Bingo was once a favorite pastime in the UK, with bingo halls regularly packed on Saturday nights. It was a game that the whole family enjoyed due to its simple rules and fast-paced gameplay.
But by the mid-2000s, he had completely fallen out of favor with younger generations. Images in popular culture portrayed it as a game for retirees, played in seedy halls with little excitement.
So how did the industry turn the tables? The answer is to embrace the internet and ride the wave of online gambling. Bingo is now one of the most popular online activities among people aged 25-54 and there are around 3.5 million registered online bingo players in the UK.
Online contest
The increase in competition evoked by the transition of online Bingo has forced providers to differentiate themselves in the market
With increasing demand for games, it’s no wonder that online bingo sites have started popping up all over the place. Today, there are hundreds of dedicated online bingo sites. Players can play in their web browser or by downloading the site’s companion app, making it easy to play games on the go.
But with so many different bingo sites to choose from, it becomes difficult to tell them apart. So, bingo site operators have to work hard to stand out from the crowd. There are several ways to do this:
- Unique branding with memorable characters, ads and slogans.
- Attractive sign-up offers and loyalty programs.
- Wide variety of bingo games offered.
- Payment options including cryptocurrencies and online wallets.
Which bingo game is right for you?
In order to maximize the number of games available to people, online bingo providers like 888ladies begins to offer different variants on the standard bingo game. Although the main idea remains the same – the numbers are announced randomly and you have to match them to your card to win – changing the number of balls or the winning pattern really shakes things up.
90 ball bingo
This is the traditional version of bingo played in the UK and uses balls numbered 1-90. This version has a bingo card with 15 numbers to match, divided into three rows of five. There are many different winning odds; be the first to fill a line, or two lines, or the whole card for different bingo prizes.
75 ball bingo
This variant is more common in the United States and Canada and only uses balls numbered 1 to 75. The balls are divided into five groups, one for each letter of the word bingo, and this is how they are laid out on a card 5×5 – with a column dedicated to the numbers of each letter. The middle space of the card is always free space, so players only have 24 numbers, and they don’t have to match them all.
75 ball bingo games are won by matching numbers in a given pattern on your card. Popular patterns include the outer edge, a square in each corner, and even letters like E and L. As these patterns can change with each game, it adds an extra element of excitement and frustration, especially when you have to scratch some figures, but they are not in winning places!
80 ball bingo
Similar to 75 ball bingo in that you must complete a pattern to win, but this time your card is smaller, despite there being extra balls in the pot. 80 ball bingo cards have 16 numbers arranged in four rows of four. The fun here comes from the variety of different models available and how each game is slightly different.
30 ball bingo
This is fast bingo at its best! Each player is dealt a 3×3 card with nine numbers, and you must complete the entire card to win. Because there are only 30 balls, these games are much faster, perfect for players who spend their time on a commute or lunch break, or who want to play multiple games.
disco bingo
This fun new version of bingo throws the balls in favor of disco tunes and retro slogans. Players are given a 5×5 bingo card, the same as in 90 Ball Bingo, but instead of having 25 numbers, each square instead has a short disco reference. It can be the name of a song, a group or a word like “groovy”, “party” or “fun”.
Players tune into the Disco Bingo stream and listen to their songs play. If you hear a famous disco song like Dancing Queen, Staying Alive or I Will Survive, you can cross off the artist or song name from your card. Don’t worry if you miss one, as the online bingo software will automatically stamp the spot for you – all you have to do is enjoy the music.
In summary
83% of online bingo players say the main reason they play is to have fun, proving that modern online bingo has completely redesigned the game, transforming bingo from dull to fabulous. There are many different versions of bingo games available online, so you can choose the one that suits your needs. Whether it’s a long game, a traditional game or a fun and funky disco bingo game, there’s something for everyone.