What is Bingo?
Bingo is a probability game in which numbers are marked off by players on cards as they are randomly drawn by a caller, with the winner being the first person to mark off all of their numbers. Following the Betting and Gaming Act 1960, bingo, also known as Housey-Housey in the UK, became increasingly popular across the UK, with more purpose-built bingo halls opening every year until 2005. Since 2005, bingo hall revenues have declined significantly, with many halls closing. The number of bingo clubs in the United Kingdom has declined from nearly 600 in 2005 to under 400 in January 2014. These closures are being blamed on a variety of factors, including high taxes, a smoking ban, and an increase in online gambling.
Bingo in the United Kingdom (90-ball bingo) should not be confused with bingo in the United States (75-ball bingo), as the tickets and calling are slightly different.
This game is known as Kinzo in Quebec. Tambola is the name given to it in India.
History of Bingo
The history of the game can be traced back to 1530, to an Italian lottery known as “Lo Giuoco del Lotto D’Italia,” which is still played every Saturday in Italy. The game was introduced to France in the late 1770s by Italians and was known as “Le Lotto,” a game played among wealthy Frenchmen. In the 1800s, the Germans played a version of the game as a child’s game to help students learn math, spelling, and history.
Bingo was originally known as “beano” in the United States. A dealer would pick numbered discs from a cigar box and players would mark their cards with beans in a country fair game. They yelled “beano” if they won.
Edwin S. Lowe and the Bingo Card
The game was dubbed “beano” when it arrived in North America in 1929. It debuted at a carnival near Atlanta, Georgia. Edwin S. Lowe, a toy salesman in New York, renamed it “bingo” after overhearing someone say “bingo” instead of “beano.”
Carl Leffler, a math professor at Columbia University, was hired to assist him in increasing the number of bingo card combinations. Leffler had created 6,000 different bingo cards by 1930. They were created to reduce non-repeating number groups and internal conflict when more than one person received Bingo at the same time.
Lowe was a Polish Jewish immigrant. Lowe passed away in 1986.
When was online bingo invented?
The first online bingo game was developed in 2003, and its popularity has grown ever since. Bingo is commonly associated with older people in bingo halls and working men’s clubs, but in recent years, the game has grown in popularity among younger audiences. Online bingo, in particular, appeals to people of all ages.
Main Types of Bingo Games
The number of balls in play determines the type of bingo game. Bingo is traditionally played with 75 balls. There have been numerous variations, and there are even more now that bingo games are available online. The main distinction between these types of games is the number of balls used. The number of balls in play can either increase or decrease the player’s chances of winning. The fewer balls in play, the better his chances of winning. These are some of the most popular types of bingo games.
30 Ball Bingo
This is speed bingo! One only has 30 balls and 3×3 square bingo cards to play with. This is ideal for people who only have a few minutes to play a few quick games. The player could theoretically play and win multiple times per hour.
90 Ball Bingo
This is used occasionally in the United States, but it is extremely popular in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world. This game makes use of 90 balls and bingo cards with 15 numbers divided into three rows of five.
The big winner is the first person to have a row scratched off. When they have completed two rows, the second winner is announced. Then there’s the full house, in which a player’s card has all 15 numbers scratched off.
80 Ball Bingo
One of the benefits of playing online bingo is the ability to play 80 ball bingo. Player’s bingo card is divided into 16 squares, 4 columns, and 4 rows. He wins this game by matching his card to the game’s winning pattern, which could be a complete row, column, or another pattern.
75 Ball Bingo
People in the United States and Canada are much more familiar with this type of bingo game. The 25 squares on these bingo cards are organized in 5 rows of 5 numbers. When users count the free space in the middle of the card, there are actually 24 numbers. To make it more interesting, the numbers and cards are organized by the letters B-I-N-G-O.
Popular Bingo Patterns
Although there are numerous variations that require different numbers, most bingo players prefer a few combinations.
Clock Bingo Pattern
If one play bingo frequently, whether online or in a physical bingo hall, he will notice that the Clock is one of the more popular patterns that players like to form. The best way to describe it is as a large circle that surrounds the perimeter of the player’s ticket, with a clock hand on the bottom right corner of the card.
Wine Glass Pattern
The Wine Glass is another popular pattern. Because it is so popular, it can be linked to multiple bingo games in a single bingo room. It is made up of 11 numbers and resembles the shape of a wine glass.
Windmill Bingo Pattern
The Windmill Pattern, like the previous one, is very popular among bingo players. This is why one may come across several bingo games that use this pattern, both in physical and virtual bingo rooms.
Bell Pattern
Patterns are frequently used around a specific time of year. The Bell Pattern is frequently seen in bingo rooms around Christmas because it fits the holiday spirit and makes the game more festive and fun. However, it can also be seen being used at other times of the year.
Candy Cane Pattern
This winning pattern looks like a candy cane or a question mark without the bottom dot. It has seven numbers and is frequently associated with progressive bingo games. This means that players have a good chance of winning a large prize if they are the first to mark off the Candy Cane Pattern on their bingo ticket.
Witches Hat
As this is another popular bingo pattern that is frequently used in bingo rooms, one won’t find many progressive games that exclusively use the Witches Hat Pattern. It is made up of 13 numbers and is frequently used in bingo games around Halloween because it fits the theme of the holiday.
Arrow Pattern
This winning pattern can be formed in any corner as well as the diagonal line that extends to the opposite corner. It consists of nine numbers and is a popular winning shape in bingo games.
Blood, Sweat & Tears
This complex bingo pattern is known as Blood, Sweat, and Tears because it is difficult to form. This winning combination is complicated because it is made up of three different bingo patterns. All other patterns, with the exception of the four corners, can be counted as a component of the intriguing Blood, Sweat, and Tears bingo configuration.
Letters and Numbers
Letter patterns are frequently used in bingo games. These are extremely popular in both brick-and-mortar bingo halls and online gaming websites. One may come across an easier or more difficult pattern depending on the letter associated with the bingo game he is playing. Letters are most commonly formed on the card’s outer edges and diagonals. Y, T, E, X, and Z are some of the most commonly used letters as bingo patterns.
Other interesting bingo patterns to mention are the kite, umbrella, aeroplane, turtle, Christmas tree, dollar sign, and snowflake.
Is playing Bingo illegal?
When bingo players make a monetary or cash exchange, it is considered gambling under state and federal law. However, under federal law, this type of gaming is no longer prohibited since the year of 2011. There are some states that consider online bingo to be illegal.
