What is Dragonfish?
Dragonfish is essentially a brand that comprises multiple bingo networks and a software product, but you’ll often hear different names bandied about, which might confuse you a little. The main players in the story are 888 holdings, Globalcom, Dragonfish and Real Bingo Network.
888 came along in 1997 and released various online casino products during their first 10 years of business. In 2007 they acquired a company called Globalcom Ltd, which produced B2B bingo software and ran a network of sites.
After a couple of years, 888 decided to do a little housekeeping and settled on the name Dragonfish to encompass the whole B2B bingo operation. The existing Globalcom software was rebranded as Dragonfish software and the sites that ran on the Globalcom network were now known as Dragonfish network sites.
However, in 2017, 888 brought out another bingo network based on no wagering bonuses and this was called Real Bingo Network. So, while people mention ‘the Dragonfish network’ as an all-encompassing group of sites, it is now, technically, 2 distinct networks and 1 B2B software suite.
The Broadway Gaming group purchased 888 Holdings and the Dragonfish brand was sold to a Broadway Gaming group member Saphalata Holdings for $45.25m in July 2022. The Dragonfish name continues as before but now under the ownership of Broadway Gaming.
Dragonfish software
As we have discovered, the Dragonfish software was originally a Globalcom product that has evolved into a complete suite that covers all aspects of the B2B platform and powers many different bingo sites.
You’ll find names such as Loadsa Bingo and Lovehearts Bingo that run on Real Bingo Network; Hunky Bingo and Bucky Bingo, which use the Globalcom network. Wink Bingo and 888 Ladies which are independent brands that sit outside the two networks. The common feature that connects all of them is that they all run the same Dragonfish software behind the scenes.
What the Dragonfish software offers
As a complete bingo solution, Dragonfish software includes games, back office systems, casino integration, multi-device optimisation and various value-added services.
Traditional games include 90-ball, 75-ball and 52-ball bingo with 80-ball games being added to the selection soon. The game variants available through Dragonfish are Bingo Roulette, Flash 5, Evens Stevens and Mystery Jackpot. You’ll also find popular side games in the mix with over 800 available from developers such as NetEnt, Pragmatic Play and iSoftBet to name a few.
The extensive back office system provides the payment management side of the operation and this will have a direct impact on players at any of the Dragonfish-powered brands. Most sites accept a variety of payment methods such as debit cards, PayPal, paysafecard and Apple Pay, but some Dragonfish bingo sites will remove some options if they don’t fit their model.
Real Bingo Network
The newest network addition to the Dragonfish offering is Real Bingo Network, and as you know, these brands are brought together by their ‘no wagering’ ethos. Blighty Bingo, Bounce Bingo, Cracker Bingo, Loadsa Bingo and Lovehearts Bingo are some of the most popular Real Bingo Network bingo sites around at present.
You can usually tell that a site is on this network rather than the Globalcom network by looking out for new player bonuses such as free spins & bingo tickets that don’t require you to gamble with any potential winnings that arise from bonus play.
You can also enjoy a wide range of regular promos throughout your time with Real Bingo Network sites that may include further free tickets and monthly giveaways.
Regardless of whether you play at Real Bingo sites or those on the Globalcom network, you’ll be battling it out against the same players signed up at any of the sites on the two networks. However, your individual chat room will be made up of players at your site.
Globalcom Network
Globalcom bingo sites are usually easy to spot by their deposit match bonuses for new customers which add a percentage on top of your initial deposit as bonus credit. You can spend this credit on various games but you will come up against wagering requirements in the process.
That said, the wagering requirement is only 4x for bingo games but winnings from free spins on slots will be considerably higher. A couple of top sites with these bonuses include Hunky Bingo and Bucky Bingo. However, bingo sites with low wagering requirements often feature more substantial welcoming offers that are larger than no wagering which is something to consider when choosing a new bingo site.
Globalcom brands will also usually feature some form of loyalty scheme to reward you for your continued custom and these points can be redeemed for free bingo tickets and free spins among others.
Dragonfish Games
Dragonfish bingo sites have one of the broadest selections of games available anywhere in the industry with traditional bingo and other bingo variants on offer alongside a host of side games and slots from 30+ leading developers.
Of the 800 combined titles, there are varying levels of possible wagers. Many of the slot games can be played for just a few pence while some of the bingo rooms will even grant free access for some sessions. Naturally, it is possible to play for much higher amounts and you can even purchase tickets for £10 each for the Ace Club Big Bang game.
If you like the sound of any of the following games, then be aware that the name can change between the various sites. For example, The Big Bang Room at Hunky Bingo is known as The Big £10,000 at Bucky Bingo.
