Bingo is a popular pastime in the UK, with 5% of British adults taking part in games regularly. Whether you play online or at your local venue, bingo offers you the chance to win cash prizes just by matching numbers!
Best of all, there are no complicated rules to learn — live bingo and online bingo are super-accessible, even for total newcomers. But even though so many of us play the game, who knows why it’s even called ‘bingo’? And where was bingo invented in the first place?
We want to give you the lowdown on this exciting game’s background, so we’ve created this simple guide. Keep reading to find out the history of bingo, who created it, and other juicy details!
How Did the Bingo Game Start?
The most important stop on our journey into the history of bingo: when and where it started.
It’s believed that the origin of bingo dates back to 1530, when an Italian game known as ‘Lo Giuoco del Lotto D’Italia’ ("The Clearance of The Lot of Italy") became a popular way to have fun. But the French soon caught wind of this national pastime and it evolved into ‘Le Lotto’, a favourite of aristocrats. It also attracted attention in Great Britain, but took some time to become as popular as it eventually did.
In its early days, players picked numbers and aimed to match them with several selected from a drum. But the game kept evolving in France, as players started using cards featuring numbers laid out horizontally and vertically. They also created the concept of creating winning lines.
In the late 19th century, educators in Germany used bingo as a way to help children with numeracy and literacy (as this version of the game combined letters and numbers).
However, it wasn’t until the 1920s that bingo started to look and play more like the game we know now. It’s believed that it was common at fairs, and Americans were starting to play the game in greater numbers. But by the time the Second World War broke out, more and more Brits had discovered the joys of bingo, too!
Who Invented Bingo?
American Hugh J. Ward is credited with standardising the bingo game in the 1920s, boosting its popularity at carnivals across Pennsylvania. He copyrighted bingo and authored a rulebook for the game in 1933.
But Edwin S. Lowe is also responsible for helping bingo become bigger. As a toy merchandiser, Lowe probably had an eye for a great concept, especially when he saw people playing a game known as “Beano” at a carnival in 1929. “Beano” was played with cards, a stamp, and dried beans (giving the game its name) — a pretty basic version of today’s bingo setup.
Lowe made two types of bingo games: a 12-card version and a 24-card alternative. Bingo gradually became more and more popular in the States in the years after: an estimated 10,000 games were played every single week by 1934. Eventually, it was played right across the country by the close of the 1940s.
Why is it Called ‘Bingo’?
“Where did the name bingo come from?” is one of the most important questions to ask when delving into the history of bingo. The game had a few different names around the world, but ‘bingo’ stuck like no other. ‘Beano’ is a pretty catchy name, too, so it’s easy to imagine people still shouting “beano!” in beano halls around the world.
But where did ‘bingo’ originate? One legend is that a player accidentally called “bingo” instead of “beano” after they lined up a winning sequence. This new name caught on and has been the go-to ever since.
Another possible explanation is that customs officers would shout “bingo” when they found something during a search, and this somehow crossed over into the game we all know and love.
But whatever the reason for bingo’s name, the most important thing is that it’s quick and easy to shout when you want to announce your winning line before anyone else in the room!
Bingo in the UK
The roots of bingo in the UK are believed to stretch all the way back to Elizabethan times, when society’s wealthier households played lotteries to top up their funds. However, some inns still gave the have-nots an opportunity to improve their lives by betting on games of chance.
Still, bingo came closer in the late 19th century when tombola games were played on navy ships to entertain crews. Soldiers in Britain also tried their hand at a game called ‘house’ or ‘housey’ early in the 20th century, which laid the foundations for bingo to catch on.
Over the following decades, bingo became bigger and bigger in the UK. This took a huge step with the Gaming Act of 1968, which introduced new restrictions on businesses hosting games for members of the public. It was clear that commercial gaming wouldn’t be stopped, but the Act helped control and regulate it.
This helped give members of the public a fairer, more honest gaming experience when they visited venues to play bingo.
Bingo Halls
The popularity of bingo halls spiked after 1968’s Gaming Act triggered a big change in regulations and how gambling services were offered.
Not only did bingo halls give people a chance to play for a wide range of prizes, they also created a fun reason to socialise. Bingo halls became bustling spots full of character and charm, particularly as bingo callers found creative ways to announce numbers.
Socialisation and humour are staples of modern bingo, with callers and players often using slang terms for all numbers announced. Here are a few we all know:
- “Legs eleven” (11)
- “Two little ducks” (22)
- “Two fat ladies” (88)
As of 2023, the UK is home to around 650 bingo venues.
Online Bingo
Online bingo has become more popular in recent years: YouGov research shows the number of Brits playing bingo (or keno) online rose from 7% to 12% between April 2021 and October 2023.
One of the first online bingo releases was simply known as ‘Bingo Zone’. This hit the web in 1996 and was free to play in exchange for submitting personal details to inform targeted advertising. Bingo Blitz was another early entry in the catalogue of online bingo games, which hit the market in 1998.
The rise of mobile-friendly online casinos and bingo sites gives you the flexibility to play on a huge range of devices, including computers, phones, and tablets. Online bingo sites offer a variety of different game setups and rooms to choose from, including 75 ball, 80 ball, and 90 ball options.
You can even play games inspired by hit television programmes, such as Coronation Street Bingo, The Chase Bingo, and Emmerdale Bingo.
The Future of Bingo
The world of online bingo looks set to keep evolving in new and exciting ways in the near future.
One of the biggest changes in the bingo landscape is its growing appeal among younger people. While it’s long been looked at as a pastime for older players, a 2023 BBC article explored how people in their thirties and even younger were starting to choose bingo over nights out in clubs and bars.
But advancing technology will keep bringing people more ways to play their favourite game. Virtual reality (VR) bingo games are available online, and over time, they’ll become more sophisticated. Imagine slipping on a headset and sitting in a simulated bingo hall with friends, either as cartoony avatars or realistic representations, without leaving your own home.
This is possible with the affordability of VR gear and the increase in online gaming sites offering VR compatibility. Improving technology will also help players interact with one another in more engaging ways between and during games, recreating the social aspect of visiting a bingo hall in online spaces.
Whatever the future of bingo looks like, though, the simple gameplay at its heart will keep attracting players across the UK and beyond.
Conclusion
Now that we’ve taken a close look at the history of bingo, it’s clear that the bingo origin is all about evolution. The game might owe a debt to lotteries played hundreds of years ago, but it’s still advancing in new and fun ways today. Whether you’re playing in a bingo hall with traditional cards or trying online bingo instead, you’ll find lots of options to choose from.
Here at Slingo.com, the official home of Slingo, you can play plenty of bingo games — try 75 balls, 80 balls, and 90 balls, with games starting from just a penny! Ready to play? Let’s get started!
