It’s no secret that bingo is one of the favourite casino games in the world. And in the UK, this fact is even more apparent with the reintroduction of bingo halls now that the COVID 19 wave has almost passed.
But what led to this love for bingo? Was it always the case, and is this what fuelled the growth of online sites like those listed under the TopRatedBingoSites.co.uk? We take a walk down memory lane, helping you understand why this game has become such a huge part of the UK culture:
The story gets interesting around the 17th century. Of course, bingo had been around for a while before this, and affluent society had been playing for a considerable period. But at the time (mid-17th century), there was a bit of a struggle between the Puritans and their constituents. The former group felt that the playing had gotten out of hand and wanted to ban the game. But this ban lasted only a decade, and once Charles II took over, it was back to business. And such a good business it was that allowed businesspeople to rake in tons of cash from organizing bingo events.
Bingo continued to be a big hit in the centuries that followed. Even the British government used it to promote its state lottery, which helped the authorities collect enough revenue to run the region. Who would have thought the government would also need this game to balance its books? Thus, the love for the game remained unmatched.
Interestingly, commercial bingo was later banned before the First World War. But once the war kicked off, new avenues opened up, allowing people to play for money to raise money to fund the raging war. And once soldiers were deeply entrenched in the ranks, they would play bingo to pass the time and distract themselves from the unfortunate incidents surrounding those dark times. Those in the navy referred to it as Tombola, while those in the army knew it as housey-housey. It helped them get through some tough times. And eventually, when they came back home, they kept playing the game which later came to be known by one name – Bingo!
By the 1960s, the government had eased its hold over the game and was now open to commercial bingo halls. And as soon as they were put up, churches and charity organizations were fast in using this opportunity to raise funds. The availability of common bingo halls allowed more people to enjoy the game. Some did it for money. Others did it to support charitable acts, while others were in it to socialize. Some players wanted it all, and the bingo halls were the perfect place to implement their strategies.
Arguably, the establishment of these gaming halls paved the way for bingo’s popularity and still does. Towards the start of the 21st century, another major milestone took place, changing the way people viewed bingo. Online websites started offering players a chance to play the game online. It boasted an array of benefits, among them:
- Convenience
- Low ticket prices, and
- Availability round the clock.
Since their inception, online sites have come a long way and now feature live chat options and social media platforms to introduce bingo’s social attributes. And with the metaverse taking hold, we can expect to see more virtual reality options, enabling players to interact with each other in real-time using avatars. We can’t wait to see it happen!