Archive for September, 2008

What’s Rocking Britain? It’s Bingo!

09.19.08

Bingo has been popular in the US since the early 20th century. With the revolution of online gaming though, Bingo has reached the UK too! It was only in the 1960s, that the Bingo halls became established in UK. The gambling legislations in UK were such that betting could only happen in the ‘members-only’ establishments.

As more and more of the British are converting into staunch Bingo fans, online Bingo is definitely in vogue! No more are the Bingo halls filled with old pensioners. Research shows that 8% of the total UK population - 10% of all women and 5% of all men, plays bingo.

The swanky online Bingo sites are considered the coolest place to hangout. With lively online communities, online Bingo sites are roping in more and more players with their excellent customer service, promotions, superb game quality, buzzing chat rooms and super friendly CM’s! The costs are so low that even the most budget minded are finding themselves indulging in some pure Bingo fun!

Bingo in the UK is revolutionized to such a large extent that UK has its own Parliamentary legislation on Bingo and a Bingo Act! This revolution was brought about by the establishment of the National Bingo Game Association in June 1986. The association also actively takes up social causes and started its support of Breakthrough Breast Cancer in 2003. It raised about £515,000! Ever since, it has raised over 2.7 Million Pounds.

Today, licensed Bingo halls operate throughout UK to meet the customer expectations. There are approximately 20,000 people employed in the bingo industry today, making Bingo a very attractive profession. UK also hosts a yearly “Best Bingo Caller” competition. The winning caller is chosen by popular vote and gets a 2 week paid holiday!

Now that’s surely fun!

Bingo Facts You Definitely Need To Know

09.18.08

We all agree that Bingo has taken the world by a storm and is making waves everywhere. You might love the game a lot, but do you really know much about the game? Here are some fun facts that you definitely should know!

The game of Bingo was derived from a state run lottery under the name “Lo Giuco De Lotto” in Italy. The lottery is still run every Saturday!

The present day form of Bingo was first played by the Romans in 1778. It was then a children’s game and was called Lotto.

Bingo, known as Beano – since it was played with beans, was popular in the early 1900s, but was properly established by American toy salesman Edwin S. Lowe in 1929. Lowe also named the game Bingo.

Around 500 clubs link together in the UK to play the Bingo every day, except on Christmas.

60,000 players were involved in the largest bingo game ever to be played!

Even though Bingo is known as the middle aged women’s game, more than 30% of Bingo players around the globe are under the age of 35 and 20% of them are male!

Millions of people world wide, find employment as Bingo callers , spotters, cashiers and operators. The figures grow right as we speak.

An average bingo game lasts between 3-6 minutes. The variations are even shorter!

The popularity of Bingo rivals that of football! Last year, the number of people who played bingo  games was more than the number that attended the NFL games.

Bingo is the key source of community fundraising and is one of the biggest contributors to charities and social organizations in Europe and North America.

95% of bingo players have won at least once playing Bingo.

Online Bingo is so popular that it has been decreed to be the second most favorite national pastime of Belgium by popular vote!

Move Over, its Bingo on Air!

09.17.08

A few years ago, Bingo loving parents who got tired of their kids cribbing in the backseat while driving, devised a radio Bingo game. The mom made a bingo card and wrote on it words that she thought the radio jockeys would speak. The kids got engaged and life became much simpler. What started off as a simple trick to alleviate moans and groans from the back seat is now a worldwide phenomena, with a slight twist.

That Bingo is now on radio, will not be surprising to any Bingo enthusiasts. The game has already gained ground on the internet and is now foraying into the mobile gaming world too. It’s already on the TV and in airplanes and the prizes are pouring fast. So what’s special about Bingo on radio?

Radio Bingo is designed especially for those who do not have access to online Bingo or a Bingo hall. While it lacks the chat factor and also the friendly community factor, Bingo enthusiasts living in areas with poor internet connectivity are rejoicing.

The prizes and the jackpots are similar to those on online Bingo and the game patterns are nothing new. Players, who for any reason weren’t able to travel to Bingo halls or navigate the online Bingo websites, can now play Bingo right from their homes.

To be able to play, all you have to do is buy cards at your nearest seller. The bingo cards come color coded and with serial numbers corresponding to the day of the week. Ensure that you have the right color and serial numbers on your cards for the day you want to play. Tune in to the radio Bingo program and have your phone ready. Keep daubing the numbers as they are called. As soon as you hit Bingo, call at the number and claim your winning!

Do You Think Bingo?

09.15.08

Do you like to pop your head into the Bingo chat rooms now and then, even when you are at work? Do you wear a T-shirt that says “I Am A Bingo Mommy” to your child’s PTA meeting? Do you spend more on daubers than you do on the rest of your stationary?

