For most people, the first thing that comes to mind when bingo is mentioned is a group of older people playing it. However, bingo is one of the most popular casino games on online casino platforms and brick-and-mortar casinos. Like several other casino games, it is an essential part of the casino experience. Even informational sites, like https://xcasino.com.ph/ for example, never miss to include a guide on the game. Bingo also has quite a long history. This article will delve deeper into the origin of bingo.
Where Was the First Bingo Invented?
There’s a wide range of information about where bingo was first invented. It is believed that the British version of bingo originated in Italy around 1530. It is believed that bingo originated from an Italian lottery game called “Il Gioco del Lotto d’Italia.” The game then spread to France, where it was known as “Le Lotto” and was played mainly by French aristocrats. Le Lotto featured 27 squares in 3 rows and 9 columns. Five squares in each row had random numbers ranging from 1 to 90. Bingo became popular in Great Britain around the 18th century.
The American version of bingo is also believed to have originated in Italy around 1530. In the 18th century, a homemade version of the game called Tombola was invented in Naples. The game had additional numbers and tokens and was played by calling out numbers. Tombola was used in Germany in the 19th century to teach children multiplication numbers, spelling, and animal names.
This game became popular in America in the 1920s when Hugh J. Ward invented and standardized the game at carnivals around Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. He even wrote and published a book on bingo rules in 1933.
Bingo was further popularized by a toy merchandiser named Edwin Lowe. While at a traveling carnival near Atlanta, Mr Lowe saw people playing “Beano,” which followed Mr Ward’s bingo rules. Mr Lowe introduced the game to his friends in New York, and they liked it, so he invented a bingo game based on Beano.
What Was Bingo Originally Called?
It is unclear what bingo was initially called because this game originated from several places, and as it spread to other countries, it had different names. For instance, bingo originated in Italy, where it was called Il Gioco del Lotto d’Italia. When it became popular in France, it was called Le Lotto. In the US, it was derived from a game called Beano, which is identical to the present-day bingo.
The Popularity of Bingo Among Senior Adults
For the longest time, bingo has been a popular game among older people. Many retirement homes have bingo games as a significant part of their senior residents’ daily routines. Aside from being an enjoyable leisure activity, bingo has also been associated with several health benefits for older people.
For starters, bingo has been proven to be a great social interaction method for older adults as they interact with other older people as they play the game. Bingo has also been associated with the improvement of memory among senior citizens. When they play bingo, they have to memorize the numbers on their tickets and be keen as the caller announces the selected numbers. This engages their brains, which improves their memories.
Bingo has also been proven to reduce the risk of mental issues among senior adults. Again, bingo allows them to interact with other older people playing the game, which reduces feelings of isolation and loneliness. As a result, it reduces the risk of them sinking into depression and developing mental illnesses.
The Rise of Online Bingo
Like other online casino games, bingo’s popularity skyrocketed when online casino websites began including it in their array of casino games. This enabled bingo enthusiasts to enjoy playing online bingo from the comfort of their locations.
Unlike bingo played in bingo halls, online bingo has many advantages, making it popular among gamblers. For starters, online bingo is available 24/7 (unless it’s live bingo), so individuals can play anytime. Most online casino sites have different themes for their online bingo games, making them more exciting. Moreover, they also have additional jackpot prizes, making the game more interesting.
With online bingo, it’s easy for players to mark more than one ticket at a time since online systems pick the winning numbers. So, players don’t have to follow the selected numbers called like in bingo halls.
Most online casino websites also offer bonuses and promotions for online bingo players, which increases their chances of winning without risking their money. Online bingo tickets are also cheaper than those in bingo halls, which is another significant advantage as players spend less and stand a chance to win huge jackpot prizes.
Conclusion
Bingo has no doubt come a long way. And while it still has a long way to go, just like other casino games in terms of rules, bingo is an excellent game that gamblers, especially newbies, can play and stand a chance to win a lot of money.