Charity online bingo grosses ‚€1 million a month
Howard Lake | 9 May 2007 | News
Rehab Foundation’s online bingo is generating income of ‚€1 million per month, although so far the charity is receiving only a small net income from the site, according to John McGuire, Rehab Lotteries managing director. McGuire nonetheless expressed satisfaction with the progress of the competition and expects better returns during 2007.
Rehab Lotteries has plans to extend its gaming by introducing hundreds of internet gaming kiosks across the country. The online initiatives are thought to be in response to declining revenues from its traditional scratch-card operation.
Rehab’s online bingo is run by US-based New Media Lottery Services while the new kiosks will be a three-way venture between Rehab, New Media and Inspired Broadcasting Networks, with Rehab receiving 25% of revenues. Rehab generated ‚€16.4 million from fundraising and lottery sales in 2005 but the parent organisation posted a deficit of ‚€500,000 on turnover of ‚€158 million.
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Since Rehab Lotteries was established in 1987 it has generated almost ‚€100million for the Rehab Group and other beneficiaries. The company has a network of 1,700 retail agents to which it sells mainly scratch card lottery games. Around 200 agents in the network also promote Rehab Lotteries UK Lotto which provides players with the opportunity to win large prizes in the UK National Lottery.
The company manages other fundraising initiatives on behalf of the Rehab Group, most notably the Rehab Great Investment Race and Irish Charity Cards.
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.