About Glitzy Bingo
Independent UK Bingo Guide Since 2007
Last updated: January 2026 by Rachael Bullock
Who Runs Glitzy Bingo
I'm Rachael Bullock, the person behind Glitzy Bingo. I've been playing and writing about bingo on this site for nearly 20 years and I run this site independently for British players who want safe, social, low-cost games.
You won't find a big headshot of me here. I’m camera-shy, but you might spot my regular garden fox visitor next to this text, standing in for me – as well as bingo, I love foxes too.
What you will find on GlitzyBingo.co.uk are transparent guides written by someone who actually plays bingo online and off.
I started going to local clubs with my nana, became a regular at Mecca Bingo in Beeston, moved online when life got busy, and later worked as a chat host for Virtue Fusion (Playtech Bingo). That combination of player experience, industry knowledge and almost two decades of tracking the UK market is what Glitzy Bingo is built on.
| Glitzy Bingo at a Glance |
|---|
| Founded in 2007, never sold |
| Run independently by Rachael Bullock |
| UK-based (Nottingham) |
| Former Virtue Fusion chat host |
| Still a regular at land-based bingo clubs |
| Nearly 20 years' bingo experience |
| UKGC-licensed sites only |
| No paid placements for top positions |
Where It All Started
My first taste of bingo was at my local social club with my nana. I never won, but I remember the dirty looks and moans whenever this one lucky lady scooped another house. My nana isn't with us now, bless her, but she loved the social side of bingo. It was never about the wins. It was about meeting new people, playing with the grandkids (as adults), and just being together.
That's what bingo was created for: a social game.
| Early days | Going to bingo at the social club with my nana in Nottingham |
| Regular | Became a member at Mecca Bingo Beeston. Twice a week, every week |
| Online | Joined Foxy Bingo (Cascade) when life got busy. Loved the chat rooms |
| 2007 | Built Glitzy Bingo on the back of my uncle's caravan sales website |
| Chat host | Worked for Virtue Fusion for a couple of years. Learned what players really want |
| Today | Still running Glitzy Bingo independently, still playing with my mum |
The site actually started on the back of my uncle's caravan park website. I was a self-taught web designer working as an admin for an electrical wholesale company. All my website skills were self-taught and still are. I design, write and code everything myself.
When playing at Foxy Bingo, I'd log on with my mum for a tenner's worth of bingo together. It was more fun than clubbing together for a Lotto Syndicate. Jackpotjoy was my absolute favourite site to play online. They had social tournaments where you could compete against other players. They removed that feature years later, which was a shame. That's the kind of thing I miss about how online bingo used to be.
I still play at land-based clubs when I can. If you're looking for somewhere near you, I've put together a bingo club finder to help.
What Glitzy Bingo Stands For
Honesty. Independence. Putting players before profits. And a bit of sparkle.
I don't answer to investors, advertisers, or corporate owners. I write what I think, recommend what I'd actually play, and call out the sites that let players down, even if I'm affiliated with them. If that means staying small, I'm fine with that. I'd rather have a site I'm proud of than one I've compromised.
The name "Glitzy" came from spotting it at various bingo nights over the years. Bingo halls have always had a bit of sparkle about them: the bright lights, the buzz of anticipation, the little thrill when the caller starts. I've also got a love of Las Vegas as a holiday destination (not for work, just the lights, the energy, the fun of it all). "Glitzy" captures that excitement without taking itself too seriously. It's playful, a bit fun, and unmistakably bingo.
At its core, this site is about remembering what bingo was created for: community. I learned that first-hand when I worked as a chat host for Virtue Fusion. Many players logged in just for a chat, not to play bingo. Some people felt lonely and just wanted someone to talk to without feeling like they had to spend money. That's when I truly understood how valuable a proper bingo site with chat rooms is, and why I get frustrated when operators treat chat as an afterthought or scrap it entirely.
I built this site for British players like me, and like my nana. People who want social, safe and low-cost games. Yes, I do list some casino-heavy sites. They exist and some have simple slots I genuinely enjoy. I even have Pragmatic Play demos on the site for players who want to try before they play. I'm not against slots entirely. I'm just not a fan of slot-heavy welcome offers that drown out the bingo, like "Deposit £10, get 100 spins on Fishin' Frenzy" on a site that's supposed to be about bingo. My heart is with the sites that remember what bingo is actually for. If that's what you're looking for, I've put together a guide to bingo sites without slots.
Why Trust Glitzy Bingo
"Trust me, I'm an expert" sounds like something a used car salesman would say, doesn't it? But I've been at this since 2007. I've outlasted sites with bigger budgets, flashier designs, and entire teams behind them. After nearly 20 years of playing, writing about, and working in online bingo, I'd like to think I've earned it.
