Two Merkur bingo venues will be acquired by Buzz Bingo.

According to Buzz Bingo, it is in advanced talks to purchase the two biggest Merkur bingo halls in the UK, located in Cricklewood and Northampton. 

The decision comes after the company's strong performances this year, including a 47% increase in revenue in October during its first full trading month after COVID-19, generating a gross profit of £137 million ($167 million) and revenue of £195 million. The bingo brand reported a 5% rise in retail revenue, a 31% increase in online revenue, and a 14% increase in EBITDA for 2023.

Additionally, Buzz Bingo just announced that it would be moving its digital operations to Gibraltar.  

For more over 25 years, the two clubs have been in existence. Specifically, the Cricklewood club set a Guinness World Record for the biggest single bingo house prize, accommodates 410,000 players annually, and has 3,500 wins each month. The largest property in Buzz Bingo's portfolio will be this one.  

Mecca Bingo's recent initiatives, such as its Loose Women-themed scratchcards created in collaboration with ITV and free line-dancing workshops, demonstrate the growing popularity of bingo among young people in the UK. Buzz Bingo's October report, which revealed that half of its new retail customers were 35 and under, served as more evidence of this.  

"Bingo in the UK is having a renaissance," as Buzz Bingo Chief Executive Dominic Mansour stated.  

"After a period of stabilisation for the business, it is now thriving and we are delighted to be acquiring these two leading bingo clubs following a year of strong performance," Mansour continued regarding the acquisitions. Buzz Bingo is setting the company for faster growth as a result of the increased demand for bingo, which is the main factor in our choice to relocate our digital business to Gibraltar.  

It is important to mention that the bingo brand has encountered some difficulties this year. In January, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) declared that the company's Halloween advertisement violated the advertising code. Later that month, Buzz Bingo and Future Anthem collaborated to add more customisation elements to their products.