Min menu

Pages

The Fascinating History of Bingo




The amazing success of the favourite pastime of the many, Bingo doesn't happen overnight. It does has its own history, which dates back thereto introduction within the early 1800s. Bingo may be a direct descendent of lottery-type games and its roots are often traced back to Europe, to the year 1530, when the Italian state run game of Lo Giuoco del Lotto was organized.

Over the centuries, an offshoot of that game spread through the entire of Europe. it had been played quite differently from now because the game card was divided into 3 horizontal rows and nine vertical columns, rather than the standard 5x 5 grid. Another difference is that the numbers used are within the range of 1-90 while nowadays we use only numbers from 1 to 75.

The horizontal rows contained 5 numbered squares and 4 blank ones. As usual, the target of the sport was to cross off a horizontal row or vertical column. The blank squares were marked as "free" , almost like our present game, and therefore the player needed to possess the 5 numbered squares called.

Each player would tend one unique card and has got to await the caller to draw numbers from a bag that contain wooden chips which are numbered from 1-90.

Bingo in its current form, grew out of Depression and was immediately an enormous hit with the Americans trying to find a diversion from the everyday drudgery of life. As its fundraising potential was realized by churches and various groups, Bingo grew out of proportions and spread from coast to coast rapidly. By the center of 1930s, thousands and thousands of Bingo games were played hebdomadally and this game subsequently ended up because the favourite pastime for several players.

On the East Coast, New Jersey legalized the sport within the 1950s and ny did an equivalent in 1959. As other states realized the recognition of Bingo, the sport simply became unstoppable and everybody seems to be playing it everyday.

The lucrative possibilities of Bingo was also attracting the eye of other neighbouring countries who were trying to find revenue generating opportunities. Thus, it didn't take long for these countries to leap onto the Bingo bandwagon.
reaction: