Over the last few years, we have witnessed notable change across the planet. Wandering through towns and cities, people worldwide are seeing more shops with their windows boarded up, or just a vacant space where business used to thrive. Similarly, what used to be a favoured entertainment complex might be replaced by something completely different or nothing at all.
Society has continued on its evolutionary journey, which has led us into the digital age, where tech is proudly wearing the crown on its head and becoming king in countries from Brazil to Australia and everywhere in between. The gradual shift to a more digital lifestyle has also impacted many aspects of everyday life and is slowly altering the way we do certain things, even simple things such as banking and shopping.
Industries are being reshaped due to enhanced digital capabilities, including the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and one significant impact can be seen in the entertainment industry. The advances made in technology have paved the way for console gaming to establish itself as one of the most popular entertainment avenues, but more traditional forms of entertainment are also being revamped to the detriment of physical establishments that have formed a cornerstone of entertainment in society for centuries.
The Origins of Bingo
To trace the moment in time when bingo first emerged into people’s lives, we need to go all the way back to the 16th century. Although there are a couple of conflicting sources, the majority of the literature points towards Italy as the starting point for the game of bingo. The first signs of bingo came in the form of the Italian national lottery, “Lo Gioco del Lotto,” which translates as ‘The Lotto Game.’
Evidence of the longevity of the game is encapsulated by the fact that “Lo Gioco del Lotto” is still played to the present day, every Saturday in Italy. But back in the 16th century, the Italian lottery was the inspiration for many forms of lottery and bingo games that have emerged since then.
Lottery in its most traditional form is played in most countries in the world, besides from a handful including Qatar, Cyprus, Japan, North Korea and Saudi Arabia, but from the early 20th century, a new game called “Bingo” emerged based on the simple concept of ticking off numbers that were called out one by one on a lottery-style card. Since the creation of Bingo (initially known as Beano) in the U.S in 1929, the game has spread to countries far and wide and quickly became a favoured pastime in markets worldwide.
However, as we move into an era dominated by digital devices such as smartphones, computers, tablets, and smart watches, the game of bingo is undergoing a major revamp that is further boosting its profile.
From the Physical to the Virtual Hall
Amongst all the countries where bingo is played, no other nation has enjoyed bingo more than the United Kingdom. Although bingo was reportedly first played in the 1800s, it was not until 1961 that the UK welcomed its first official bingo hall in the form of Mecca Bingo. In 1960, the groundbreaking Betting and Gaming Act paved the way for bingo halls to open all over the UK, and from that moment, bingo halls would be frequented by locals and visitors alike throughout the week and most times of the day.
Unfortunately for bingo enthusiasts in the UK, factors of the avoidable and unavoidable nature have led to the closure of the majority of these popular establishments, with locals in Worthing branding the closure of the social hub as the “end of an era.” The importance of bingo halls to communities across the UK has not been lost, and while the absence of physical bingo halls might be a crushing blow to some, many others see the new era of bingo play as an exciting, innovative opportunity. This shift reflects broader patterns in the bingo market, where online platforms are reshaping how and where players engage with the game.
Incomparable Convenience and Accessibility
As human beings, we are creatures of habit. Change is something that is often treated with a level of apprehension at first, even concern. However, change can also be good, and with the rise of online bingo to replace the former physical interaction with handheld bingo cards, bingo players around the world are slowly discovering the advantages that come with bingo in an online format.
The transition into the online world has opened the door to a huge vacuum of entertainment filled with many offerings such as online casinos, online gaming, and content streaming. When one door closes, another opens, and this is certainly the case for the game of bingo, which is on the brink of extinction in the physical world. As witnessed in the UK, the closure of bingo halls up and down the country has left bingo fans in the lurch. But with a new realm of bingo play, players can still enjoy bingo online across UK-based platforms in a constantly evolving society.
Bingo has almost been given a second lease of life with cutting-edge computer programming, software, and technological capabilities, providing a new level of convenience and access to virtual bingo halls that come with automated ticketing, chat rooms to interact with other players, and the ability to play on the move through mobile apps. The diverse range of game styles and themes also caters to a wider audience, ensuring there is something for everyone.
With the vast number of online bingo halls opening up around the world, online servers are taking extra strain to accommodate the growing number of users in the online realm. However, due to this increased traffic, software and technology are also advancing to stay ahead of the curve. For example, processes like torrenting allow online players to download bingo games with less bandwidth and computational effort. Torrenting is, however, not completely risk-averse, unlike Virtual Private Networks (VPN), which allow online users to legally connect with servers in a different country, amongst other benefits, and explore the bingo offerings in a different market.
The Future is Digital
Online bingo is just one example of an entertainment avenue that has found a new home in the digital world. Like with casino games and sports betting, many of these high street, land-based activities are being forced to move with the times, even in cities such as London. With the amount of digital activity and intervention only expected to increase, virtual bingo halls could fast become the norm for those looking for their daily or weekly bingo fix.
Although it might require a period of adjustment, there are many advantages to playing bingo online to can be discovered for new inhabitants of the digital world. While physical bingo halls might be on the decline, there is life in a different realm that is providing the game of bingo with a pathway into the present and the future. With greater outreach, bingo might just become even more popular. With greater outreach, bingo might just become even more popular. For a deeper look at trends and player behaviour shaping this growth, visit our bingo market analysis.