History Of Bingo
The rich history of bingo begins in 1530, the Italian National Lottery was instituted. It was called “Lo Gioco del Lotto d’Italia” and is still played today. This lottery was the earliest incarnation of the game we now know as bingo.
In the late 1770s, the Italian lottery was modeled by France. It was called simply, “Le Lotto.” Their version used cards with 3 rows and 9 columns. Each row was comprised of 5 numbered squares and 4 blank squares that were randomly distributed. Each player received a single card after which a caller would pull numbered tokens from a bag. The player would fill the number called on his or her card. The first person to complete a row won the lottery.
By the mid-1800s, Germany had adopted a version of France’s lotto/bingo game. However, rather than using the game as a funding mechanism for the government’s operating budget, it was used as an educational tool. Young children learned math, spelling, and history by playing.
Several decades would pass before bingo would make its debut in the U.S.
U.S. History Of Bingo: The Game Arrives In New York
The exact date when bingo was first played in the U.S. is still in doubt. What is known for certain is that a traveling toy salesman named Edwin S. Lowe was on the road from his home in New York in December 1929. The previous year, Lowe had started a toy company with two friends. When the stock market crashed, his dream of building his company into a toy empire was decimated.
On his fateful trek during the winter of 1929, Lowe found himself at a small carnival in Atlanta, Georgia. Attendees were playing a game called Beano. They used beans to mark numbered squares on makeshift cards when those numbers were called. Lowe watched as players would yell “Beano!” after completing a line of squares. Prizes were awarded to the winners.
Lowe noticed that the Beano players were deeply involved with the game. They were excited by the chance of winning a prize that was coveted by others. Lowe instantly saw Beano’s potential.
Arriving back home in New York, Lowe taught the game to a few of his friends. It proved to be an instant hit. However, the history of bingo would receive an important footnote when one of his friends completed a line and blurted out, “Bingo!” rather than “Beano!” The name of the game was forever changed.
Bingo spread throughout the U.S. like wildfire. Within a few years, it had established a presence in hundreds of small cities and towns. Churches, civic centers, and social clubs began organizing regular tournaments that attracted droves of players. Today, the game is enjoyed by tens of thousands of people in land-based bingo halls across the U.S.
The history of bingo took another fateful turn several years ago when online bingo halls made their debut. Players would no longer be required to travel to land-based halls. Instead, they could enjoy the game online from the comfort of their homes. The challenge was – and is – to find high-quality bingo sites at which to play.
3 Top-Rated Bingo Sites
There is no shortage of online bingo halls. The key is to look for bingo sites that offer plenty of chat games, generous sign-up and redeposit bingo bonuses, and an assortment of exciting promotions. The following 3 bingo sites offer all of these, and more:
- Bingosky.com – Not only can you claim a $5 free bonus for registering you can also get 500% on your 1st and 2nd deposit from Bingosky.com!
- Bingo Hall – Take advantage of a free $5 bonus just for creating your account. When you’re ready to fund your account, you’ll receive a generous 150% match on your first two deposits. BingoHall.com maintains a rotating schedule of exciting promotions based on the day of the week. What’s more, the bonus matches for these promotions are tied in with their loyalty program.
- 123 Bingo Online – This is another bingo site that offers a free-play bonus. You’ll receive $25 in free bingo bonus money when you register your account. Use the bonus to test drive the site, and explore their games and promotions. When the time comes to fund your account, claim a huge 300% match on your first deposit.
The history of bingo is still being written. There’s little doubt that the game will continue to evolve. Take a few minutes to visit Bingosky.com, BingoHall.com, and 123BingoOnline.com to enjoy the current chapter in one of the oldest games still played.