INTRODUCTION
Launched in 2008 and part of 888holdings PLC, the parent company of 888.com, Wink Bingo has created more than one million satisfied bingo players in the UK. The site itself was revamped in 2014 and 2016, the latter update saw Wink Bingo’s developers integrate 888holdings PLCs’ Dragonfish software into the platform. By 2018, the site was improved once again, this time with lifelike images added to the mix. Thanks to this constant push for perfection, Wink Bingo has become one of the leading UK bingo sites in the business.
Pros & Cons
- Exclusive Top5 welcome bonus
- Fun and accessible interface
- Solid selection of 90 and 75 ball games
- Slick, reliable mobile app
- Player shop filled with rewards
- Reported withdrawal issues
- High playthrough on casino bonuses
- Not many non-traditional bingo variants
- 48 hours to process cashouts
- Customer service isn’t 24/7
SOFTWARE/GRAPHICS
From a design perspective, the interface is given some colour and life courtesy of comic book imagery. For us, the cartoon styling is all part of Wink Bingo’s accessible ethos. In fact, this styling carries over into the layout of the lobby. Instead of long lists of texts, each bingo room has its own boxout. As well as segmenting the action into manageable chunks, the boxes give you an instant overview of number of balls in play, the stakes and how long until things get underway.
Another nice feature you’ll find inside the site is a selection of gaming guides. Again, listed in their own boxouts, these guides are a great way for newbies to learn the nuances of online bingo. What’s more, it all plays into the “accessible” vibe we’ve noted. This combination of quirky graphics and expert insights is something that makes Wink Bingo’s software perfect for novices. By offering entertainment and information alongside a slew of bingo options is the perfect way to get into the industry and have a good time.
BONUSES & PROMOTIONS
What You Get
Special TOP5 Exclusive Bonus – Deposit £10, Play with £40 + 100 Free Spins!
At Wink Bingo, you can enjoy a £30 bonus after depositing as little as £10, which means playing with a whopping £40! But Wink Bingo isn’t done spoiling you yet! There are also 50% bonuses on each consecutive deposit you make. And let’s not forget about your free spin on the Wink Bingo Wheel, which gives a guaranteed £15 – £1,000 prize on every spin!
In addition to all the welcome bonuses that are available after signing up with Wink Bingo, you can also get something extra courtesy of the Wink Shop. By playing for real money, you’ll receive one Wink Reward for every £1 you wager on bingo or casino games. Once you’ve built up a sizeable number of Wink Rewards, you can exchange them for bonuses, free spins, vouchers and more.
What You Need to Know
When it comes to Wink Bingo’s bonuses, the standard playthrough on all bingo credits is 2X. In real terms, this means a £10 bingo bonus would require you to stake £20 on the site’s selection of bingo games. If you pick up some free casino credits or spins, the wagering requirement increases to 50X. This is mainly because it’s easier to wager more money in a short space of time when you play table games and slots. However, it’s worth noting that different games have different weightings:
• Video Slots & Slots, Scratch cards, Keno, Race, Arcade = 90% of your bets count towards the playthrough.
• Hi-Lo Games = 50% of your bets count towards the playthrough.
• Roulette Games = 10% of your bets count towards the playthrough.
• Blackjacks & Wheel of Light = 5% of your bets count towards the playthrough.
• Video Poker = 5% of your bets count towards the playthrough.
GAMES
Whether you are a Bingo beginner, an experienced pro, you’ll find a wide range of 75-ball and 90-ball bingo games to satisfy all your bingo needs. Plus, there are large progressive jackpots and guaranteed jackpots available daily, including the Monday £500, Tuesday £1,000, Friday Risk Free £1k and Saturday £5,000, just to name a few! Feel free to buy your bingo cards in advance with the ‘Advanced Buy’ feature.
For those winkers interested in free bingo games 24/7, there is also a new ‘Free Zone’. For instance, each day, there’s a possibility to win a share of £50 in the I Heart Wink Room – for FREE. If that’s not enough free fun, there’s also the Free for All Room that offers funded players a constant flow of £1-£2 prizes for FREE.
At Wink Bingo, you’ll find one of the biggest varieties of instant games, which have giant jackpots, including the famed Millionaire Genie and Fluffy Favourite slots. And don’t forget about the large number of scratch cards and match 3 games also on offer!
MOBILE
For iOS and Android users, Wink Bingo has developed a dedicated mobile bingo app. Perhaps the biggest difference between the desktop and mobile platforms is the layout. Instead of a horizontal arrangement, everything is listed vertically. This means you can scroll up and down to find the right game for you.
Additionally, you can swipe back and forth between bingo rooms, features and the homepage. Beyond these features, an internal messaging system as well as push notifications are available through the app. Moreover, you can turn on a session timer. Starting at 30 minutes and scaling up to 2 hours, this timer will alert you, via a popup notification, when you’ve been active for a pre-set amount of time.
DEPOSIT/WITHDRAWAL
Funding your Wink Bingo account is effortless, safe and secure. PayPal, Ukash, Visa, MasterCard are just some of the many payment method options available. You can get started with a deposit as little as just £5.
It’s also possible to request a direct withdrawal from your own account page at any time. Take note that the processing of all withdrawals occurs after a maximum of 48 hours and that it takes up to 5 days to receive the funds, while for wire transfer, it takes 4-7 days, and for PayPal, it takes 2-3 days.
SECURITY & TRUST
As well as being licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), Wink Bingo is part of 888holdings PLC, which has its own unique software that’s certified as fair. Beyond its legal and corporate credentials, Wink Bingo has received plenty of positive reviews from players and industry insiders. The Which Bingo experts have given the site 3.5 out of 5 stars. However, there have also been some reported issues of delayed withdrawals. Although we can’t substantiate these claims, some players have commented that the process isn’t always as smooth as it should be.
SOCIAL
Given that Wink Bingo has a “friendly” and “accessible” dynamic running through its platform, it’s hardly surprising you’ll find a variety of ways to be social. In addition to in-game chatrooms and a general chatroom, you can connect with the Wink Bingo community via the following networks:
• Facebook: @WinkBingo
• Twitter: @WinkBingo
• YouTube: Wink Bingo
• Google+: Wink Bingo
CUSTOMER SERVICE
The Wink Bingo Support Team can be contacted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by live chat, telephone and email. There’s always a friendly representative on call to help you between the hours of 10am and 2am (UK time), seven days a week via the following methods:
• Freephone: 0800 901 2508
• Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3794 3049
• Email: support@winkbingo.com