Originally named ‘beano’, bingo is thought to have its roots in Italy, in around 1530. The first form of bingo was 90 ball bingo, followed by 75 and 80 ball bingo. In the 1990s, technology gave this global pastime a new lease of life and new forms of online bingo continue to emerge.
Just as there are countless variants of the classic casino games, bingo has given birth to numerous rooms and bingo games. Most can be grouped under 90, 80, or 75-ball bingo. However, new hybrids have emerged over the last decade or so, and have steadily increased in popularity. For example, 30-ball bingo, 5-line bingo, and progressive bingo all have a presence in different parts of the world. However, they don’t tend to be as accessible as other forms of online bingo at US and International sites. Today, we’re going to concentrate on two of the most popular ‘new’ forms of bingo – Slingo and bingo scratch cards.
Slingo
First introduced in 1994 by a New Jersey real estate developer, Sal Falciglia Sr, Slingo combines elements of bingo and slots to create an exciting new hybrid game. Slingo usually sits among online bingo games on many sites or may have its own section depending on the size of the sites and the importance afforded to each product.
Played on either slots-style reels or a grid, Slingo games often have bonus features such as free spins, multipliers, or even progressive jackpots. Bonus symbols such as devils and jokers pop up, to help or hinder. Slingo tends to be a fast-paced game and players can usually adjust their bets. They may have control over some elements within the game too, such as spin price and losses.
There are many versions of Slingo. Though they are often based on successful slots, they can also be inspired by anything, from films and TV shows to food or fairytales. You can usually play manually or automatically.
Bingo scratch cards
For those who prefer instant wins, many bingo sites now offer bingo scratch cards. Available on desktop or tablet, but particularly well suited to mobile bingo players, bingo scratch cards act the same as other online scratch cards. You use the screen button or mouse to scratch off the ‘foil’ to reveal the numbers.
Bingo scratch cards may also be automatic, so you simply watch as the numbers are revealed, to see if you have won. Generally, payouts are also instant, so you can stake a small amount of money and potentially have a big win in a matter of moments.
Bingo continues to evolve and gain new fans around the world. As new variants are created, that is likely to remain the case. Live game shows based around bingo, such as Mega Ball Live, are another recent twist.
Although not every online casino will provide bingo scratch and Slingo games, most sites should offer at least a few bingo titles. There are also many sites dedicated to online bingo or that incorporate a significant online bingo product into their overall offering.