The game of bingo isn’t exactly a 21st-century concept, in fact, it wasn’t even invented in the 20th century! According to the history books, the much-loved numbers game dates back to the early 1500s when it was first known as “Lo Giuoco del Lotto D’Italia’’, an Italian invention that would eventually arrive on the UK shores sometime during the 1800s. Almost a century later, ‘beano’ was introduced to the US market, but it is very different to the game we play today. The country fair game would involve a dealer, a cigar box with numbered discs, cards, and beans and if they won, they would shout “beano!”
So, What’s New?
Over the years, the game has changed dramatically. Once a game for purple-rinsed grannies in smoke-filled rooms, it is now a game enjoyed by younger generations with more people in their 30’s playing than those in their 70’s and technology has been instrumental in that. Thanks to the invention of the internet and mobile phones and other devices, the online industry is positively booming. When the smoking ban came into effect in the early 2000s, many land-based halls went bust, as smoking and bingo went hand-in-hand.
New legislation on smoking indoors meant plenty of players were now looking for new ways to play their favourite pastime and as a result, major companies turned their attentions online, causing the creation of brand new bingo sites. Some of the major advantages include fewer overheads, no rent on buildings, no limit to the number of players being able to play at any one time and 24/7 gaming (including slots and live casino all under one roof!) – all at the touch of a button.
Technology is evolving at an unprecedented rate and this means the online sector is able to benefit from new and unique ways to play, and this includes new games too. Bingo once consisted of a bingo ticket with 90-numbers and three chances to win, now, thanks to technology, you have games where you can win up to five prizes per game as well as multiple jackpots – progressive pots and must drop jackpots, pots for runner’s up (1TG/2TG) and so much more!
Modern inventions have paved the way for new variants including bingo roulette and Bingo Millions – the 2020 concept where multiple millions can be won, and players compete against the RNG and not the scores of other players in the room.
Bingo Stats
- According to research from 2020, some 78% of online UK players are women.
- Some 28% of Brits only have the one site they play at while 40.5% of the population play at as many as five different websites.
- The game is most popular with players in the 55-64 years of age group.
- Only 4% of the 65+ age group play online games.
The top ten operators identified in the research were:
- Tombola
- Buzz
- Mecca
- Sky Bingo
- Gala
- Heart Bingo
- JackpotJoy
- Sun Bingo
- Foxy Bingo
- William Hill
Technology is only set to get better, and this means we will see greater things in the online bingo sector. What does the future have in store for online players? Only time will tell!
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