Bingo

Bingo is a game of chance in which players mark off numbers on a card as they are called out by a caller. The game is typically played with a bingo card that contains a grid of numbers. The numbers on the card are arranged in a specific pattern, such as a straight line, diagonal line, or full house.

Bingo, 050120-N-6125G-071 Persian Gulf (Jan. 20, 2005) 

In a game of bingo, a caller randomly selects numbers and calls them out to the players. Players mark off the corresponding numbers on their card as they are called out. The first player to complete the pattern on their card and shout "Bingo!" wins the game.

The origins of the game can be traced back to Italy in the 16th century, where it was known as "Lo Giuoco del Lotto D'Italia." The game was played by selecting numbers from a pool, and the winning numbers were drawn by a caller.

Over the centuries, the game of bingo evolved and spread to other countries. In the 18th century, the game was popular in France, where it was played by the nobility. The Germans also embraced the game, and it was used as an educational tool to teach children multiplication tables.

The modern version of bingo as we know it today can be traced back to the United States in the early 20th century. The game was played at county fairs and carnivals, and it quickly gained in popularity. In 1929, a toy salesman named Edwin S. Lowe observed a game of bingo being played at a carnival in Atlanta, Georgia. He noticed that the players became so engrossed in the game that they did not want to leave to take a break. This inspired Lowe to create his own version of the game, which he called "Beano," because players used beans to cover numbers on their cards.

Lowe's version of the game was an instant hit, and he soon began marketing it to churches and other organizations as a way to raise funds. The name "bingo" was coined when a player accidentally shouted out the word "bingo" instead of "beano" when she won the game. The name stuck, and today bingo is a popular game played in homes, community centers, and casinos around the world.

The word bingo has stuck in part because it imitates the 'ping' of a bell formerly rang to announce a win.

Bingo has been played in Britain from the 18th century when it was known as 'lotto' and later in the early 20C as 'housey-housey'. 

The introduction of the Betting and Gaming Act 1960 in the United Kingdom was a key moment in the history of bingo. The Act allowed commercial bingo halls to operate legally for the first time, and Mecca Leisure Group, led by Eric Morley, was quick to take advantage of this new opportunity.

Mecca Bingo opened its first bingo hall in the UK in 1961, in the town of Scarborough. The hall was an immediate success, and Mecca went on to open many more bingo halls around the country in the following years.

Bingo halls swept Britain in the 1960s and 70s, but the game's popularity  declined. The number of bingo clubs in Britain has dropped from nearly 600 in 2005 to under 400 as of January 2014

The calling of the numbers used to be done with many ritual phrases (66, invariably announced as 'clickety-click', or 88, 'two fat ladies'), but electronic technology in modern halls has made these colorful details redundant. 

In recent years, bingo has become popular as an online game, with players able to participate in virtual bingo games from the comfort of their own homes.

Over one third of online bingo players fall within the 25-34 age bracket.

The main difference between the English and American versions of bingo is the number of balls that are used in the game. In English bingo, also known as 90-ball bingo, there are 90 balls numbered 1 to 90. In American bingo, also known as 75-ball bingo, there are 75 balls numbered 1 to 75.

The bingo cards used in the two versions of the game are also different. In English bingo, each card has three rows and nine columns, with five numbers in each row and four blank spaces. Players typically purchase strips of six cards, and each strip contains all 90 numbers. In American bingo, each card has five rows and five columns, with the center square marked as a free space. The cards in American bingo are typically sold individually.

On an English bingo card of 90 numbers there are approximately 44 million possible ways to make bingo.

The patterns used to win the game are also different in the two versions. In English bingo, there are three patterns that can be used to win the game: one line, two lines, and a full house (all numbers on the card). In American bingo, the patterns can vary widely and can be very creative, such as letters, shapes, or specific patterns.

The number 13 is considered unlucky in many cultures, but in bingo, it is one of the most popular numbers called.

Source Historyworld