Retrieved 2016-09-12.

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+{{Short description|British business enterprise operating bingo halls}}
 {{Use British English|date=December 2013}}
 {{Infobox company
 | name     = Mecca Bingo
-| logo     =
+| logo     = Logo-Mecca.svg
 | image    = File:Mecca Bingo, Great Western Retail Park - geograph.org.uk - 796973.jpg
 | caption =
@@ Line 25: / Line 26: @@
 | footnotes        =
 }}
+'''Mecca Bingo''' (formerly called Top Rank) is a British operator of [[Bingo (United Kingdom)|bingo]] clubs, with 55 locations throughout the country. Mecca Bingo is owned by the [[Rank Group]], which operates bingos, casinos and online gambling in [[Belgium]], [[Spain]] and Britain. The Rank Group also own [[Grosvenor Casinos]] and Enracha. Mecca Bingo was established in 1961, and its headquarters are in [[Maidenhead]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rank.com/en/our-business.html|title=Our Business - Rank Group Plc|website=www.rank.com|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref> An extension of the Mecca Bingo brand includes meccabingo.com and a number of [[mobile app]]s. Mecca Bingo is the largest [[National Bingo Game]] operator in Britain.
+As of June 2015, Mecca Bingo's revenue was recorded at £224.4 million, with an operating profit of £28.9 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rank.com/en/our-business/mecca.html|title=Mecca - Rank Group Plc|website=www.rank.com|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref> The Rank Group reports there are one million customers who visit Mecca each year, with £65.2 million revenue generated from digital. The Mecca network currently employs more than 11,000 people across Britain.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/leisure/11037389/Meet-the-man-trying-to-breathe-new-life-into-bingo.html|title=Meet the man trying to breathe new life into bingo|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref> Their halls host traditional and electronic versions of bingo, including [[Slot machine|slot]]-style games. Mecca are licensed and regulated by the British [[Gambling Commission]] and the [[Alderney Gambling Control Commission]].
-Mecca Bingo is a UK-based company and operator of 72 [[Bingo (United Kingdom)|bingo]] clubs located across major towns and cities. Mecca Bingo is owned by [[The Rank Group]], which operates bingos, casinos and online gaming industries across [[Belgium]], [[Spain]] and the [[United Kingdom|UK]]. Rank Group also own [[Grosvenor Casinos]], Enracha, YoBingo, Spin And Win, Kitty Bingo, Lucky VIP and Lucky Pants Bingo. Mecca Bingo was established in 1961, and its headquarters is in Maidenhead.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rank.com/en/our-business.html|title=Our Business - Rank Group Plc|website=www.rank.com|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref> An extension of the Mecca Bingo brand includes meccabingo.com and a number of [[mobile app]]s. Mecca Bingo is the largest [[National Bingo Game]] operator in the UK.
-As of June 2015, Mecca Bingo’s revenue was recorded at £224.4 million, with an operating profit of £28.9 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rank.com/en/our-business/mecca.html|title=Mecca - Rank Group Plc|website=www.rank.com|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref> The Rank Group reports there are one million customers who visit Mecca each year, with £65.2 million revenue generated from digital. The Mecca network currently employs more than 9,500 people across the UK.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/leisure/11037389/Meet-the-man-trying-to-breathe-new-life-into-bingo.html|title=Meet the man trying to breathe new life into bingo|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref> Their halls host traditional and electronic versions of bingo, including [[Slot machine|slot]]-style games. Mecca are licensed and regulated by the UK [[Gambling Commission]] and the [[Alderney Gambling Control Commission]].
-In October 2019, Mecca parent company The Rank Group completed the acquisition of Stride Gaming.
