The history of Bingo

Bingo is a game of chance that has been around for centuries. Participants have to cross out the numbers indicated on special cards. The determination takes place randomly. The game has many variations, united by a single base. Victory is awarded to the player who manages to be ahead of the others in crossing out the numbers on their card, or filling out a special template.

Characteristics

The gameplay requires cards with numbers on them, as well as numbered balls. The American version of bingo has 25 numbers and 75 balls, while the British and Australian versions have 27 and 90, respectively. There can be a huge number of tickets characterised by a unique number set in a single hall.

A drum of numbered balls is used to determine which numbers are the winning ones. These are drawn one at a time at random by the game host or his assistant. Mechanical systems are also used today, where the balls leave the drum under the influence of a special tool.

The winner of the American version is the player who is ahead of the others in completing a line, a column or a diagonal strip. The Australian and British versions recognise the winner as the player who first crosses out 1, 2 or 3 lines arranged horizontally.

Historical Info

The game first appeared in 1530. At that time it was an Italian lottery game called “Lo Giuoco del Lotto D’Italia”. Today, it’s still actively played on Saturdays in Italy, and attracts a large number of fans.

By the end of 1770, the game had spread beyond Italy and headed to France. Here it was already called “Le Loto”. The game was an entertainment for the rich, as the lower classes could not afford to participate financially in such events.

In 1800, the game has already appeared in Germany. Here it was a children’s pastime that helped school children learn a number of educational subjects, including mathematics, history, languages, etc.

Across the Atlantic there was also already a version of bingo originally called bino. The entertainment was offered at village fairs and festivals. The dealer had a set of number discs which he would put in a cigar box and retrieve randomly from there in the process. Participants had cards in their hands marked with beans. When they won, “beans” were shouted out.

Traditional bingo card

In 1929 the game arrived in North America and was referred to as ‘biano’. The first drawing was held during a carnival held in Georgia. Over time the name of the game changed to “bingo”. It was introduced by a New York toy dealer named Edwin S. Lowe, who heard the word accidentally shouted out by the winner.

His interest in the process prompted Lowe to approach a Columbia University mathematics professor named Carl Leffler. He asked him for help in increasing the number of combinations in the playing cards. So already in 1930, 6,000 different playing cards were created.

This is how the Lowe Company was founded, involved in the production of bingo sets. In addition, she developed the game Yahtzee. Her idea belongs to a couple who vacationed on Lowe’s yacht. He bought the rights from her and after the final development was completed, began to sell it.