Gamers have been enjoying the light-hearted game of Bingo for centuries, now it’s even played online at sites such as BarbadosBingo. The game is played by marking off numbers on a game board. Numbers are drawn at random by an individual known as a ‘caller’. If the player has the corresponding number on their gameboard, they can mark it off with a ‘dabber’. Designated patterns lead to prizes. Patterns include a line and a full-house (all numbers marked off). The winning player is the first to shout ‘bingo’ when they have reached the designated pattern. The player is then rewarded with a prize. Bingo is famous for its fun and light-hearted content, and the use of a specific linguistic discourse to call numbers including ‘two little ducks’ (22), ‘knock at the door’ (4), and ‘top of the shop’ (90).
The Origins of the Game
Bingo is one of the oldest gambling games and its origins can be traced back to the 1500s. The game is based upon the traditional Italian lottery game ‘Lo Giuoco del Lotto D’Italia’ which is still played today. The game moved overseas to France in the 1700s where it was enjoyed by aristocrats.
Arrival in the States
By 1929, bingo had arrived in the United States. Known as ‘Beano’, the game was played at carnivals with prizes of cigars. A New York salesman, Edwin S. Lowe, who was visiting a carnival, overheard an eager player accidentally call ‘bingo’ instead of ‘beano’ and thus the modern game was created.
With the help of a maths professor, Lowe went on to create the version of the game we know today.
Surprisingly, one of the biggest advocates of the game was the church. Bingo became incredibly popular as a way of raising funds for the church. Following this surge in popularity, bingo inevitably found its way into the towering casinos of Las Vegas, where it now generates millions of US dollars every week.
Modern Bingo
Nowadays, an estimated 3.8 million people in the UK play bingo both online and offline. With the rise of online casino that began in the 1990s and exploded in the 2000s, bingo has become one of the biggest and most popular casino games. With the chance to win such impressive jackpots, it is hardly surprising that bingo is so popular with people around the world.
Since 2005, there has been a steady decline in the number of bingo halls in the UK, coinciding with an increase in online bingo communities as more players go online. Many players are drawn to the ease of gameplay associated with online casino, and the possibility to play games on-the-go on a mobile device. Online bingo sites often include a social element such as a chatroom and user interactivity. As online technology and graphics advance, more and more online bingo sites are appearing with a wide variety of themes, features, and prizes.
