Played all around the world and loved by millions, is a game that’s been passed down by players throughout the years. It consists of balls, numbers and lots of rhyming calls.
We’re, of course, talking about Bingo!
But, have you ever wondered about where the game came from, or ever wanted to know more about the game itself?
Well, you’re in luck, as we’ve gathered together a few interesting facts about Bingo that you may or may not have heard of before.
Hopefully, you can use these to impress other Bingo goers the next time you’re down your local Bingo hall with your friends, or playing online Bingo with a group of friends at home.
Are you ready to learn more about your favourite game? Scroll to read more.
Did you know…
- Where it all began
Bingo was born in Italy in the 1530s, making it older than pizza! It’s said that Bingo is a descendant of the 16th century Italian lottery game known as Il Gioco del Lotto d’Italia. It wasn’t until 1770 that the game was picked up by the French, who called the game Le Lotto.
- Housey Housey
In the United Kingdom, Bingo used to be known as Housey Housey, before players began to call it Bingo. However, when a player daubs all the numbers off on their Bingo card, players in the UK pay homage to the previous name of the game by calling “HOUSE!”.
- How Bingo is known around the globe
Bingo goes by different names around the world – the United Kingdom and the United States of America call the game Bingo, whereas in Quebec the game is known as Kinzo. In India, Bingo goes by the name Tambola, and in European countries, Tombola. In China, players refer to the game as Daduile. Whereas a Mexican variation of Bingo is called Loteria – What do you call Bingo?
- 90 and 75
There are two types of Bingo that can be played around the world, where gameplay is exactly the same, with the only difference being the number of balls and numbers at play. There’s what’s known as a 75 ball game, which, you guessed it, consists of 75 balls numbered 1 – 75. The other is a 90 ball game, which contains 90 balls, all numbered between 1 and 90.
The most popular Bingo game type to be played in the United Kingdom is the 90 ball game. However, in America, you’re more likely to find 75 ball games than 90 balls.
- Double check before calling out
A big no-no when it comes to playing a game of Bingo or two is shouting “Bingo!” if you haven’t actually won or meet the requirements for calling out. Therefore, all players whether playing online or in person, are advised to double check their Bingo card before making the call.
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Now you know a little more about Bingo, will you be sharing any of these facts with your friends to make you sound like a Bingo pro?