If the answer to all the above questions is yes, you are a Bingo head and you think Bingo all the time! Bingo has been making waves all over the world. Whether it is a session of online Bingo or a game of free Bingo in your community, the game simply keeps finding its fans everywhere.

Bingo is no longer limited to the Bingo halls . It is now in your home – available at the touch of a button – on your computer. You can now play Bingo on domestic flights, on your mobile handset, on radio and even on your TV sets.

Celebrities are thinking Bingo too! You can now play with your favorite celebrity and interact with them online. If that doesn’t satisfy you, you can play with millions of other people through your television sets. If you’re getting bored at work and dread that long meeting, simple, play Bingo.

In the UK, Bingo has become the order of the day. Bills were passed in counties of California, pleading the lift of the limit on Bingo winnings. Bingo has become a style statement. With the jewellery, clothing lines, stationary and cool Bingo supplies, the game towers above any in its genre.

It seems the whole world is going gaga over online Bingo games. Overnight, online Bingo has become a multi billion dollar industry! The world is now thinking Bingo. What are you thinking?

Why Playing Online Bingo is Such Good Entertainment

09.15.08

Playing online bingo is really good entertainment because there are so many things to do once you’re on an online bingo site. Online bingo sites have great graphics and they can even emulate the feel of a real bingo hall with awesome audio-visual effects.

You can choose from tons of themed bingo games. The basic ones cover traditional 90-Ball Bingo and 75-Ball Bingo games, but there are even more enjoyable games — the newest additions to the online bingo game family. If you’re tired of daubing, you can “slide”. That’s right, in the online 80-Ball Bingo game, there’s no daubing. You slide the numbers in order to mark them. Bingo cards in this game are called shutter boards. Even if you’re not a bingo fan, but like scratch cards, you can try the online bingo scratch card games!

Playing online bingo games is not a lonely experience. You can visit online bingo forums and read or share jokes, discuss strategies, and talk on just about anything. You can even talk to other online bingo players while you’re playing the game. In a land-based bingo hall you’d be kicked out! Remember, online bingo players come from all over the world! And they’ll be congratulating you when you win.

There are more patterns that you can get on the online bingo cards and you have more chances of winning at online bingo games . These online bingo patterns are really entertaining to get because there are endless possibilities. There are also special bonuses for special patterns depending on the promotions that the online bingo site is running. There are also bigger prizes and bonuses in online bingo.

Online bingo is fun, entertaining and you can play in the comfort of your own home on your own time. Online bingo is available 24/7, all you need is to get on the Internet and play!

Why People Play Online Bingo

09.09.08

The best reason why people play online bingo is that you can win huge prize money and bigger bonuses compared to land-based bingo halls. There are places like 123Bingo.com where you can bet as low as 5 cents and still win online bingo prizes for real. There are online bingo games where you don’t even have to put down a deposit and win real cash!

But winning isn’t everything online bingo has to offer. You don’t have to win by yourself. Once you do win though, there will be people who cheer for you from all over the world. The beauty of the Internet is that we connect to each other. You get connected with other people who love online bingo as much as you. You can chat to them in bingo chat even when the game is in session. You can also read messages in forums, or participate in discussions. There are “Team Nights” where you can join and win as a team, together.

With the help of algorithms and computers, there are a wider selection of online bingo games. If you’re bored with traditional bingo games like 90-Ball Bingo or 75-Ball Bingo games, you can play the online bingo scratch cards or the newly popular 80-Ball Bingo with its super cool cards. Because you are playing online, there are endless possibilities of getting fun patterns and winning. You can even play for special holiday patterns like the Turkey, Pumpkin or Christmas Tree!

People play online bingo also because nothing beats the comfort of home. You can play whenever you have time, in your own home. Online bingo games are available 24/7. There’s no need to dress up to go outside, or cancel appointments. Just get on the Internet, pick your favorite online bingo site and your favorite game and play!

How Popular Is Internet Bingo

09.03.08

Internet Bingo became really popular within the last decade thanks to changes in technology and social conditions. With faster Internet connections and affordable computers in nearly every home in America, Internet Bingo became a game for entertainment, relaxation, and a source of fun. People are busy with jobs and raising children, and can’t always visit the big casinos or land-based bingo halls . Internet Bingo easily fits into people’s schedules as it is available 24/7.

Unlike land-based bingos, Internet Bingo fosters a sense of community. There are features such as bingo chat and forums where bingo players talk to each other. You can use the bingo chat feature and talk to other players even when the game is in session. With players all over the world congratulating you when you win Internet bingo games, it’s no mystery that Internet Bingo is really popular. There are so many people playing Internet Bingo that “Bingo Team Nights” were invented so that groups can compete against each other and win.

