Bingo Articles
Playing Bingo with your Kids
When people think about kids and games, the first ones that usually come to mind are video games and video game systems. Who hasn't heard about the Nintendo weii or the Playstation? These games have been around for almost two decades now, and their popularity doesn't seem to be waning. In these times of recession, however, video game systems and the games that go along with them can be a bit pricey for many parents. What we need to do is go back in time and buy our kids some of the games that we enjoyed when we were kids, some of the perennial favorites, like Bingo.
Bingo has been around for centuries in Europe and almost ninety years in the U.S. The reason it has retained its popularity for so long is because it's so much fun. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to play Bingo, and people of all ages can get hooked on it. Even without any batteries or computer chips, it is still quite educational for children. There are simple versions of Bingo that will help preschoolers learn colors and shapes. For beginning readers there are Bingo games that teach numbers, letters, and sight words. When the kids get a little older, they'll be prepared to play competitive Bingo which is a great activity that will help keep them off the streets.
You don't need anything fancy to play Bingo games with your children. If you have a computer, there are numerous online sites where your child can learn the fundamentals of Bingo and spend hours in fascinating, educational play. There are also a number of websites that offer free, printable Bingo cards for different age levels and even for different holidays. All you'll need to do is print out a few cards (make an extra couple of cards for you to cut apart for the caller to use to draw from), a piece of paper to keep track of what squares have been called, and grab a bag of beans or a handful of pennies to use as markers.
It may surprise you that your children will enjoy anything this simple in this era of high tech games, but they will. Bingo is truly a game for the ages.
Where in the World did Bingo get Started?
Bingo is probably the most oft-played game in America these days. Although many think of baseball as the national pastime, Bingo may well attract more players than baseball does. The beauty of a game of Bingo is that it can be played just about anywhere by just about anyone. It takes very little equipment to play Bingo, a Bingo set doesn't have to be expensive, and people of all ages enjoy it. Have you ever wondered, though, where exactly the game of Bingo got its start and what made it into the phenomenon it still is today?
Bingo actually got its start many centuries ago as a lotto game in Italy. The game spread throughout Europe, and it was finally taken to the United States from Germany around 1920 and used as a carnival game called Beano. There was just something addictive about the game that caused people to want to keep on playing. The owner of a small American toy company, Edwin Lowe, happened across a carnival where Beano was being played, and he saw its possibilities.
Lowe developed the game and tried it out on friends. When one of the ladies got a bit flustered and hollered, "Bingo" after she won a game, he liked what he heard and changed the name of the game he marketed to Bingo. After the game first entered the market, however, some problems began to surface. A priest went to Lowe saying that the church had tried to use Bingo as a fundraiser, but there were too many duplicate winners. Lowe set out to tackle this problem. He hired a mathematician and commissioned him to come up with 6000 unique number combinations on cards.
This turned Bingo into the game many organizations turned to in order to raise funds. Bingo rapidly caught on as a fundraiser, and by 1934 it was estimated that there were 10,000 Bingo games operating in the United States. People never seem to tire of Bingo, because every game is different, and there's always the very real hope of winning. What has helped to improve the popularity of the game enormously is forward thinking companies like Littlewoods Bingo who continue to reinvent the way bingo is played.
Online Bingo Continues To Grow
The online bingo industry just seems to grow from year to year to the benefit of bingo players as bingo sites raise the sign up bonuses hoping to attract as many players as possible.
New players can take advantage of the increasing size of the welcome and sign up bonuses and the opportunity to win some big jackpots. But before you start playing online bingo, it would be a good idea to start trying online bingo for free. Most bingo sites allow you to play some free games. This is a great way to try out online bingo and finding out which site works best for you. Most bingo sites are user friendly, so you don’t need to worry losing your way around inside the site; a bingo site lives by its players, so if the site isn’t user friendly no one will play there.
While you’re there, you should check out the chat rooms, which are a great place to make friends and socialize and gives you the opportunity to meet people from all over the world. You can meet some really interesting people.
Obviously there's a difference between online bingo played on the Internet and land-based bingo played in traditional bingo halls. However, when it comes to the very core of the game, the rules are the same and no matter which version you’re playing, you will win the same way.
