Bingo is currently enjoying a high. Although it is one of the oldest games in the world, having been created in Italy more than 200 years ago, this game is picking up momentum again.
The game of bingo is primarily enjoyed at charity events and fundraisers. In the UK, its popularity began to grow in the 1960s following the legalisation of gambling by the British government. Since then, hundreds of bingo halls have popped up across the country, and currently, there are more than 16 million registered players, which is not bad at all.
Bingo has become part and parcel of culture for many countries and remains highly popular. However, the failure to adapt to the ever-changing market, such as external factors such as smoking bans has hit the bingo halls hard.
Towards the end of the 2000s, bingo was suffering a slow and agonising death with many bingo halls shutting shop.
This is where the internet came in to save the day. Online bingo has breathed fresh life into the world of gambling and players are loving it.
Why online bingo has taken the world by storm
Everyone remembers when many years ago, the iPhone was first released. It changed the way people interact with their phones and how they use their free time. Even back in 2007, people were already spending a lot more time online on their phones.
The media as well as shopping began to move online and so did gambling. Players could now access their favourite games online and claim top bonuses.
While casino games were gaining increasing popularity, a particular demographic was not being addressed – that of bingo. As soon as bingo hit the online market, players were flocking to it in droves.
The opportunity to play on the go, whenever and wherever they want is too hard to resist. Online bingo became instantly popular. The game as such did not need much help, but now it was reaching a younger audience.
Players can chat with others in the chat room, join in community games and play online slot games from one convenient location. Players no longer had to adhere to the opening times of bingo halls and if they didn’t want to, they didn’t have to pay attention to the numbers being called out. The software daubs off the numbers itself.
The social aspect has definitely not been neglected by online bingo providers. Software providers such as Relax Gaming have invested a lot of money in replicating the community vibe of bingo halls. Players are encouraged to chat with others in the chat room and stand the chance to win some top prizes just by being there.
While bingo halls are still the epitome of British culture, the benefits of online bingo outweigh by far those of their land-based counterparts.
What does the future hold for online bingo?
It is difficult to figure out when the popularity of bingo online will drop. At the moment, it is riding a good wave and while people are aching to go back to the bingo halls, online bingo brings something different to the table.
The tickets are cheaper. The prices are better. You can still socialise and win games. While we cannot predict the future, virtual reality technology has been on everyone’s lips. Many are predicting that virtual reality will make its way into the world of online gambling.
Software game developer NetEnt was one of the first providers to create a virtual game, Gonzo’s Quest. However, as enticing as it is for games to have a more realistic touch, this is still very much far off.
We think that online bingo will continue to grow exponentially and it will not quiet down.
