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The Evolution of Traditional Bingo to Online Bingo

The history of the game bingo began with an Italian lottery game which was started in 1530 named ‘Lo Giuco del Lotto D’Italia’. This game reached France by the 18th century and was called ‘Le Lotto’. In Germany, another game sprouted that is a variation of ‘Le Lotto’, this time it was made to help children master their skills in language and math. Up to now, some European schools are using the game to help their students master math and spelling skills.

In 1929, the game crossed over oceans to the United States. It also changed its name to ‘Beano’. This game was very popular in country fairs. The name Beano was coined because players use beans to mark the numbers being called. The first ever Beano game played was in a country fair in Atlanta, Georgia.

Edwin S. Lowe changed the name from Beano to Bingo. Lowe was a salesman who sold toys in New York. The game was given the name Bingo after Lowe heard a winner mistakenly shout out ‘Bingo!’ instead of ‘Beano!’ Lowe, together with a certain Carl Leffler, a math teacher, increased the number of probable combinations and made up to 6,000 different number combinations in different bingo cards.

The breakthrough year for bingo was in the year 1930. In this year, a Catholic priest asked Lowe for permission to use the game for his church as a way to raise funds. By the year 1934, 10,000 bingo games are being played in churches all over the country. Bingo at that time was considered a legal form of gambling. And as they always say, the rest is history.

Now, bingo is a very profitable industry. In North America alone, weekly bingo sessions amount to $90 million spent each week.

The popularity of the game is boosted once again this time through the introduction of online sites which offer online bingo games. These sites offer bingo addicts to play the game in the comfort of their own home. Some of the sites even have chat room functions so that it simulates the actual interaction that you can get when you’re inside a real bingo hall.

Online bingo sites can be accessed from anytime and any place that has an internet connection. If you feel the urge to play bingo at an ungodly hour, you can just turn on your laptop and log on to your favorite gaming site.

It may be different in form, but actual bingo and online bingo is still very much similar to each other in terms of how to play the game. Players still need to mark the called numbers and complete a pattern before shouting ‘bingo!’. In both forms, the winning cards are checked for validity. If the card is verified and is indeed a winning card, then the prize is given to the winner.

Needless to say, a lot of things changed about the game. But its essence is still intact and present in every game. People play bingo to have fun, spend quality time with their family and friends and just to relax. The money is just secondary compared to enjoying the game.

Paul Eddison invites you to learn more about online bingo games at www.bingobingo.me.uk

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