I'm not a marketing team. I'm not a content farm. I'm one person who runs, writes, designs and codes everything on this site. No ghostwriters. No SEO agency. No corporate owner telling me what to rank. I'm a Gemini, and sometimes it feels like I have 10 people in my head, but it's still just me.
| What I Do | What I Won't Do |
|---|---|
| Run, design, write and code Glitzy Bingo entirely on my own | Accept extra money to bump a site up the rankings |
| Decide which sites appear and where, no one else has a say | List non-UK licensed sites |
| Track UKGC licence changes and operator ownership weekly | Feature sites that won't work with affiliates |
| Verify everything against the UKGC Public Register and Companies House | Promote offshore or crypto-only gambling sites |
| Write honest posts including rants, latest news and new site launches | Hide fines or regulatory failures |
| Report fines and regulatory failures, even for sites I'm affiliated with | Let operators influence my rankings |
How I Choose Which Sites to List
| Every Site Listed on Glitzy Bingo Is Checked For |
|---|
| A valid UKGC licence and regulatory compliance |
| Clear, accessible Terms & Conditions |
| Fair bonus and wagering requirements |
| Responsible gambling tools (deposit limits, time-outs, self-exclusion) |
| Network reliability, software quality, and customer support |
| Active chat rooms and community feel |
I regularly revisit and update listings to reflect current information, operator changes, or new licensing conditions.
Why Some Bingo Sites Aren't Listed
Ethics first. Some sites aren't UK licensed. Some are poor quality. Some just feel dead in the water with no chat activity and no community.
Some operators don't work with UK affiliates. Tombola, Sky and Paddy Power all moved their marketing offshore. If they don't value UK partnerships, I can't feature them.
Some only work with the big networks. Operators often prefer large affiliate companies. I'd rather stay small and honest than play that game.
Some burned me directly. Broadway Gaming asked me to promote their brands. I did. You played. I never got paid. They're not listed.
Offshore operators often don't get the UK market. Teams in Malta or Gibraltar who've never set foot in a British bingo club don't understand why chat rooms matter.
What Sites Does Glitzy Bingo List
I mainly list the branded ones, or maybe ones that are not so well known but are on a licensed and trusted platform. This includes bingo sites on Playtech Bingo, Gamesys, Pragmatic Play Bingo, and Entain (LC International). There are others too. You'll find them in the bingo site directory.
How Glitzy Bingo Makes Money
I'm an affiliate. When you sign up through my links, I may earn commission. This keeps the site running but doesn't change what I write. If a site goes downhill, it loses visibility here. If an operator gets fined, it goes in the guide. If they lose their licence, I update the page.
I choose carefully who, what, and when I promote. I only work with UKGC-licensed partners who meet the same standards I hold myself to. You'll see a short affiliate note on individual reviews and guides too, so it's clear where I may earn commission.
Who Glitzy Bingo Is For
| Glitzy Bingo Is For | Glitzy Bingo Is Not For |
|---|---|
| Players who want an independent UK perspective | High rollers looking for VIP casino bonuses |
| People who care about chat rooms and social bingo | Players who want offshore or crypto gambling |
| Those who prefer honest opinion over corporate polish | Anyone expecting sites ranked by who pays the most |
| Anyone fed up with casinos dressed as bingo sites | People looking for non-UK licensed sites |
| British players who want safe, social, low-cost games | Players who don't care about chat or community |
How Glitzy Bingo Compares
Compared to most big bingo affiliate sites, Glitzy Bingo is tiny. WhichBingo, for example, is owned by Gambling.com Group, a NASDAQ-listed company headquartered in Jersey with around 600 employees globally. They have resources I'll never have: professional video content, glam corporate events, industry awards.
Glitzy Bingo is one person in the UK who used to work as a chat host and still plays bingo with her mum. I can't compete on budget. I can compete on honesty.
| Corporate Affiliates | Glitzy Bingo | |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | NASDAQ-listed corporations, offshore HQs | Rachael Bullock (independent, UK) |
| Content | Teams of writers, SEO experts | Me. I write, design and code everything |
| Paid-For Positions | Yes (standard industry practice) | No |
| Experience | Marketing companies | Former chat host, still plays at land-based clubs, bingo fan since childhood |
| Founded | Various (often sold multiple times) | 2007 (never sold) |
Why Being UK-Based Matters
It matters because I understand you. I play in the same type of bingo clubs as you. I understand what a Friday night at Mecca Bingo feels like. I know why chat rooms matter to people who live alone. I get why a tenner's worth of bingo with your mum is more valuable than a £100 casino bonus.
That's not something you get from an offshore team. The online bingo industry is largely run from Malta and Gibraltar, with marketing teams in Eastern Europe and affiliate companies headquartered in Jersey for tax purposes. Even sites that target British players are often managed by people who've never set foot in this country, except for business meetings and conventions, and even those are mostly run abroad now.
I'm here. On solid ground. In the UK.
I have no side marketing hustles. No offshore company pulling the strings. No investors to keep happy. Everything I do is self-taught, from the website code to the research to the writing. Mistakes can happen, and I'm not perfect, but I try to be as accurate as possible to ensure no player comes to harm.
That's the difference between a NASDAQ-listed corporation with around 600 employees globally and one person in the UK who actually plays bingo.
Tips to Stay Safe Online
The internet has made online bingo more accessible than ever, but it also brings risks. As a responsible affiliate, it's important to give you some tips on how to stay safe online.
