Bingo has been a popular game since way back in the 16th century. The fun and lighthearted nature of the game has led to its popularity never wavering and it’s still as popular today as it’s always been. There’s nothing quite like playing a game of bingo, whether it’s with your friends or on your own after a long day at work.

There are so many different variations of bingo games to choose from including the most popular 90 ball bingo. But before we get into all the fun variations of bingo games there are to choose from, let’s take a look back at where it all began.

History of bingo

Bingo as we know and love it today hasn’t changed too much since its fruition in 16th century Italy. It was originally called ‘Lo Giuoco del Lotto D’Italia’ and is a combination of bingo we know and love today and the lottery.

In fact, this Italian game is still played today and hasn’t been changed that much since it was invented. There has barely been a gap in the way it’s played since the game started back in the mid 1500s – it’s still as popular now as it was back then!

News of this game spread through the continent and soon, the French also caught on. They called the game ‘Le Lotto’ and again, the rules barely changed at all.

They made a couple of edits on the game, including the introduction of the types of bingo cards that we know and love today. They were nine columns and three horizontal rows with numbers on every other square.

Numbers would then be selected at random from a caller at the front of the room. Whoever managed to fill in one horizontal row first was the winner!

There is a tale about how the name changed itself to bingo, but it has varying reports of how it came about. The general gist of it is that when the game eventually made its way over to America, it was called Beano.

But when a man was onto a win, he accidentally shouted ‘bingo’ instead of ‘beano’ due to too much excitement over his prospective win. And that is the tale of how the name ‘bingo’ stuck around.

This may or may not be true but wherever the name came from, the game itself has never failed to be popular with people of all ages and walks of life.

Benefits of online bingo

Even though bingo halls used to line the streets of every town, their popularity has gone down slightly ever since online gaming has increased in popularity. There are many reasons why online gaming has become more popular, let’s take a look at a few.

  • Play anywhere, any time

The beauty of playing online bingo is that you can play it anywhere that you have internet connection. Whether you’re waiting for a bus or on your lunch break at work, you can still enjoy your favourite game.

  • No need to travel

Another great benefit to online bingo is the fact that you don’t have to travel to a bingo hall to play. There’s no extra cost or faff incurred with playing online bingo, you can simply sit back on your sofa and enjoy.

  • Lots more gaming options

In a physical bingo hall, you’re limited to the amount of space you have for your different games. But with online bingo, there is unlimited space for all the different variations of bingo.

  • Bonuses and promotions

With so many online casinos out there, the competition is fierce. But this just works out well for the people playing! Different online casinos will try and entice you with sign up bonuses and loyalty points so make sure you keep an eye out.

Most popular bingo games

  • 90 ball bingo

This is the most commonly found bingo game, your standard 90 ball bingo. This type of bingo game is perfect for a more relaxed and lengthy game that you can fully get into.

There are also different options when it comes to what you can win as well. There’s a chance of winning if you complete a whole horizontal row, another prize for two horizontal rows and then a full house prize as well.

More prizes mean more chances to win so you’re less likely to be disappointed.  

  • 80 ball bingo

80 ball bingo works in a very similar way, but it’s only really used in online bingo rooms. This variation of bingo works on a 4×4 grid but how you win is slightly different.

80 ball bingo is only won if you manage to fill out every square on your bingo card – it’s an all or nothing version of the game. 

  • 75 ball bingo

75 ball bingo works in another similar way, but this version is mainly played in the USA and Canada. The grid is 5×5 and you can win in a few different ways. You can win by getting a full horizontal, vertical or even diagonal line. There are lots more ways to win which means a lot more chances to win prizes!

  • 30 ball bingo

30 ball bingo is great for a quick fix of your favourite game. The grids are 3×3, so you have to stay alert and make sure you don’t miss anything. Perfect for if you’re in a rush or you want to get your pulse racing!

With so many different bingo options out there, you’ll never be bored. Why not tuck into a game right now?

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Betty Bugle
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