Bingo is a British institution, like drinking tea, enjoying scones, and eating fish and chips. Although it is one of the nation’s favorite pastimes, bingo is still enjoyed all across the world; in fact, it may be even more popular than we know.
People who love bingo come in all shapes and sizes from every corner of the globe, with bingo halls found no matter where you venture. The game differs from place to place but is still enjoyed the same nonetheless. Here are six of the most popular places to play bingo and why this traditional game still goes from strength to strength in the modern era.
Italy
So the story goes, bingo was invented in Italy with many origins tracing back to the country, so you may not be surprised to know you can find many bingo halls and online bingo sites to enjoy. The earliest game of bingo was known as Gioco del Lotto and dated back to the 16th century. After all these years, Italy is still renowned for bingo and is one of the best places to enjoy the game. You’ll have no struggle finding a place to play here.
The United States
Las Vegas is quite possibly the gambling capital of the world, so it comes as no surprise that the country’s residents love to play bingo. One of the top destinations in the world, the game is played by young and old. America also claims to be the birthplace of the modern game we know and love today from its inception in the 1920s.
The first known games were played at carnivals across Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania, later being copyrighted and sold by several manufacturers in the 1930s and 40s. Somewhat surprisingly, bingo was used by the Catholic church as a way of raising funds, cementing the popularity of the game. In addition to charities, other organizations took advantage of the game to raise funds.
Commercial bingo can still be found in casinos today and is used as an educational tool in schools. The key difference to the game played in the United Kingdom is that the most popular choice is the 75-ball game compared to the original 90-ball version.
Sweden
The game of bingo known in Sweden is a little different from the classic played in other parts of the world. The age preference of the game is also different compared to other countries. For example, in the UK, popularity is found more in the older generation, while bingo in Sweden is predominantly played by younger people.
Online bingo and gambling platforms have seen a record number of registrations rise on their sites, but bingo is one of many games available to play. The use of technology and online bingo is one of the main reasons it is so popular with the younger crowds. Swedish bingo sites offer different variations of the game, another difference compared to other countries.
Germany
It was way back in the 1880s that the Germans first fell in love with the game of bingo. Since its inception, they have developed their own version of the game fairly similar to the standard played in the United Kingdom. The game was initially called der Lottospiel, and rather than shouting house for a full card, players would shout volltreffer!
The concept of bingo is more than just a game in Germany. It has been used as a teaching method across the country in towns and cities. Primarily the use of bingo in schools is aimed at helping with spelling and math, although recently, other subjects have begun to adopt the game into the curriculum. This use of bingo from an early age has created a spike in popularity between old and young, showing a diverse mix of ages across the many bingo halls.
Japan
Most countries with a surge in popularity when it comes to bingo generally started with land-based bingo halls moving towards the online world. The complete opposite can be said for Japan, with online games setting the way for dedicated halls across the country. Japan is the second largest market for online bingo due to its cutting-edge technological software and enhanced gambling laws.
Romania
It may come as a surprise to some, but Romania is ranked second in the world for its love of bingo. Since the heights of 1990, the game has risen far more than anyone would have ever expected. A strong reason for this is the ending of the Ceaucescu regime. Bingo halls are striving just as much as the online counterpart, with Romanian TV shows such as Bingo Romania being very popular.
