Bingo has been around since the early 1500s, which is about as long as we’ve had casinos. Both began life in Italy, probably Venice, before becoming a global phenomenon.
In recent times ‘casino bingo games’ have combined to become a single entity. Arguably it began when casinos began hosting bingo sessions as a way of widening the general appeal of monetised gaming.
It’s hard to nail down the exact moment this hybrid began, though it’s highly likely it’s US in origin and dates from the mid-20th century.
Of course, in the last decade or so, smartphone technology has put casino bingo games right into our hands. Now you can play anywhere your heart desires, we’ll come back to this shortly, but first, we need to address an anomaly.
Bingo doesn’t carry the same stigma as many other traditional casino games, so it’s perfectly okay to be enjoyed by young and old alike. This makes it far more accessible to everyone than roulette, say, yet it’s still a game of pure chance.
Why this may have something to do with the church, of all places. Many churches saw (and indeed, still do) Bingo as a good way to raise funds for a good cause while offering its parishioners a bit of fun on the side.
And speaking of fun, let’s discover some of the top tips for those new to Bingo, beginning with the basic rules of play.
How to play Bingo
There will be variations on this theme, but the basic premise is that you buy a card to play and that’s your financial contribution taken care of. You’re in the game.
The card will typically consist of a 5×5 grid with random numbers, though this grid format can vary. In the UK, for example, there are typically 27 spaces, not 25 as is common in the US.
Also, in the UK, the number ranges from 1-90. In the US the numbers range from 1-75.
All you have to do is match the number on your card with those announced by the caller (if you’re playing live) or a randomly generated number.
If the number matches, it’s marked off. This can be done manually if playing live with a pen (or dauber) or it’d be done automatically if you’re playing electronically.
The first person to fill in a line, pattern or all the squares on the card wins. Everyone else has to make do with the sheer joy of playing the game, and that’s about it.
How to play casino bingo
Let’s take it as a given that ‘casino bingo’ will be played online so, begin by choosing which version of Bingo you want to play. As a rough guide, the UK version is known as 90-ball bingo and the US version is 75-ball bingo, for reasons explained above.
Now you have to find your game by checking out an appropriate website. At this point, you’ll need to pause and do a spot of investigating.
If you find a site that seems appealing, check out what other gamers have to say about it. You’ll find dozens of forums and comparison sites online that can help with this.
Once you’re happy that the site is safe, check the SLL certificate is present (that’s the lock logo next to the https address) and research the game. This may also be a good time to set up a digital or crypto wallet to pay for your game.
Don’t skip on this aspect. Paying a website from your bank account is a very bad idea at the best of times.
A digital wallet, such as PayPal, will keep your private details safe from unwanted eyes. A crypto wallet is even better because it offers end-to-end encryption ensuring you’re anonymous.
Top Tips for first-time players.
Bingo games vary as we’ve seen and there may well be more than one way to win -you need to know this before you start playing, so check carefully. It’s also highly recommended that you practice the game for free, and get to know it back to front.
In this respect, don’t play a live game off the bat. Once you’ve practised and you’re happy to transfer funds, play against the machine to get used to the format.
Once you’re feeling a little more confident you might want to try playing a live game. You’ll be able to turn on/off chat features and it’s down to you how much of yourself you want to give away…
But the basic rule is don’t. Unless you know your fellow players personally, you’re well advised just to stick to the niceties.
With that said, have fun, enjoy and be safe.