90-ball bingo
You can join 90-ball rooms at Dragonfish Bingo sites across both of the networks with loads of fun to be had in each and every one of them. Some of our favourites include Top of the Shop, Kaching, Gobsmacked and Big Bang.
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Top of the shop is a progressive jackpot game with prizes regularly running into the thousands and you can get involved for just 5p per ticket.
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Kaching Room is an invite-only game played daily at 8pm with a maximum of 30 tickets available for 5p per ticket.
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Gobsmacked Room offers a free spins jackpot rather than cash prizes and makes for an interesting alternative type of bingo game priced at 1p per ticket.
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Big Bang Room only opens on the 10th of each month and costs £10 per ticket to play for this massive £10,000 jackpot.
75-ball bingo
Many fans love the alternative action offered by 75 ball bingo with its 5x5 grid and various patterns that must be completed to win the game. At Dragonfish bingo sites 75-ball rooms include Mystery Jackpots, Most Loyal, Wonky and Easy Peasy.
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Mystery Jackpots Room awards a mystery prize from £10 to £500 for 10p a ticket and the payout is only revealed 10 seconds before the game starts.
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Most Loyal Room is a free bingo room available to loyal customers who registered 2 years ago and made a deposit in the past 14 days.
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Wonky has a modest jackpot of up to £30 and costs 5p per ticket.
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Easy Peasy can often have a fairly low jackpot but with fewer players vying for the top prize.
Special Bingo Games
Aside from 90-ball and 75-ball bingo rooms, there is a special 52-ball bingo game available. As you might have guessed by the number in the title, this game is based around a pack of cards and offers a completely new take on proceedings.
The idea is quite simple and you only have to match the cards that are drawn with your own that were previously dealt. You are given 5 cards at the beginning of the game and the winner is the first person to match all of their cards.
You can play this brilliant Dragonfish bingo alternative in the Bingo Deal Room throughout the day with tickets costing 5p each.
Side Games
With over 800 games on display, it’s obvious that players never tire of the action at Dragonfish bingo sites. Lots of the titles are fab bingo productions but the majority are side games that you can enjoy before, during and after a bingo session. Simply type in the title you would like to try in the site’s search bar and get straight down to business.
The majority of side Games are fantastic slots from some of the most incredible studios in the world. Eyecon, NetEnt, Blueprint Gaming, Wazdan, SG Digital, Inspired, Microgaming, Pragmatic Play, Neon Valley Studios, SpinPlay Games and Gameburger Studios all contribute to the action here hear with some of the most popular slots being Fishin’ Frenzy, John Hunter and the Book of Tut, Tomb Raider, Big Fishing Fortune, Rainbow Riches, Starburst and Fluffy Favourites.
There’s also a choice of 25+ Slingo titles including Slingo Starburst, Slingo Deal or No Deal and Slingo Favourites if you would like to try a top slot/bingo hybrid.
Dragonfish: Our Verdict
With Dragonfish bingo, what you get is an all-inclusive product fantastic for both businesses and players alike.
From a software point of view, everything works seamlessly behind the scenes allowing players to make payments in various formats with some popular platforms available across all sites.
Customer assistance is taken care of through a central process that connects you directly with your chosen brand and all sites will have a very similar look and feel. While this makes it easier to jump from one brand to another, it does mean that everything will start to feel very familiar rather quickly.
The Globalcom and Real Bingo Network bingo sites might be quite similar but there is one main distinction between the two, and that is the wagering requirements that are necessary for welcome offers at Globalcom bingo sites. However, the result is that these wagering rules mean bonuses of a higher value.
Big game selection and buzzing chat rooms
The game selection is quite incredible when you take into account that there are over 800 games available—but remember that not all of these are bingo games and the vast majority are slots and other side games. One of the things you will miss out on when playing at Dragonfish sites is classic casino table games and this could be a big issue for some players.
There are many different brands using both networks under the Dragonfish umbrella and this attracts a lot of players from all over the country. Having lots of people pooling their resources means higher jackpots on many games than you will find at other networks.
Having lots of like-minded bingo fans together in one place also helps the chat rooms have a great buzz about them, which helps to keep the games feeling sociable and there's always a great sense of camaraderie.
Dragonfish software is an obvious choice for many bingo enthusiasts but it certainly isn't the only option out there. If you prefer bingo games with different themes from pop culture or other variants, then you can always try Playtech Virtue Fusion or Pragmatic Play bingo sites instead.
It’s your choice, and remember that it's perfectly possible to sign up and create an account at more than one site to give yourself the option of experiencing a variety of different software providers.
