Bingo is a game that enjoys truly international popularity. That said, there are some parts of the world where the enthusiasm for it is just that little bit greater.
Here in the UK for example, bingo holds a special place in the hearts of many people. The game was popular offline but has reached great heights since the transition online. British people took to the game from the very start and a large percentage of players have moved online to play on sites such as 888 Ladies who offer a variety of bingo games and bonuses and promotions.
We might have had a long running love affair with this game, but why exactly is that? In this article, we are taking a closer look at the British and bingo to see why the two have always gone together so well.
The Arrival of Bingo in the UK
Bingo first hit British shores back in the early 1960s. Like many other cultural developments in this country, it was an import from the USA.
Bingo had been around in that country since the 1920s, without ever really becoming a mainstream pastime there. By contrast, people in the UK embraced the game right from the very beginning and the ‘Swinging’ 60’s’ saw bingo halls spring up around the country almost as rapidly as pop groups.
One reason why the game so quickly became established is that people realised that going to a bingo hall on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday evening made for a fun and exciting night out with friends. That meant that the game became woven into the fabric of British social life, particularly among older working-class women.
Bingo was also very closely regulated from the very start. Britain has the UK Gambling Commission and various other formal bodies to make sure standards of fairness are upheld. That meant people going to bingo halls could feel confident that they were not being cheated.
Bingo was a popular land based activity in the 60’s and 70’s in Britain.
Why We Like Bingo
There are a number of reasons for the ongoing relationship between Brits and bingo. Among them are the following:
- It is straightforward
Bingo is one of the simpler forms of gambling. That has helped to make it popular among people who would find games like poker too complex to bother with.
- It is exciting
Whether you are playing standard 90-ball or 75-ball bingo, or one of the exotic variants offered by online sites, bingo is a thrilling game. There is a real tension in trying to cross off the right numbers to score a win.
- It is social
Women in particular like to combine gaming with social get-togethers and bingo is perfect for that. Either by meeting up online in a bingo chat room or at the local bingo hall, the game lets people have fun together.
- It is quirky
Attending a bingo hall means that the numbers will be read out by a bingo caller and the game has its own amusing and quirky slang. From “two fat ladies” for 88 to “two little ducks” for 22, this is unique to UK bingo and is something everyone in the country knows.
- It does not stand still
Bingo has moved with the times, unlike some other formerly beloved UK pastimes. That has enabled it to retain its place in our affections and leads naturally to looking at the biggest of those changes.
The Arrival of Online Bingo
The development of bingo as an online game is the evolution that has done most to keep it on top. This began during the 1990s, at a time when the popularity of the game was in sharp decline and bingo halls were closing across the country.
Younger generations now see the internet as the home of entertainment and an online presence is essential for any pastime if it is to survive. Sites like 888 Ladies are ensuring that bingo is not just surviving, but thriving, in the digital age and has gained popularity among a young audience.
A game of bingo can now easily be accessed online on a range of devices.
Bingo now accounts for almost 10% of the gambling market in the UK. That easily makes it one of the biggest games.
It has managed this without alienating the older people who have always loved it. That makes it a rare activity to enjoy cross-generational appeal and playing bingo has real health benefits for older people in particular.
These include:
- Combating loneliness
The social element of bingo makes it an ideal way to reduce loneliness and isolation among older people.
- Boosting mental alertness
Bingo requires mental concentration and playing the game is believed to have a beneficial effect on overall cognitive function among elderly people.
- Bringing generations together
The fact that bingo is liked by both older and younger people nowadays makes it the perfect activity for bridging generation gaps and building healthy relationships between the elderly and the young.
- Helping with the healing process
Research has shown that older people who play bingo when they are getting over illness bounce back more quickly than those who do not. There is also real evidence that it reduces the risk of depression.
- Improving hand-eye coordination
Our physical and mental reflexes degenerate as we get older, but the hand-eye coordination needed to play bingo can help to fight that process.
Given that bingo offers so many benefits to physical and mental health, as well as being a fast and fun game to play, it would be a surprise if Brits did not love it.
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