Online Bingo Facts

As the increasing amount of new online bingo sites continues apace, it is perhaps worthwhile reviewing a few bingo facts that helped to establish the game into its current form.

• Bingo originates from the Italian National Lottery which was initiated way back in 1530.

• Edwin Lowe, a humble toy salesman, was responsible for the transformation of bingo. The game saved his company from bankruptcy. Originally called Beano, the game’s name was changed by Lowe after an overexcited lady rose from her chair and mistakenly shouted ‘Bingo’ as she won.

• Carl Leffler, a University of Columbia mathematician, reportedly went insane as a result of developing 6,000 bingo cards, all with non-repetitive number groups.

• In Germany, Bingo play was developed to educate children in areas of maths, English and history.

• There are over 1.4 million combinations on any given bingo card.

• A bingo caller averages 23 numbers per minute, around one every three seconds.

• 95% of Bingo players have won at least one game.

• A game of bingo in the UK takes an average of four and a half minutes.

• It takes a winner an average of thirty seconds to check a claim.

• In North Carolina, USA, it is illegal for a bingo game to exceed five hours.

• 67% of online bingo players subscribe to more than one site.

• 96% of online bingo players have won at least once.

• 85% of online bingo players in the UK are female.

• The main incentive for women to play bingo is the social interaction afforded by the game.

• The annual ‘caller of the year’ award is a much coveted title and the winner is awarded with a two week holiday.

• Online bingo is the number one leisure activity for women between the ages of 20 and 25.

• Famous celebrities, such as Shane Ritchie from the UK and the Oscar-winning Australian actor Russell Crowe, began their working lives as bingo callers.

• 48% of new bingo players are under the age of 35 years.

• Over 30,000 people are employed in the bingo gaming industry in the UK.

• Bingo is the only gambling game British armed forces are officially allowed to play.