Introduction to online bingo as a language educational tool

Increasingly, many children in the developed world are spending a growing percentage of their time in front of a computer console or terminal. This includes time in the classroom where teachers may be present for a majority of the time.

For children in the developing nations, the access to a computer terminal is often severely limited compared to their co-pupils in the developed nations, but the learning of computer skills is a growing part of education in there areas.

Once the internet is factored in, communication skills become paramount in making full utilization of computers and language skills are in particular a major part of ensuring the use of a computer reaches its full educational potential.

As the world becomes more internationalized and pupils from the developing world come more and more into contact with pupils in developed countries via online communications, there is a growing need for English language competence.

Recent developments in the online gaming industry point to a window of opportunity in which pupils of English can utilize games like online bingo to help advance their language abilities.

History of Bingo as an Educational Tool

The emergence of online bingo halls as one of the online gaming industry’s fastest growing niche markets belies a tradition stretching back hundreds of years in which variants of bingo were use by educational institutions as a valid teaching tool.

Bingo’s recognized ability to promote powerful memory faculties contributed to its use in Dutch math classes as far back as the 1700s. Most recently, there have been efforts to introduce bingo’s principles into the scientific arena of education while English language educationists have long recognized bingo’s applications in teaching English.

The Basics to Good English Language Tuition Discussed

English as a first or second language is an evolving language with an exceptional ability to incorporate ideas and new words from outside sources. Teaching English, particularly to those for whom it is a second language, requires an approach reflecting the language’s ability to adapt.

In developing children’s linguistic competence, lessons need to be regular and frequent to reinforce what has already been learned. At the heart of any English lesson is the need for pupils to become increasingly familiar with the sounds and written form of English.

The basics start with developing English skills and language-learning skills in a way that each pupil can begin to understand and communicate. Part of this should incorporate comparisons between a foreign language and English which will lead to an increase their cultural awareness. By learning about different countries and their people, pupils will foster positive attitudes towards foreign language learning, an added benefit in learning English.

Once the above has become routine in their studies, pupils can then begin to use their knowledge with growing confidence and competence to understand what they hear and read, and to express themselves in speech and in writing.

Applications for Online Pupils

The advances in computer-based learning environments has revolutionized what used to be referred to as a “correspondence� education. Images of children swatting over text books in the Australian outback or jungles of Africa and communicating with their teachers via HAM radio have now been long supplanted by pupils in rural areas logging on to computer terminals for their lessons. The opportunity to reach such pupils with a set of stimulating educational exercises has never been better.

Online gaming, including online bingo, with all its hi-tech advances in the fields of visual presentation and ease and speed of use, stands poised to be able to offer pupils a fun and familiar way of engaging their studies that is at once both informative and entertaining.

The visual and mental element in using Bingo as a language tool: Applying Bingo to the Classroom

In a classic example of Bingo being applied to a traditional classroom situation, a teacher can provide pupils with double or single letter cards which they pick and then have to try to produce complete words by gradually covering thhe existing words on their bingo cards.

Each bingo card has a set of different words, and each time the teacher calls out a letter, a corresponding letter can be covered up on a word until the whole card is accurately covered – Bingo!

Applications for the use of Online Bingo in Education

People who play free online bingo understand the powerful concentration factor required in playing this game well. Online bingo is often attributed with helping increase the memory faculties of players and this becomes a powerful argument in its use as a language educational tool.

The above example of bingo being used in a traditional classroom environment should demonstrate the game’s potential for being adapted into an online environment. Subsequently, pupils whose education can be received via the internet can look forward to an entertaining variation on the traditional use of bingo.

A Clarion Call to the Online Bingo Industry

While profit is the undeniable motive behind the development of most online bingo games, it seems there is a chance for the industry, with the support of the online bingo community, to provide an educational variant on this very popular form of online entertainment which will benefit future generations of children trying to master English.

