You know when it comes to bingo, not too many of us delve into its past. But I’ve been curious about this game’s origins. I mean, where would an idea as precious as bingo come from? And how would you translate it into a game that people love so much? Me and a couple of mates decided to do a little digging.
After pouring over the details, I’ve managed to come up with a rich tapestry of the evolution of bingo. It’s a game so rich in history that its story is certainly worth telling. It’s nice to know that the enthusiasm for the game has only increased over time. Give or take a few details this is what I’ve compiled for you guys. Enjoy the read.
The origins of the game
Exact details are sketchy at best but indications are that Bingo has been developing for almost 500 years and this game is enjoying its golden age.
Some time ago, around the early 15th century, Bingo was conceived. Well, that’s one recollection of a story so steeped in richness that exact details are hard to pinpoint. Bingo began its climb to gaming stardom amidst a rich tapestry of player excitement, spanning multiple continents and historical periods.
Is this the way it started – pundits seem to agree
It has been noted that an Italian lottery game existed in the fifteen hundreds with striking similarities to today’s Bingo games. The Italians were unable to keep this delightful game to themselves and it soon spread far and wide. By the 17 century the French were playing this game but they were making use of tokens, gaming cards and the calling out of numbers. But the Germans caught a whiff of this game too and they wasted no time using it for didactic purposes.
Dropping anchor in the US of A
Ironically it was during the most devastating depression of all time in 1929, that a carnival near Atlanta was introduced to a Bingo gaming variant. It is presupposed that Beano – a game played with beans and a rubber stamp – was being played. A curious onlooker – Edwin Lowe – decided to take this marvel with him to New York City. His friends loved the game and he continued playing it in a manner similar to the way in which it was played in Atlanta.
As with many great things – a fluke shout-out of ‘Bingo’ by one of Lowe’s friends evolutionized the game and the name into what it has become today. Barely 20 years later in the 1940s and beyond, 2 versions of Bingo were operating. These included a 12 and 24-card set. But the real magic of Bingo lies in the number of players enjoying it. Estimates pit the Bingo-player tally at some 60 million. And with over 50,000 bingo Halls in the USA and even more in the UK, it’s no wonder that this game is flying high.
Wow! That's so interesting. I never knew this game had a history outside of las vegas. Nice.
Hello Natalia,
Yes that’s certainly true. Bingo is absolutely saturated with a history that is certainly colourful. I’ve spent many a late night conducting research into bingo’s history and gaming variety. It’s a feature-rich game with a lot more going on that Vegas-style gaming only. Bingo is the world’s premier community style game and for that alone – it deserves special mention.
Jeremy Stersky