The UK’s relationship with bingo has always been affectionate, to the extent that many bingo terms have made it into our everyday language. Even someone who has never set foot in a bingo hall knows to pay attention if they hear ‘eyes down’ and, if you say the number twenty-two, someone will probably comment ‘two little ducks’.
The British love affair with bingo began in the 1960s, when a new law was passed that legalised playing games for prizes. Bingo as a game had been around for more than four hundred years, but it was reintroduced to the UK by a visionary businessman, Eric Morley, who owned an extensive network of dance halls.
He decided to host games of bingo in his dancehalls, providing a familiar and safe environment for players, usually women, to socialise, have fun, and potentially win a prize. Apparently, the nation was crying out for such an entertainment option, and bingo became the game of choice for millions of people all over the country.
The rise of online bingo
For a simple game, bingo has become a huge part of many people’s lives, and so it was an obvious choice to digitise when video gaming was becoming more popular. The combination of random number generation and relatively simple gameplay made electronic bingo an almost instant hit.
Bingo was still a popular choice when online gaming was becoming the ‘next big thing’, and so it followed that bingo became a popular online game as well. Today, bingo is still a popular choice among online players, with more and more people learning how to play bingo online and finding the fun in number spotting.
There are a number of reasons that online bingo has become so popular, including:
Flexibility
Traditional bingo halls are no longer quite as widespread as they were, but you can play online bingo anywhere with an internet connection. Traditionally, bingo was popular among women who enjoyed socializing with friends at bingo halls.
Community
As a meeting place, bingo halls offered so much more than just a way to play, and that is still true of online bingo. Bingo sites and apps often have thriving message boards and social media spaces where players can chat, share tips, and celebrate wins together.
Bingo fans can connect with friends online, enjoying the social aspects of the game responsibly. Players can even join live bingo games and beam the bingo hall atmosphere directly into their device, wherever they are.
Variety
Traditional bingo tended to follow a pretty set formula, with the main variety being in the number of balls played or the patterns needed to win the big prizes. Online bingo has all that with the added advantage that the games aren’t limited to matching numbers, so there can be a lot more creativity in the games.
Players can enjoy a variety of themed games that offer different matching challenges. There are plenty of different types of games offering bonuses, special prizes, and a wide selection of different themes, so it’s easy to keep the game fresh and exciting.
Safety and security
Alongside all the other technological advancements that have changed the way bingo is played, the technological advancements in security have been extraordinary. Bingo sites and other online gaming platforms use cutting-edge security measures to ensure that they are providing a safe and secure gaming space for their players, making online bingo safer than ever before.
Of course, it’s important for players to do their due diligence by reading reviews of new sites and checking their credentials for themselves. Licensed bingo operators have strict standards to adhere to, and they are constantly evolving new ways to keep their players and their data safe.
Who is playing online bingo?
Traditionally, bingo was popular among women who enjoyed socializing with friends at bingo halls. Online bingo was also a huge hit with women all over the UK and the world, providing an easier and more convenient way to enjoy the excitement of a bingo game.
However, the stats have been showing a recent rise in the number of men playing bingo online – a simple game that is breaking down the barriers between the sexes in the online environment. Despite its history, bingo is no longer seen as a game for women, but instead it’s one of the many games that players can enjoy at home, on the go, and with friends.
The move from in-person to online bingo has been such a success that a whole new generation of players is coming to appreciate the fun to be had with a dabber, real or virtual, in hand.