In 2014, the conservative party chairman, Grant Shapps, insisted that he loved a pint and bingo, just like the average hardworking Brit. Not to accuse a politician of a tactical statement (ahem!), but he was very right in picking beer and bingo as true British staples.
Bingo is a classic game that keeps enduring, in the midst of fancy video game consoles like the PS5 or Nintendo Switch. Casinos can introduce new glitzy slots or live games like Monopoly, but players still veer towards old-school vintage. Sure, it’s waned in popularity in the past. But in 2023, bingo is still very much alive and kicking.
Where Did Bingo Originate?
Pasta, gelato, pizza, risotto. There are many things that are distinctly Italian, and here’s one more: bingo. It’s thought that the game finds its roots in the 16th century, part of the Il Gioco del Lotto d’Italia, otherwise known as the Italian lottery. From there, it spread to other parts of Europe, eventually landing in Britain in the early 1800s.
But it was after the Betting and Gaming Act of 1960 that bingo really became part of the British identity. With purpose-built bingo halls opening throughout the country, the game catapulted to the forefront of culture.
Bingo halls opened up every single year until 2005. The game got so big that companies started converting cinemas into bingo halls. The Odeon on Hackney Road, a massive London cinema, morphed into a bingo club in 1961, for example.
Bingo’s ‘Collapse’
Of course, nothing can keep growing forever. In the early noughties, bingo halls started to wane in popularity. By 2014, the number of halls found in Britain reduced by approximately 75%.
There are a few key reasons why bingo suffered leading up to these record closures. First, it’s taxation. The Chancellor continually increased tax rates on bingo, reaching a peak of 20% in 2013 – 5% higher than sports betting – which made it far more difficult for companies to turn a profit.
But it also comes down to trends. Bingo became a little stale, a staple with an older crowd perhaps, but not exactly a trendy or ‘cool’ pastime. With players offered new and shiny toys in the form of slots, and video games satiating the desire to play games, bingo’s popularity seemed done and dusted.
Online Resurgence
Yet bingo has been retooled, refreshed, and reinvented for the digital age. It’s now once again one of the more popular games for Brits. Instead of the in-person bingo halls of yesteryear, operators now increasingly focus on delivering a range of online bingo options.
In part, bingo’s online resurgence is due to the events of 2020 (the less said about that year, the better!). With most of us stuck indoors with nothing to do, online bingo was one of the ways we plugged that social gap.
Online casinos offer every type of bingo under the sun, whether you’re into the classic 75 balls, social bingo, or even slingo. But perhaps one of the strongest offerings is live bingo. This is where you have a real person as the caller, just like in traditional bingo halls.
You can also converse with other players online. And that’s ultimately what most players love about the game, the social side. It’s an opportunity to meet new people, catch up with old friends, or get that daily dose of human contact that we so desperately need to function.
Bingo is Trendy
It’s like The Guardian put it, forget two fat ladies. Bingo is going through a revival, and it’s not just because players can now easily access games online. It’s now also a trendy thing to do.
For example, just take a look at Dabbers. This bingo hall opened near the trendiest bars and clubs in Shoreditch, so the location already gives it away. Instead of stale chips and coke, players tend to go for seared tiger prawn skewers alongside a pint of craft beer.
Operators have started to realise that punters need more than just cards and a set of pens. To really take the game back to the forefront of British culture, you need acts, comedians, artists, and an entertainment extravaganza for the price you’d pay for a round of mini golf.
Yet at its core, it’s all about bingo itself. There’s a reason it has endured, and it’s not glitzy London entertainment. Bingo is a fun game. It’s social, too. As far as leisure activities go, it ticks a lot of boxes.
What’s Next?
Underestimate bingo at your peril. Many so-called experts have long called for the game’s ultimate demise, yet it continues to be popular. Granted, the peak bingo era may be long over, but that does not mean there isn’t a space for the game.
Sure enough, companies have found a way to integrate the classic game into new and exciting online casino ventures, giving players a reinvented opportunity to play the game. With this in mind, there’s no reason to think it’s time for bingo’s ‘last call’.
David Prior
David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.