End of Part 1

Bibliography/References

British Council BBC: http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/think/methodology/young_learners.shtml
Teaching Ideas: http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/
Online Gaming Research: http://www.freewebs.com/mick15/home.htm
The Standards Site: http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/?version=1

Written by John Witherspoon - Play bingo online at http://bingostreet.com/ and read bingo news.

A decision by Swedish tax authorities to target online gambling sites in an attempt to recover what they believe is millions of undeclared kronor was, on the face of it, inevitable.

What is interesting about this, especially for online bingo industry watchers, is that Sweden is one of the EU countries often cited for promoting state-run monopolies in the area of online and tradition gambling. Facing mounting pressure to adopt a more ‘free’ market approach, it would seem this is the Swedish government’s reaction: If you can’t beat ‘em, hit ‘em in the pocket!

While we in the free online bingo community applaud the Swedish Tax Boards decision not to target online players themselves, one wonders how much of this new tax initiative is motivated by hubris in the face of having to dismantle the government’s cherished gambling monopolies.

What I believe will happen is that the sites targeted by the Swedish tax man will simply shift to a new jurisdiction, like happened in Korea when the government there targeted online gambling. Look at what has happened to the US online gaming industry and the carnage created by the unpopular UIGEA law passed there last year. People who play online bingo games will be aware of the damage caused by excessive government intervention and the industry’s ability to adapt irrespective of government dictates.

Why they don’t simply let the industry ‘lie fallow’ for a year or two and then move in for their pound of flesh once the industry is well established, I don’t know. That way operators and tax men will be a lot happier and more secure in providing a legitimate industry for consumers and businesses alike.

Written by John Witherspoon - Play bingo online at http://bingostreet.com/ and read celebrity gossip.

For those of us who have been following changes in government attitudes around the world to online gambling and, in particular, online bingo, the dramatic change around by the Italian government over the last year has definitely been one of the high points.

Italy relaxed its strict ‘punti remoti’ (remote gambling) laws to allow foreign competitors the chance to offer services to Italian customers. Not only was this a boost to the industry as a whole which had suffered a major setback due to US legislation last year, but it also showed many that Italy was serious about its EU commitments to free trade.

However, the Italian governmental outfit charged with regulating the gambling industry is now indicating its desire to place restriction on the financial workings of the online gambling industry in an effort to curb money laundering. Online bingo hall operators and those Italians who want to play free online bingo games will be restricted to using credit cards only if the Autonomous Administration of State Monopolies has its way.

One can only hope this is not a return to the bad old days of state-run monopolies in a country that has done an excellent job in promoting the benefits of a well regulated, yet open gambling industry.

Written by John Witherspoon - Play bingo online at http://bingostreet.com/ and read bingo news.

An illuminating development in US law took place recently that will be of interest to those observing the effect of the US’ UIGEA laws on the online bingo industry.

A US federal court has ruled against allegations that fantasy sports websites constitute illegal gambling.  This has the effect of legitimizing fantasy sports by arming the industry with a precedent which can be used to legally immunize itself against future allegations.

We all know that free online bingo games offered by non-US operators are restricted in the US whilst state-run lotteries and horse racing is not.  You can also add fantasy sports websites to the list of activities sanctioned by UIGEA, especially now it’s received the blessings of a court decision.

However, the relevance to bingo online regards this US court decision rests in highlighting once again the pits and perils of the US legal system faced by anyone who would venture there.  Instead of a sensibly regulated industry like that practiced in the UK, and as Congressman Barney Frank would have it in the US by getting rid of UIGEA, operators and customers alike are constantly faced with ridiculous legal issues like the court case cited above.

A closer look at the case brought by the plaintive against fantasy sport show that anyone with a grievance, irrespective of its basis in logic, can clog up the US legal system with spurious claims.  In this case a registration fee to join a competition with a fixed prize was considered an act of providing illegal gambling. The mental gymnastics employed in this argument is a wonder to behold.

Until the US sorts out its legal ambiguities regards online gaming and creates a less litigatious atmosphere for honest businessmen and customers to operate in, is anyone really ready to gamble online with doing business in America?

