Dragonfish
Experienced online bingo players will probably have already met Dragonfish bingo software in one form or another as it is used on such a large number of bingo sites.
Dragonfish is owned by the 888 Holdings Ltd gaming company which acquired the software when it bought out a bingo operator called Globalcom along with another called Brigend.
You may have already heard of 888 Holdings as they are the driving force behind 888.com.
From the player’s perspective, the software really exists in two forms.
There is a large network of bingo sites, called the Dragonfish Network which is operated by Cassava Enterprises which in turn is owned by 888 Holdings.
Cassava is based in Gibraltar which is also where the licences for the sites themselves originate.
All of the sites on this network use Dragonfish software and because they are part of a network tend to have a variety of things in common.
The general look of the network sites are different and they all have their own unique name and branding but the deals and offers each site has at any one time can often be similar or identical.
There is another group of Dragonfish sites however which use the software but are not part of the network.
They are usually sites that have broken away from the network in a bid to gain more individuality or have been created from scratch to provide a unique bingo experience whilst still maintaining the security of using tried and tested software.
These sites are usually run as completely separate businesses and so in addition to having their own unique look and feel, they also run very different promotions and deals.
This difference results in a much more individual bingo experience for the player and so will mean players will tend to maintain loyalty far more than for network sites.
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The various types of bingo software out there offer a variety of features, some of which are common, others less so.
Sites which use Dragonfish Software generally offer autobuy which will automatically buy cards for the player based on some set limits, player chat facilities, site support via the chat system, some kind of loyalty scheme, a large range of sidegames including slots, casino games, scratchcards and progressive slots, autodaub and usually a good range of guaranteed bingo jackpots.
In terms of the Dragonfish Network sites, although it reduces site individuality, it makes really good business sense for the operators to use a single software product.
By using the same system across their sites they can guarantee consistency and reliability and if a problem is found in the software, it can be fixed across all of the sites in one go.
An individual site that uses Dragonfish can also reap the benefits of using an established software product as it guarantees a stable base for their site and any problems can be fixed by the provider.
For bingo players on both types of sites, playing on a system that has a proven record of security and reliability often has a comforting feel to it.
If the players are worried about the security of their payment and personal information they are much more likely to go with something they know and trust.
Sidegame variants are a mixed bag on sites which use Dragonfish software and are not part of a network and can often be unique to the site which is always a plus.
Sites that are on the Dragonfish Network usually have a familiar selection and slots such as Cleopatra, X Factor and Bejeweled.
In one way, the similarity is good as the common sidegames are tried and tested and give a fun playing experience.
The downside is of course when players move to a different site for whatever reason, they don’t necessarily want to play on exactly the same games.
Dragonfish Software sites are often a good bet for new players as their reach throughout the bingo industry means they have a certain level of established trust.
The sites that offer the best bingo experience are usually the ones that have made a clear attempt to create something new and exciting and provide a unique take on the game.