With the liberalization of laws for online gaming especially in the United States, Internet Bingo saw an influx of newcomers. The next generation of bingo enthusiasts emerged. Global Betting and Gaming Consultants estimates that in 2006, £72 million was generated in Internet bingo wins. Within the next five years, Internet bingo could be so popular that it will generate £164 million in wins!

There are a lot of conditions that made Internet Bingo as the next big thing on the internet. Part of the reason why Internet Bingo is popular is because of the smoking bans in the land-based bingo halls. Bingo is also considered ’soft gaming’ as opposed to ‘hard gaming’ with the other casino games.

Play Bingo & Have Lots Of Fun

09.03.08

Online bingo is one of the most popular online casino games, not only because there is a lot of money to be won but also because you have a lot of fun when you play. You can have fun playing online bingo from your own home. You can now play multiple bingo games at the same time just by having different windows open on your computer screen.

Registering yourself with an online bingo site is one of the first things that you have to do. You are then given a random card. If you want you can take up 50 cards at a time. Numbers between 1 and 75 are called out by the online bingo software. Compare these with the numbers on your card. If they match, you can shout out ‘Bingo!’

Exercise a bit of caution along with the fun part while playing bingo online. Watch out carefully for the numbers that are called out. That is why it is advisable not to play with too many cards at the same time. Too many calls can confuse you and it becomes increasingly difficult for you to follow the bingo pattern . If there is more than 1 person who has the winning pattern, then the prize money is shared among the winners.

Online Bingo fun is heightened if you are winning. A good way to increase your chances of winning at online bingo is to play when the rush is low. Try playing in the mornings or afternoons. Also make note to fix a certain amount of money that you can afford to lose on an online bingo game. Sticking to a fixed budget is always important to minimize your losses. That way, you have lots of fun playing online bingo, without burning a hole in your pocket.

Play Online Bingo At Home

09.02.08

More often then not, your love for bingo remained confined to the local bingo hall. That was before the coming of online bingo. Now, with online bingo , if you don’t have the cash for gas, can’t make it to their location, have other things to do when they’re hosting the game, you can still play online bingo at home. All you need is a computer and a high-speed internet connection. You can zoom into the world of online casino at home and come out with money and loads of fun.

To start playing online bingo at home, register with an online bingo site. You will then be given a random card that is computer-generated. You can have a go at fifty cards simultaneously and the computer software will call a number from 1 to 75. If the pattern called out matches with the pattern in your card, you can declare yourself a winner by shouting ‘Bingo!’

You can also win handsome amounts of money playing bingo online at home. I’d suggest that you do not take too many cards at the same time. This will help you put your eggs in many baskets and increase your chances of winning, but it will also confuse you with the numbers and patterns. Since you have to make sure you can pay all your attention when the calls are made, too many cards in your hands can confuse you and you may end up missing a bingo pattern .

Before starting to play online bingo games at home, you can practice playing on free online bingo sites. You don’t get to win any money, but you don’t have to invest any money either. You can acquire the skills which will come in handy once you start playing with real money. So spice up your life playing online bingo at home. It’s fun and it also rolls in the dough!

The Church and Bingo

09.01.08

The church and Bingo definitely go back a long time. Time and again, the church has used Bingo as a reliable source for raising funds. Since Bingo nights have always been popular everywhere, all organizations have to do is sell cards and call numbers in the schools or churches. Instead of disbursing money for prizes or betting on bingo, items donated by local businesses are given away. Making sure to give recognition to the business is all the organizations had to do for them to donate.

For almost 40 years, Bingo games have raised money for churches, community schools, youth groups and veteran organizations. However, the trends of the money raised have plummeted after a casual decline for several years. The reasons could be many. Online casinos, smoking bans and aging players could be some of the reasons.

A huge controversy recently raged regarding the use of Bingo in catholic churches for fundraising. Since majority of the Bingo players are non Catholic. The question that raised a storm was ‘whether non Catholics be allowed to play Bingo to raise money for the schools and church?”

While the clergy debated the issue, Catholics the world over kept enjoying the game and using it as a potent source of raising funds. The Catholic Church does not prohibit gambling and therefore, it is not a sin. Many argued that since the funds were being raised for noble purposes, the church should not clergy should not condemn the use of gambling.

Bingo can definitely be the core of service organization’s revenue generation and that fact has been acknowledged by almost all who use it for fundraising. Usually consisting of 25-35 games per night, a Bingo fundraiser usually generates anything from $200 to $1000 depending on the size of the congregation.

A lot of players who play do not care if the game is church sponsored or not. They come down to play, only for the fun and the socializing bit of the fundraiser.

Meanwhile Bingo has made possible for a lot of community schools to function and churches to make regular repairs and hold festivals.