 == History ==
-[[Eric Morley]], [[Television in the United Kingdom|British TV]] host and founder of the [[Miss World]] pageant, is accredited with popularising the game of bingo in the United Kingdom during the early sixties, as a tactic to fill the UK’s dance halls. In 1952, he was Mecca's general manager of dancing, and was made a director in 1953. Morley first brought Bingo into the Dance Halls in the afternoons, as a way to make the most of otherwise unused entertainment spaces. And as Dance Halls continued to lose their popularity, Bingo took over  with Morley and Mecca at the forefront. With Mecca, Morley helped to popularise [[Bingo (United Kingdom)|bingo]] which was played at Mecca venues throughout the United Kingdom. He changed the company from a small catering and dancing firm into a leading entertainment and catering company in the UK. A director of the company from 1953 up until 1978, Morley left the business after a disagreement with its then parent company, [[Grand Metropolitan]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thegamehunter.co.uk/bingoblog/historymeccabingo/|title=The Long History Of Mecca Bingo|date=2009-12-10|language=en-US|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref>
+[[Eric Morley]], British television host and founder of the [[Miss World]] pageant, is accredited with popularising the game of bingo in Britain during the early sixties, as a tactic to fill Britain's dance halls. In 1952, he was Mecca's general manager of dancing. He changed the company from a small catering and dancing firm into a leading entertainment and catering company. A director of the company from 1953 up until 1978, Morley left the business after a disagreement with its then parent company, [[Grand Metropolitan]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thegamehunter.co.uk/bingoblog/historymeccabingo/|title=The Long History Of Mecca Bingo|date=2009-12-10|language=en-US|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref>
-In 1990, the [[Rank Organisation]] made an offer of £512m to acquire Mecca Leisure Group. This was initially rejected, then accepted two months later.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/23/The-Rank-Group-plc.html|title=The Rank Group plc - Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on The Rank Group plc|website=www.referenceforbusiness.com|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref>  Following the Rank Organisation acquisition of Mecca Leisure Group, a number of Top Rank venues were renamed and rebranded to become Mecca clubs.
+In 1990, the [[Rank Organisation]] made an offer of £512m to acquire Mecca Leisure Group. This was initially rejected, then accepted two months later.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/23/The-Rank-Group-plc.html|title=The Rank Group plc - Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on The Rank Group plc|website=www.referenceforbusiness.com|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref> In 2007, Mecca Bingo and its parent company suffered significant losses, attributed to the implementation of the [[Smoking ban in England|smoking ban]] in Britain. Rank shut nine Mecca Bingo clubs, with 230 people losing their jobs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2007/mar/03/smoking.gambling|title=Mecca Bingo halls struggle in face of all-out smoking ban|last=Kollewe|first=Julia|date=2007-03-03|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref> In 2015, Mecca Bingo launched a marketing campaign featuring a [[twerking]] cactus. The campaign adverts helped to increase Mecca's digital sales by 18 per cent, year on year, in the 20 weeks to 17 May.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/mecca-bingos-twerking-cactus-helps-boost-business-at-rank-10266765.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/mecca-bingos-twerking-cactus-helps-boost-business-at-rank-10266765.html |archive-date=2022-05-12 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=This is how a dancing cactus has helped boost business at Mecca bingo|website=[[Independent.co.uk]] |date=2015-05-21|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref>
+In 2022, Mecca Bingo partnered with ''[[Britain's Got Talent]]'' and became the show's official bingo partner.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Britain's Got Talent Bingo |url=https://www.meccabingo.com/bingo/britains-got-talent |access-date=1 April 2022 |website=meccabingo.com}}</ref> The deal allows Mecca Bingo to produce ''Britain's Got Talent''-themed bingo games for their online offering and in-person venues.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 March 2022 |title=Mecca Bingo Enters Partnership Deal with Britain's Got Talent |url=https://www.casinoreviews.net/news/mecca-bingo-becomes-britains-got-talent-latest-bingo-partner/ |access-date=1 April 2022 |website=casinoreviews.net}}</ref>
-During the 1990s, some 340,000 visits were made to Mecca venues every single week. Even in today’s online world, Mecca venues still draw in around 135,000 visits each week. And during Mecca’s 60 years, the company have given away more than £1bn in prizes.
+== Controversies ==
-In 2007, three Mecca Bingo customers from Glasgow and Stevenage became instant millionaires, thanks to the Mecca Millionaires promotion.
+In 1997, members of the [[Muslims|Muslim]] community in [[Luton]], [[Bedfordshire]] were  dissatisfied with the renaming of a local bingo hall under the ''Mecca Bingo'' brand, whose name is phonetically identical with [[Mecca]], the holiest city of [[Islam]], a religion in which gambling is not permitted. On Christmas Day that year, bricks were thrown through the bingo hall's windows, causing £3000 of damage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/mecca-bingo-hall-outrages-muslims-1137183.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/mecca-bingo-hall-outrages-muslims-1137183.html |archive-date=2022-05-12 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Mecca bingo hall outrages Muslims|website=[[Independent.co.uk]] |date=1998-01-07|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref> Company management subsequently announced that the ''Mecca'' branding would be discontinued at the location as a result of the unrest and offence caused;<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/47352.stm|title=Mecca bingo hall drops name after Muslim protests|date=1998-01-14|newspaper=BBC|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref> as of 2018, however, the company's own branch locator on their website confirms that the location is still operating under the ''Mecca'' brand.
