When talking about bingo in the UK, tombola Bingo is one name that is bound to come up. The brand is one of UK's biggest bingo sites and for good reasons.
tombola has built a huge reputation by offering players unique bingo games that are not available anywhere on any other bingo site and with so many different variations to pick from players will feel spoilt for choice. Then, there are the chat moderators who help to make it fun; you don't even have to play bingo as you'll always be able to have a friendly banter in the chat rooms.
tombola has managed to create a friendly bingo community in the UK, and there are some fantastic games too; we take a look further with our review below.
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History of tombola
Although Tombola was launched in 2006, its bingo history goes back much further than that. Its sister brand was selling bingo tickets back in the 1950s when they were the popular choice for gambling and entertainment. When tombola.co.uk launched online bingo operated by tombola International PLC, it partnered with Sun Bingo to develop some of its games. However, the two dissolved the relationship in 2008 and The Sun started now carries games from Virtue Fusion. In 2016, tombola Arcade launched bringing players a larger selection on arcade style games.
tombola is a family run brand and its principle that has seen it rise to the helm of the bingo industry is customer satisfaction. The company is always striving to give players the best unique games, promotions and experiences.
Licensing and regulation of tombola.co.uk is by the UK Gambling Commission and Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner. In its years of operation, the brand has bagged a few awards for its contribution to the bingo sector. It won the 2017 EGR Bingo Operator of the year, an award won in 2013, 2012 and 2010. The friendly chat team have also been credited as some of the industry's best. Socially responsible operator, best game innovation and most popular website are other recognitions that the bingo platform has earned.
A First Impression
When you enter the tombola website, the first thing you encounter is the welcome bonus advertised for new customers. The prominent placement makes sure that you don't miss it and know what to expect if you were to join. Then, you have tombola's various offerings that run in slides at the middle of the homepage. You get an idea of what types of gaming alternatives the brand has in store. For new customers who need a bit of assurance about the site or want different opinions, there is a video with a compilation of testimonials. As you scroll further down the homepage, icons are arranged neatly to help players find different features of the site. Click on a button to navigate to bingo games, promotions or the app.
The tombola bingo platform is as easy as they come. It is simply designed with very few graphics. Everything on the website and mobile app is available with one or two clicks, which saves time. The loading speeds are above average thanks to the well-structured site. You can access tombola.co.uk from a mobile and tablet device without any trouble. Alternatively, download the app and enjoy most of the games available on desktop.
Registering an Account
The sign-up process on tombola takes about a minute because everything is on the same page. Once you click the 'Join Now' button, you get a form with all the details that the site needs for account creation. Enter your data including a phone number, address and your tombola login name and password as well as an answer to your security question. The link to the website's policy and terms is on the same form; you just have to navigate and read them carefully. Having all the registration requirements on one form saves a considerable amount of time.
Types of Games
tombola has an in-house development team that is responsible for software and games. Being able to create its own games allows the bingo site to offer its players an exclusive selection. This platform is all about bingo, so developers have the time to focus on designing the most interesting games for players.
On tombola.co.uk you'll find the usual 75, 80 and 90-ball bingo rooms. The attraction, however, is in the specials. Cinco is one of tombola's most popular games because it is a simple game to play and comes with big prizes. It is a card game that requires no skills as you only have to match the cards you are holding.
Hamster Race is a fun one which involves racing hamsters where you have to bet on which one will win. Then, there is Bingo Roulette, which involves spinning a wheel with eight chips on the table to see which player can clear them first. And Pulse which is a fast-paced futuristic take on bingo with tickets as low as 10p and jackpots of up to £20,000!
Many more exclusive games can be found on the website and app, your preference is the only limitation. Most of the games have Progressive jackpots which can reach as much as £20,000.
If you opt to play bingo on a handheld device, you will find most of the desktop games available there. The bingo site doesn't have slots or casino games, but if you want to play some exclusive penny skill based slots and pick to win games, then Tombola Arcade is a good alternative, and you'll only need your existing tombola login username and password to access the games on tombolaarcade.co.uk.
Available Promotions
The tombola online bingo site has some amazing promotions for players. The welcome bonus is standard on online bingo sites to get new customers started. You get a welcome bonus with your initial minimum deposit. The plus side for this offering is that any winnings can be withdrawn, however the Bonus money cannot. Terms and conditions does apply so its important to read those before you opt-in.
The platform has promotions every single week for specific games. It means players can take part in competitions and prize draws for certain games like the bingo 75 or 90.
The popular exclusive games such as Bingo Roulette, Cinco and Pulse have progressive jackpots where players can potentially win large sums.
Any bingo site worth playing are ones which have some sort of free game, and tombola has the Daily Game Stars. Whether your account has cash or not, you can participate in the weekly game with no deposit. Players who have opted-in to receive free text messages via their registered mobile number will get a unique four-digit code via text, which will be used to access that week’s game.
tombola also has a rewards program called Playmates that gives points to players when their playmates win.
Another loyalty players can enjoy from time to time is a free fiver. Every once in a while players will receive a free £5 bonus code to redeem via desktop, mobile or app on a wide range of games. Simply follow tombola.co.uk on Facebook for the latest bonuses and promotions.
Whether you are claiming the welcome bonus or playing free bingo, always find out about the terms and conditions and wagering requirements of the promotions before you opt-in.
Customer Support and Banking
The awards that tombola has received over the years for its chat hosting are well deserved. Modern UK bingo sites do more than just offer games; they create communities for their players. tombola.co.uk has managed to do that better than their competitors. The chat moderators are friendly, attentive and always looking to make the experience an unforgettable one for customers. When you are playing games and need to refresh but don't want to leave the site, chatting with other players in the chat rooms is a good option. You can also ask the moderators a query or two.
Customers seeking help with technical issues or account challenges can reach the support team on email and phone. The live chat is another excellent service offered to players for a quick solution. In less than a minute, an agent will be available to tend to you, which is a decent time-response, considering the many customers that the brand deals with. Email response times are up to 24 hours, which could do with a bit of improvement and phone support is ideal for truly urgent situations.
tombola is GamCare certified and also partners with GAMSTOP and Gamble Aware for its responsible gaming program. The timekeeper is one of the tools on the website that help players track their activities, as well as deposit limits and self-exclusions. Tombola's Safe Play page has tips for identifying problem gambling, staying in control and finding the right help.
For deposits and withdrawals, major credit/debit cards and PayPal are accepted. Withdrawal times vary between 2-4 days, depending on the size of the transaction. Proof of ID during withdrawals will be required on first withdrawal. Players should be clear about any withdrawal rules that may apply.
Banking may be the one area that tombola's website falls short. Today's online bingo players are used to a wide variety of payment modes, including e-wallets and digital prepaid cards. PayPal is a major virtual wallet, but not every player may be able to use it. Offering more payment options can be a convenient mode for players.
Final Thoughts
tombola has worked hard to be one of the UK's top bingo site. It is innovative with unique games for customers with great offerings. The bingo rooms cater to a diverse range of preferences. The chat moderators do everything to guarantee that members are enjoying themselves. As a brand, tombola.co.uk and tombolaaracde.co.uk is socially responsible with campaigns and projects that aim to improve lives. The Tombola Academy and sponsorship of the Sunderland AFC Keroche are a few examples. For a bingo enthusiast who wishes to try some unique games, tombola online bingo doesn't disappoint.
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Legal Stuff
Operated by Tombola (International) Plc the brands UK based gambling services are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (Ref: 38613) and therefore considered safe for players within the United Kingdom. Over 18's only. Underage gambling is an offence. Please check the website for full terms and conditions before playing. Please play responsibly.