Dave Evans, Buzz Bingo chief product officer
Differentiation is key
As the digital gambling market becomes increasingly crowded, differentiation will be critical in full-year 2026. With the change in gambling tax, spending more on marketing or bonuses is no longer a sound option. Players, particularly younger audiences, are gravitating towards experiences that feel live, social and genuinely different.
For Buzz Bingo, Live Bingo has become a defining differentiator. By combining live hosts, shared prize moments and real-time interaction, we’ve created an experience that sits somewhere between entertainment and gaming, and one that translates seamlessly across retail and digital. Live Bingo doesn’t just stand alone as a product; it acts as a powerful omnichannel bridge, allowing players to move fluidly between playing in-club and at home while still feeling part of the same experience.
As liquidity continues to grow through our connection with clubs, the Live Bingo experience becomes stronger – driving bigger prize pools, better experiences, and higher engagement. In full-year 2026, we expect this combination of clear differentiation and scaled liquidity to be a key driver of sustainable growth.
Omnichannel growth
There has been a clear shift in what players want. Many still value the shared, in-person experience of playing in our clubs, which is why we’ve invested millions of pounds in modernising our venues to bring in the latest technology and innovation. People are increasingly looking for high-quality, interactive leisure experiences that feel meaningful and social.
At the same time, players also want flexibility. Our continued investment in Live Bingo reflects how people now expect to enjoy great experiences wherever they are. Since launching in 2024, we’ve seen strong uptake from players who love being able to join a live game at home while still winning fantastic prizes.
In 2026, we expect our omnichannel approach to continue attracting new audiences while giving existing players the freedom to enjoy bingo in the way that suits them, whether that’s online, in-club, or a blend of both.
Technical excellence and the power of the network
As Live Bingo scales, technical excellence becomes non-negotiable. Players expect seamless performance, low latency, stability at peak times and a consistently high-quality experience across devices and locations.
In full-year 2026, the ability to fully harness the power of the network – from shared liquidity and content to platform reliability and tooling – will be a key competitive advantage. Working closely with Playtech allows us to scale faster, improve resilience and continually enhance the live experience for players.
As networks grow, the winners will be operators that combine great products with great technology, ensuring that scale directly translates into better customer experiences, not complexity.
The post Industry predictions for 2026: Omnichannel becomes vital and differentiation is paramount first appeared on EGR Intel.
Buzz Bingo chief product officer Dave Evans closes out EGR’s 2026 predictions series with a focus on the bingo sector
The post Industry predictions for 2026: Omnichannel becomes vital and differentiation is paramount first appeared on EGR Intel.