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Bingo is one of the most timeless and popular games to emerge over the past few centuries. It is one of the most pervasive non-card-based games that engages many players and can be customized for almost any situation. But few people know its origins – and how they differ depending on where you’re from. So, how did bingo come about and what does its future hold?
The History of Bingo
Bingo originates from an Italian lottery style game, Il Gioco del Lotto d’Italia. It then spread westerly towards France, where it was played in privileged circles and called Le Lotto. Tombola, a similar game, was popularized in Germany and used in education to teach multiplication tables. From then, it migrated towards Britain and most likely the USA during the 18th Century. However, it didn’t take off until the post-war period of the 1920s.
Modern bingo was developed in the UK, through the army who played during the war and then brought the game back with them, where it took off. In the US, it was called ‘beano’ and played with beans. Travelling salesman Edwin S Lowe overheard at a carnival someone accidentally call out ‘bingo’ instead and decided to create a set of games based around bingo. The games took off and helped make Lowe one of the most prolific game makers in the country – he also developed Yahtzee.
The US and UK versions differ over how many numbers in bingo there are. The UK version is played with 90 balls – so that there can be nine neat columns on the game’s sheet. The US version dropped 15 of them to be a 75-ball game, as Edwin Lowe developed it as such. Online versions that can be played today have a mix of both, so it’s possible to try the game you are not as familiar with or can stick with what you know.
The Future of Bingo
There are countless ways to play bingo in a modern way. Online bingo means that more people can access the game, who otherwise might not have gone to a physical location. Moreover, gimmicks such as Drag Bingo – where comedic drag queens call out the numbers and provide a show alongside the game – and Bongo’s Bingo – which offers a nightclub-style bingo event with wacky prizes and table dancing – are helping bingo reach younger audiences. Changing the style of how bingo is played, but not the essence of the game itself, will personify the future of bingo.
WATCH: Alexis and Neil navigate Drag Bingo, Diane, and their first kiss. 😘🥰😍@NancyLeeGrahn @JoeFlanigan @manilaluzon #GH pic.twitter.com/lXib1UfxLb
— General Hospital (@GeneralHospital) September 7, 2019
Bingo is a classic game and most people have played at least some variation of it. The game’s mode has changed since 1530, when it began in Italy, and will no doubt continue to change in the future. As technology grows, what we can do with the game will also evolve. The game itself was formed based on what was available at the time, and each iteration has used the technology of the day to develop the gameplay. As online bingo shows us, there is a lot more to be done with the simple game.