Bingo is a popular casino that’s thought to have originated in Italy, 500 years ago. The Bingo versions of today are a far cry from the earlier versions. Read on for a detailed exploration of the history of Bingo and its current variations in online casinos.
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The history of Bingo
Here’s a brief look at the timeline of changes made to the game of Bingo:
1500s: Bingo started out as an Italian lottery game named Il Giuoco del Lotto d’Italia. People had to match numbers instead of letters in this less structured format of the game.
1770s: The game reached France with a version called Le Lotto that involved a 3×9 grid.
1800s: The Germans used Bingo as part of a novel approach to teach children maths, history and spelling.
1929: The game made its way to the shores of America, where it was named Beano since beans were used to mark the numbers of cards.
1930: Toy salesman, Edwin S. Lowe renamed the game Bingo, after hearing someone mispronounce the name Beano. He then ordered the creation of 6000 unique bingo cards to prevent the issue of multiple winners in a single game.
1930s/1940s: By this time, bingo had become a popular pastime in many churches and recreational settings across the UK and the US.
1990s: Bingo’s popularity was at an all-time high, with over half a million playing the game on a daily basis.
Technological developments and modern-day Bingo variants
In 2000, Microgaming developed the first-ever version of online bingo, resulting in a resurgence in Bingo popularity in the UK and on a global level. A number of new variants were created, and since then, the popularity of this classic game has skyrocketed. On platforms where you can play the online versions of this game, you can also find a range of bonuses available for this purpose; in fact, some bingo sites offer tickets, virtual bingo cards, and unique bonus offers for free to attract new players.
Online Bingo key traits
RNGs: Licensing authorities like the UK Gambling commission require online bingo platforms to use random number generators to pick numbers instead of physically picking them. These RNGs are tested for fairness by independent testing authorities like Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), iTech Labs, and eCOGRA.
Automation: Online casino software allows many bingo processes, like striking off numbers, to be performed automatically, leaving less room for human errors.
Chatrooms: Most online bingo games come with built in chat software which allows people to replicate the fun player interactions and excitement of Bingo halls, despite being far away from each other.
Mobile compatibility: Most casino games are built with mobile compatibility in mind and use high-level HTML5 technology so that players can play easily from anywhere and at any time.
Modern Bingo variants
These days, there are a number of popular Bingo versions.
75-Ball Bingo: This version uses a 5×5 grid with a black centre square and is most popular in the US. The aim is for players to complete specific patterns.
80-Ball Bingo: This online variant uses a 4×4 grid, and to win, players need to complete the patterns given on the card.
90-Ball Bingo: This is the most widely played version of Bingo in the world, and it uses a 9×3 grid. Players win by completing certain rows in succession.
Speed Bingo: Also known as 30-ball bingo, this is the best for players on mobile devices, as each round is quick, lasting only a few minutes each.
Slingo: This is a unique combination of Bingo with some elements of slot games. Players each get chances to spin for numbers, and the game can also include joker symbols and jackpots.
