Articles on Bingo

Bingo is a hugely popular game that appeals to people of all ages and from all walks of life. To really understand bingo it is worth looking at the game`s origins and at its development over the years.

Many people are surprised to learn that bingo has an incredibly long history. The game can be traced right back to 1530 in Italy, where an Italian Bingo style lottery was popular. Although by no means identical to the bingo we play today, the game had some notable similarities. This game stayed within Italy until the late 1700`s when it became popular in France. However, here it was mostly confined to the privileged and wealthy. Bingo later spread to Germany where it was used as an educational tool to help children learn. Bingo hit America in the 1920`s where it was originally called `Beano`.

When Bingo first arrived in the UK, it was known by other names such as Tombola or Lotto. Even then, it was extremely popular with games attracting a substantial number of players. Bingo was often played in working men`s clubs, holiday camps and even the Catholic Church, ensuring that it was accessible to almost every section of society. However, bingo did not become a commercial success in the UK until the 1960 Gaming Act. As television became increasingly popular, the traditional cinema industry experienced a decline, with many former cinemas becoming bingo halls. These were extremely successful and bingo had become a popular social activity.

As the years progressed, technology changed the game. Most Bingo halls now use a Random Number generator which has seen a decline in the popularity and use of number nicknames. However, the technology that has the greatest impact on bingo is the internet. The first online bingo site launched in 2003, only very recently in the long history of the game. In the intervening period since the first site was established, online bingo has grown dramatically. There are now online bingo sites set up all over the world with player numbers growing daily. Online bingo retains much of the character of offline bingo. The sites` chat facilities are popular, allowing online players to enjoy the vital social aspect of bingo. In addition, there are a large number of promotions to draw in new players and to retain existing members. With the level of competition online, these promotions have become extremely competitive.

There are many different ages and types of people who currently play online bingo. However, a fairly thorough study conducted recently has found that most bingo players are female and in their 40`s. Typically, male players are younger than female players. The study also found that most players play bingo every day online, with only 8% playing once a month or even less frequently.

Online bingo jackpots vary greatly in size depending on the site and, of course, the promotion in question. The highest regular jackpots online belong to Mecca Bingo and Foxy Bingo. Both of these sites offer players the chance to win one million pounds.

Bingo has a rich history and the current version of the game still retains much of the original character. Bingo has become a popular social activity that can now be played in Bingo halls or online. There are large numbers of competing bingo sites online that offer low cost game tickets and substantial jackpots. Most importantly, online bingo has retained the sense of community, friendship and fun that is the hallmark of traditional bingo.