The biggest difference between the two versions of bingo is convenience. For instance, if you feel like a game of bingo, you don’t have to wait for the bingo hall to open. Instead you just turn on your computer and log on to your favourite online bingo site. There you can play bingo any time you want without leaving the comfort of your own home and with the “Auto-daub”-function you don’t even have to worry if you miss a number or two since the numbers on your bingo card are automatically marked.
Since most bingo players, both land-based and online bingo players, are quite social people, socialization is a key concept. In bingo halls the players have the possibility to mingle and meet people from their local geographical area, but as soon as the game starts it's all about concentrating on the game. In online bingo, the situation is a little different. Here the interaction between the players takes place in the chat rooms during the games. These chat rooms are great places to discuss most topics and exchange views about everything from Bingo to life matters.
Online Bingo Top 5 Tips
With thousands flooding online to play bingo, many gamers are starting to play without really understanding what the game is all about – which is ‘fun and friends’, coupled with the chance of random cash prizes and bonus promotions! Here are some of the top tips to make sure you get the most from online bingo……
Tip 1 - Bingo Budget
Bingo is a leisure game - so as with any form of leisure you choose, set yourself a budget. Bingo games start from just 5 pence per game, so if you’re planning on playing the maximum 10 games per hour, you’d need to set aside a minimum of 50p. The best strategy is to decide what card value you’re going to use, and stick to it. In addition, decide how much cash you want to spend playing bingo each week – be it 50 pence, £1, £5, £10 or more. The great aspect of bingo is you can essentially decide how many hours of play you want per week, and know the maximum expenditure you will require. Use this strategy to enjoy long-term bingo fun.
Tip 2 - Don’t Expect to Win!
Here is a great piece of advice – bingo is a game of luck so never expect to win or think the game ‘owes you something’. If you haven’t won for weeks, chill out and smile – bingo is really about fun and being happy whatever the result – take a break if you’re not enjoying it. In fact, most lucky players are the people who never thought they’d win!
Tip 3 - Never Chase Bingo Losses
Because most bingo games have small wager prices and strict limits (in addition to the fact you should always have a gaming budget), it’s not easy to rapidly drain a gaming bank. However, some bingo gamers like to progress to higher value cards after a losing game. Because bingo is random luck, you have no power over the result, meaning this strategy will probably not work ‘99.9%‘of the time.
Tip 4 - Make Bingo Buddies
Now this is the big reason to head online and play bingo – forum fun! As soon as you’ve picked a fun (keep it clean) bingo name, sign-up and head straight for the bingo forum and chat features (often available in-game and as a standalone chat facility). Many new bingo gamers hide in the background and never ‘buddy-up’, and they tend to leave disappointed with their experience. Think of playing bingo as your ‘first day at school’ – how much more fun was it once you’d plucked up the courage to join in? With a group of professional bingo hosts to keep things in order, you’ll be amazed at how much fun bingo becomes.
Tip 5 – Grab the Bingo Bonus
While frequent bingo wins come and go (you’ll find people who seem to win every game!), the bingo bonus is a guaranteed payout if you choose the right one. You should be able to search around and bag yourself up to £5 in 100% free bingo credits, which gives you hours of free play.
ten good reasons to play bingo online.
Online Bingo is one of the most enjoyable forms of entertainment available online. The variety of games exceeds anything to be found at land based Bingo halls. Players can meet and socialize locally, nationally or with players from players from around the world. Transactions are secure and the internet Bingo industry has a reputation for honesty and fairness.
1. With online Bingo there is a winner every game. In the land based version there are games with no winner.
2. Playing Bingo online is completely secure and private. There are many reputable e-wallet companies that provide players with deposit and withdrawal services in a timely manner.
3. Online Bingo is less expensive. There are no expenses associated with travel such as gas. The cards are generally cheaper too.
4. Bingo is a game of chance and online Bingo is no exception. Every player has the same chance to win. Almost all online bingo sites are honest and fair. When we hear about rogue sites we will be sure to inform our readers.
5. Players should read the policies of the sites they visit. Some are better than others and careful research can turn up some incredible bonuses.
6. You can try before you buy at most sites. Most Bingo websites have a free play option and some even offer free Bingo for cash. Unlike a land based Bingo hall, you can leave at any time if you feel uncomfortable with the games.