+In December 2015, Mecca Bingo was ordered to forfeit nearly £1 million after allowing a woman to spend up to £50,000 a month on her gambling addiction.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/leisure/12128984/Bets-pay-off-for-Mecca-bingo-owner-Rank-Group.html|title=Bets pay off for Mecca bingo owner Rank Group|access-date=2016-09-12}} {{subscription required}}</ref>
-Among Mecca Bingo’s online and digital estate are its jackpots. In 2019, one Mecca customer won just under £1million, after winning the jackpot twice in just 10 days on the MegaJackpots Cleopatra slot.
-In 2007, Mecca Bingo and its parent company suffered significant losses, attributed to the implementation of the [[Smoking ban in England|smoking ban]] in the UK. Rank shut nine Mecca Bingo clubs, with 230 people losing their jobs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2007/mar/03/smoking.gambling|title=Mecca Bingo halls struggle in face of all-out smoking ban|last=Kollewe|first=Julia|date=2007-03-03|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref> In 2015, Mecca Bingo launched a marketing campaign featuring a [[twerking]] cactus. The campaign adverts helped to increase Mecca’s digital sales by 18 per cent, year on year, in the 20 weeks to 17 May<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/mecca-bingos-twerking-cactus-helps-boost-business-at-rank-10266765.html|title=This is how a dancing cactus has helped boost business at Mecca bingo|date=2015-05-21|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref>
-In 2020, Mecca Bingo campaigned to introduce National Bingo Day to the U.K. The first National Bingo Day will be held on Sunday 27th June, 2021, 2021 having historically been celebrated just in the US.
-In 2021, Mecca Bingo celebrated its 60th birthday. In that time, it’s believed that more than 200 million visits have been made to Mecca venues, three times the British population.
-To celebrate Mecca’s 60th birthday, the company have launched a number of events, including a night of Bingo at 1960s prices.
 == Awards ==
-Mecca Bingo was awarded ‘Bingo Operator of the Year’ at the 2016 International Gaming Awards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gaming-awards.com/international-gaming-awards/winners/iga-winners-2016/|title=IGA Winners 2016|date=2015-12-01|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref> It won the same award in 2014 and 2015, with Rank Group also winning ‘Socially Responsible Operator of the Year Land Based’.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gaming-awards.com/international-gaming-awards/winners/iga-winners-2014/|title=IGA Winners 2014|date=2014-01-02|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gaming-awards.com/international-gaming-awards/winners/iga-winners-2015/|title=IGA Winners 2015|date=2015-01-22|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref>
+Mecca Bingo was awarded "Bingo Operator of the Year" at the 2016 International Gaming Awards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gaming-awards.com/international-gaming-awards/winners/iga-winners-2016/|title=IGA Winners 2016|date=2015-12-01|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref> It won the same award in 2014 and 2015, with the Rank Group also winning "Socially Responsible Operator of the Year (Land Based)".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gaming-awards.com/international-gaming-awards/winners/iga-winners-2014/|title=IGA Winners 2014|date=2014-01-02|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gaming-awards.com/international-gaming-awards/winners/iga-winners-2015/|title=IGA Winners 2015|date=2015-01-22|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref>
-Mecca Bingo won two awards at the 2016 EGR Innovation and Marketing Awards:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/161851/418436/|title=Winners|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref> ‘Best [[Mobile app|Native App]]’ and ‘Innovation in Bingo’ for their Emoji Bingo game – an App that swaps bingo balls for [[emoji]]s.
-In 2017 Mecca Bingo won WhichBingo awards for Best Customer Services and Most Socially Responsible, along with the EGR award for Best Mobile Bingo Product.
-In 2018, Mecca Bingo won WhichBingo awards for Best Playtech Bingo Site, Best Customer Service and Most Socially Responsible Operator. Mecca Bingo repeated its WhichBingo Best Customer Service success in 2019.
+Mecca Bingo won two awards at the 2016 EGR Innovation and Marketing Awards:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/161851/418436/|title=Winners|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref> "Best [[Mobile app|Native App]]" and "Innovation in Bingo" for their Emoji Bingo game – an app that swaps bingo balls for [[emoji]]s.
-In 2020, Mecca Bingo won the WhichBingo awards for Best Marketing Campaign and Best Mobile Bingo site. Also in 2020, a YouGov survey revealed Mecca was among the top 10 most recommended Entertainment & Leisure brands.
-In the same year, Mecca won the 2020 EGR Marketing and Innovation awards for Innovation in Tablet and App for the Mecca Bingo app, plus the award for best bingo marketing campaign for Mecca Dream Come True.
+In 2017, Mecca Bingo won WhichBingo awards for Best Customer Services and Most Socially Responsible, along with the EGR award for Best Mobile Bingo Product.
 ==References==