Written by John Witherspoon - Play bingo online at http://bingostreet.com/ and read celebrity gossip.

I always find it amusing to read statements from major companies involved in merger discussions saying that failed negotiations have ended ‘amicably’.  The fact is someone didn’t get what they wanted and decided to close shop.  Ending business talks with a flash of barred teeth should never be confused with the friendly smile of a colleague who has just lost a game of online bingo to you.

Case in point: According to statements filed with the London stock exchange the merger talks between online gambling companies Bwin in Austria and Sportingbet in the UK “have now been mutually and amicably discontinued”.

Both companies are heavily involved in online gambling, including free online bingo games and other various online bingo offerings.

There are no reasons being given why these talks failed, but fail they did.  Both companies are competitors and will remain so.  Does this mean they are to become amicable competitors?  I don’t think so.

As for the real reason for the failed talks, it’s speculated that Sportingbet’s pre-UIGEA US business activities may have left Bwin uneasy about potential future legal problems in this area.  No one wants to mess with the US at this time and purposely buying into a company with possible exposure in this area would only be inviting trouble.  However, this is mere speculation – maybe they tossed a coin and someone lost a bet on how talks should go?

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UK gaming company Rank, which operates the Mecca Bingo brand, is taking a very pragmatic view of the recent English smoking ban which is expected to impact the land-based bingo industry.  Noting that Scottish bingo players are already beginning to return to the company’s Scottish bingo operations, Rank has decided to invest £2 million in upgrading its English bingo halls to cater for the ban.

The company is under no illusion that the ban will affect profits at its land-based bingo halls, but it already operates an online bingo hall, which it no doubt hopes will attract those English smokers who still want to play bingo.  Free online bingo is an obvious alternative for smokers who feel they are no longer able to play at land-based bingo halls, but for those die-hard smokers who can’t stay away, Rank do seem to have the answer:  Rather than fight the ban, try to enhance the bingo experience to incorporate the ban.

To do this, Rank have turned to a number of technological options including electronic-type facilities which allow smokers to continue playing bingo while being outside.  I hope Rank are successful with their upgrades as I think there is room both online and at land-based venues to cater for bingo players of all kinds.

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The latest news coming from the US comes complete with its own gurgling sound of something going down the drain.  Neteller co-founder Stephen Lawrence has pleaded guilty to conspiring to transfer funds with intent to promote illegal online gambling putting further pressure on the Isle of Man-based company.  That gurgling sound may just be those funds of US customers caught up in this ugly legal dispute – funds that still have not been paid back to their rightful owners.

News of the death of Neteller may be somewhat premature, but this development involving its founder must surely have dire ramifications for the company itself.  At best, Neteller’s reputation, rightly or wrongly, must surely now be beyond repair.

For those of us in the online bingo industry, both operators of online bingo halls and people who play free bingo online, the news makes for a pretty sober look at the financial side of the online gaming industry.  The hope is that Neteller’s woes translate into a more transparent and better operated industry that inspires confidence and trust, both from customers and the authorities.

II have a sneaking suspicion things are only now starting to hot up regards the Neteller saga.  What do you think?

Written by John Witherspoon - Play bingo online at http://bingostreet.com/ and read celebrity gossip.

The big news in bingo halls and online bingo halls alike is the implementation of England’s smoking ban which now means the entire United Kingdom has a smoking ban.

There have been dire consequences predicted for the fate of England’s land-based bingo halls ranging from wholesale closures to loss of major clientele numbers.  Equally, there is a belief amongst online bingo operators that the ban will see an increase in online bingo players as smokers seek to play bingo online in the comfort of their own homes.

Only time will tell, but my take on the whole land-based vs online bingo issue is that a ban on smoking will be shown to have had little effect on the bingo industry in the long term.  I base this on a visible trend that sees bingo taking a more technological direction (Riva opened the first fully electronic land-based bingo hall recently) and the increase in technology has seen a general movement towards a more home-based lifestyle.  For better of for worse, bingo games online are the fastest growing part of the bingo industry, and smokers are more than welcome to play.

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