Rehab's bingo website is generating revenue of some €1 million per month and the charity has plans to deploy hundreds of internet gaming kiosks across the country in an effort to further boost turnover.
The company that implemented and manages the system, US-based New Media Lottery Services, said in its latest financial results that it has initiated a "full-scale marketing campaign" for Rehab, "which has yielded positive results as evidenced by increasing revenues and a growing base".
Rehab's bingo website generated revenue of roughly $100,000 (€73,000) in the three months to the end of January for New Media Lottery Services. Rehab did not incur any costs in relation to the site's development, all of which were shouldered by New Media Lottery Services.
John McGuire, managing director of Rehab Lotteries, said that the charity is "very pleased" with the bingo site's performance to date.
He added that Rehab received a small net income from the site last year, but expects its performance to improve significantly during 2007, despite competition from other operators.
The Rehab bingo website was the subject of a low-key launch in 2005, as the charity sought to boost its income. Revenue from its scratch-card sales has remained static in recent years.
Mr McGuire said that as the retailing sector consolidates, the number of stores stocking Rehab scratch cards has fallen from 2,500 to 1,600 in the past 15 years.
The online bingo provides lower margins than scratchcards, as payouts to participants are larger.
Rehab generated revenue of €16.4m from fundraising and lottery sales in 2005, up from €14.3m in 2004.
Inspired Broadcasting Networks, the UK-based company co-founded by Norman Crowley, who established the now defunct Ebeon in Dublin, has also developed electronic bingo kiosks for the bingo venture. They have been trialled at a number of locations in Ireland.
Over 1,000 such kiosks are due to be rolled out, beginning next year.
Inspired will receive 50 per cent of the revenue generated from the kiosks, with Rehab and New Media Lottery Services equally dividing the remainder.
Rehab's results from 2005 detail a "challenging" financial year.
Turnover grew almost 10 per cent to €158 million, although the charity, which provides services in Ireland and the UK, posted an operating loss of €500,000, compared to a surplus of €2.1 million the previous year.