Non-UK licensed crypto casinos and cloned sites imitate trusted brands. If something feels off (the design, domain, or offers) close the page immediately.
What to Check Before You Play
- UKGC Licence: Look in the footer for a licence number with a clickable link to the UKGC Public Register
- Secure Connection: Padlock icon in browser bar, URL starts with https://
- Responsible Gambling Tools: Deposit limits, time-outs, self-exclusion, reality checks
- ADR Provider: A named Alternative Dispute Resolution service (usually IBAS)
- GambleAware Link: Prominent link to GambleAware.org
Glitzy Bingo does not promote offshore, crypto-only, or non-UK-licensed gambling sites. I focus exclusively on UK-regulated operators.
Beware of Fake Sites
If you ever encounter a website claiming to be Glitzy Bingo but offering crypto or offshore gambling, treat it as a potential phishing or scam site. It won't be me. The only official domain is https://www.glitzybingo.co.uk.
I've written more about the risks of fake UK casino websites if you want to know what to look out for. If you come across something suspicious, you can report it here.
Responsible Gambling
Glitzy Bingo supports safer gambling. I display links to GambleAware.org and GamStop across my site. All featured operators provide self-exclusion tools, deposit limits, and responsible play measures in line with UK law.
If you ever feel like gambling is becoming a problem, please reach out. There's no shame in it, and there's always help available. You can read more on my responsible gambling page.
Anyway, that's me. That's Glitzy Bingo. If you've made it this far, thanks for reading. Most people just skim the welcome offers and move on, so I appreciate you taking the time. If you've got questions, feedback, or just want to say hello, the contact form is always open. And if you spot a mistake anywhere on the site, let me know. I'd rather fix it than pretend it's not there.
Now go find a bingo site with decent chat hosts and have some fun. That's what it's all about.
Get in Touch
| Contact Type | How to Reach Me |
|---|---|
| General Questions | Use the contact form |
| Industry & Partnerships | Find me on LinkedIn. Search for Rachael Bullock, Glitzy Bingo |
| Found a Mistake? | Let me know. I'll fix it |
| Newsletter | Sign up in the footer. No spam, just news |
Questions Players Ask
- Who owns Glitzy Bingo?
- Rachael Bullock, an independent UK-based bingo specialist. The site was founded in 2007 and has never been sold.
- How does Glitzy Bingo compare to WhichBingo?
- WhichBingo is owned by Gambling.com Group Ltd, a NASDAQ-listed company headquartered in Jersey with around 600 employees globally. It was founded by Phil Fraser in 2000, sold to XLMedia in 2018, then acquired by Gambling.com Group in 2024. Like most large affiliates, they offer paid or sponsored placements for some brands. Glitzy Bingo is run by one independent person in the UK with nearly 20 years' experience. I don't accept extra money to bump a site up the rankings. If a site isn't good, it doesn't get top billing.
- How do affiliate relationships affect your rankings?
- They don't. I earn commission when you sign up through my links, but that doesn't change where a site appears or how I write about it. I don't accept extra payments to move sites up the rankings. If an operator gets fined or their service drops, I update the guide, even if I'm affiliated with them. You'll see a short affiliate note at the top of individual reviews, and affiliate links are clearly marked so you always know which links may earn me commission.
- Can players connect or share experiences on Glitzy Bingo?
- I don't run a forum, but you're welcome to get in touch via the contact form. Player insights help shape my guides. I sometimes use anonymised player stories and quotes in guides and news pieces, with permission, so other players can learn from real experiences.
- How often are bingo sites reviewed or updated?
- Regularly, whenever something changes like welcome offers, licence updates, ownership changes, or player feedback. In practice that usually means updates within days or weeks of major changes, not months later. I verify against the UKGC Public Register and Companies House. Major changes are also shared through the newsletter so subscribers hear about them first.
- What if I have a problem with a site you've recommended?
- I can't access your account or resolve disputes directly, but I can do more than just point you at ADR. Send me the basics via the contact form and I can help you work out whether the site's complaints procedure, IBAS, or another ADR service is your best next step. I can also share what I know about how that operator typically handles complaints, based on feedback from other players. If I hear the same complaint from multiple players, I'll update my guide.
- Is there a newsletter?
- Yes. No spam, no welcome offers thrown at your face. I usually send it no more than once or twice a month, focusing on new guides, important UKGC or bingo industry changes, and a bit of personal commentary. You can sign up in the footer.
Written by: Rachael Bullock, UK bingo specialist with nearly 20 years' industry experience, former Virtue Fusion chat host & independent site owner since 2007
Why I built this site: I started going to bingo with my nana at our local social club, then became a regular at Mecca Beeston, then moved to online bingo. Back in the day, bingo was created as a social game; somewhere along the way, some online operators forgot that, letting slots take over their bingo home pages. I aim to list sites that remember.
How I research: UKGC Public Register, Companies House, and the sites themselves. I report fines and failures.
Affiliate disclosure: I earn commission if you sign up through my links. This keeps the site running but doesn't change what I write.
Found a mistake? Let me know