The History of Bingo

While we do have plenty of online slots available to play, Bucky's favourite game will always be Bingo, so we thought we would get one of our legendary customer support team to talk you through what exactly bingo is, how bingo started and why we love it so much.

Hi guys, it is Maira here, and I have a confession to make… I absolutely love bingo! But what is the history of bingo and where did the game we all know and love start?

The Beginnings

The actual origins surrounding the history of bingo is quite unclear, with different editions of the game originating in different countries, at different times.

Apparently, early variations of the game began in Italy and in France where the game was known as ‘Le Lotto’, yet it first made its mark on these shores back in the 1920s where it was a popular game at travelling fairs across the country.

With bingo gaining in popularity in the UK, purpose-built bingo halls were erected all over the nation, and they offered a variety of different games from the ‘national game', which saw bingo halls linked together to offer a bigger jackpot.

The most popular variant of bingo in this country is 90 ball bingo, yet our cousins from across the pond prefer playing a 75 ball version of the game. American bingo doesn’t differ too much from the documented UK edition, other than the number of grids found on a ticket. For the states, Hugh J. Ward is the man credited with bringing the game a more recognised identity, as he standardised bingo and actually published a rule book in 1933.

Toymaker and salesman Edwin Lowe helped grow the game even further, as he is recorded in being the figure to bring Bingo over to New York City, where you can still find many places to play the historic game today.

The forerunner to Bucky, Buckingham Bingo, saw their first hall go up in 1970 and bingo halls continued being built in the UK up until around 2005, where the world of online bingo took hold.

Development Online

People began to play bingo online in the early 2000s, but it really took off in the middle of the 21st Century, and Buckingham Bingo launched as a website in 2007. Sadly, the last Buckingham Bingo hall was closed in 2010, but in more exciting news, the site relaunched as Bucky in 2011 and became the great place that it is today.

In the 21st century, our society has grown to become a digitally dependent one. Whether it be through our smartphones, tablets or iPads, technology has made accessing the internet such an easy task. This development of such devices has subsequently led to the rise of online casinos, with brands around the world having to adapt to such a change, in order to survive.

Taking games into the virtual world is a phenomenon that has only escalated too, leading onto the activity of online gambling. The very first site to do so was The Gaming Club, when Microgaming established the website back in 1994. Since then, casinos have continued to follow the trend and push the majority of their resources to the web, as opposed to physical halls and casinos.

Online, you can now discover hundreds and thousands of casino sites, with Bucky Bingo remaining a favourite for players to visit. If you are looking for tips on how to choose your casino site, we have you covered. We also ensure to keep updated with consumer needs and requirements, by offering a range of casino games that differ in terms of bonus features and designs.

This is another trend to recognise when it comes to online bingo rooms, as game developers are able to create a variety of themed lobbies for you to play in. Long gone are the days of online bingo rooms with simple settings and no colour. Now, you can choose from many themes like Deal or No Deal and even Age of the Gods! Bucky likes to offer a large selection to all our players, as customer satisfaction is our number one priority!

In terms of the online history of bingo, this didn’t officially hit the scenes until 2003. Since moving online, bingo has actually grown to accommodate for a range of players of all ages. Of course, please remember, you must be aged 18 or over to gamble!

How Do You Play Bingo?

If you are sat there wondering how to play bingo, then don’t worry, as it couldn't be easier. In a bingo hall, you would be given a card with numbers on, and when the caller calls out one of the numbers on your card, you mark it off. The winner is the first to mark off all of the numbers on their card.

More specifically, you will need to cross off all the numbers across a certain line. Typically, you will need to do this across a single horizontal line, or in some cases, two lines. Please, however, note that patterns can occur in many different shapes, depending on your game.

You may also recognise the term ‘full house'. This is arguably the most iconic saying in the ‘bingo lingo', and it is when all the numbers in a grid have been ticked off. No matter what game you are playing, this is the biggest prize possible! Let's hope you'll be one of the lucky few to see all the numbers crossed off if you choose to play online with us.

However, there are often also smaller prizes on offer for completing a line on a card or marking off four corners. In the UK, it is popular for players to buy a strip of six cards (each containing 15 numbers) as this means that every time a number is called, they will be able to mark off a number on one of their cards.

Bingo Blogs Galore

As you have probably gathered by now, we are quite big on bingo here. The game is engraved into our name, and for that reason, we love making bingo the central aspect of our player's online experience with us. Alongside the various lobbies that we offer, we also enjoy tackling some topics and news on the game too.

Our blog post is updated regularly, and you will often find the odd bingo page kicking around too. We like to broaden player’s knowledge on the game, whether you are a first timer on our site, or somebody who has been a fan of bingo for many years.

Discover a range of titles like best bingo promotions and five things only bingo players will understand. Take a read and let us know on our social channels what you think! Make sure to check back on our page and see what other fascinating posts we might have cooked up in the meantime.

More Online Games

Bucky offers loads of the great bingo games that you associate with the bingo halls, but thanks to the great powers of the web, we also offer plenty of themed games including our Rainbow Riches and Deal Or No Deal editions. There is also the Super Free Bingo room, as well as plenty of great chat forums which keep the social aspect of bingo going.

Our free bingo room is available to all players, so long as you have staked a wager on our site in the last month. This free bingo lobby is open between 10am – 11am and 10pm – 11pm every single day. In terms of gameplay, it is just like any other ordinary lobby, with there being a free jackpot of £6 up for grabs. If you wish, you can also purchase a ticket inside the room, which will increase the potential jackpot fund. This is completely up to you!

Welcome Offer

New to Bucky Bingo? You might want to check out our Welcome Offer, which includes bonuses you can use on popular games like Rainbow Riches and many, many more. Click the link to find out more! Full T&Cs apply, 18+.

For those who don’t know, Rainbow Riches is an Irish themed slot game, filled with potential bonus features and a rich, vibrant design. This Irish wonderland is just one of many online slot machines that we offer to players. We aim to have a slot theme and design for everybody so have a scroll through and see if any of the games tickles your fancy.

Gamble Responsibly

If you do decide to play online with us, please remember to gamble responsibly. To discover a range of tips on how to game safely and how to remain in control of your actions, click here. Our gaming safely blog has been created to offer assistance and advice on how to improve your online experience, and we recommend giving it a read.

Should you ever feel down or anxious about your gambling habits, please contact our customer service team.

All players have to be aged 18 or over and When the Fun Stops, Stop.