7. Many online Bingo sites offer side games like video slots, online Fruit machines . Players who get bored playing Bingo have several options unlike land based Bingo. Most online Bingo sites allow some form of auto play. Players can play online while pursuing other activities. For example you can play while cleaning house or watching the children.
8. Studies show that playing Bingo (especially the online version) helps to keep the mind sharp and train the memory.
9. When signing up for online Bingo sites players can choose a name that is unique to each player. Imagination is the only limit.
10. Many online Bingo sites have programs in place to identify compulsive betting patterns. This means that the industry is looking out for the players. Many online Bingo sites have their own blogs where they address a variety of issues including compulsive gambling.
With all the major Bingo sites offering more features than land based Bingo halls there is no reason not to play online. Prospective online Bingo players can access a Bingo portal to find information about the numerous online Bingo sites. It’s safe, it’s secure, And best of all, it can be very lucrative!
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Bingo Strategies
The lively atmosphere, fun chat rooms and friendly people are not the only reasons why people play online Bingo. Of course, the Bingo winnings and Bingo Jackpots play an important role. Many a player will ask regulars the age-old question: are there any methods that online Bingo players can incorporate into their game strategy in order to improve the chance at a Bingo win? Some people might say you can only rely on good old-fashioned luck, but others believe there are certain strategies and skills involved in winning Bingo games. We have come up with a handful of tips that could just increase your chances of winning next time you decide to play your favourite online Bingo game!
Read on carefully and make some mental notes – you never know when they may come in handy!
1. The more players there are, the more difficult to win. Try to play when there are less people playing Bingo.
2. If there are only a handful of players, try to buy more cards than there are players. You will see your chances of winning will improve!
3. Use chat rooms to your advantage! Ask the other players if they have any tips to win, or go more underground and find out how many cards the other players are using. If you buy more tickets than the others have, you stand a better chance than the rest.
4. Choose the website where you go to play Bingo carefully. Select a site where the number of players is balanced. Over-crowded sites decrease your chances of winning.
5. If possible, play early or late, as the bingo sites will be quieter. While the prizes may be smaller, your chance at success is higher. Rather win less than not win at all!
6. Play at sites that offer incentives such as free cash on your initial deposited amount, bonuses on deposits and affordable bingo cards. Remember the money you save you can use to play Bingo games more often!
We hope that these tips will help you win big! But remember, overall you need Lady Luck on your side! So squeeze your lucky clover and smile as the Bingo Jackpots roll in!
Bingo Crazy Britain
Online Bingo is surely taking off in Britain in a big way, so big that some top UK named companies are jumping on the bandwagon to get a slice of the action.
Bingo has always been seen as an old smokey club filled with older ladies and grannies but not anymore. Bingo is going through a cultural change due to the internet. Online bingo has now become a socially acceptable form of gambling and is one of the main past times for many women, young ladies and a new following of men. Bingo is seen as a low risk money winning game, with added thrills and a strong community base to meet like minded people. It has come out of the shadows of the gambling world to steal the limelight and is becoming as popular as the main leader Poker. A recent study showed that 53% of all online games are played by women who are helping to increase online gambling. Names like Littlewoods, Blackpool, Virgin, Butlins, NewWoman, Mother and Baby magazine, Magic 105.4 one London’s most listened to radio station, MSN and Yahoo to name a few. Who will be the next major name to start a bingo site, will we be seeing names like “ BBC Bingo”, “M & S Bingo” or even “GoogleBingo”. Even the tabloids like The Sun, The Mirror, The Daily Record have decided to follow in the footsteps of the big name companies.
Bingo has even attracted big named stars such as Robbie Williams, Daryl Hannah, Denise Van Outen, Scott Mills, Shane Richie, Russell Crowe and Kian from west Life. Prince William has even been caught playing at a bingo club in Reading near Sandhurst Military Training center- what next! Buckingham Palace Bingo – I can’t see the queen calling the numbers – now wouldn’t that be something to write home about. Another star in the limelight is Sharon Osbourne, her new ITV chat show is being sponsored by Gala Bingo, this will be great advertising for both parties – who will be next inline to be involved with bingo and succumb to the bingo craze. Bingo is set to really take off over the next few years so it will be interesting to see where it goes.
