Many popular games have large followings and massive appeal in today’s world. But most are just games that people participate in and move on once they are over or until the next. However, games like bingo crossed the popular threshold and became part and parcel of the community of people that play the game.

Bingo started in the early 1500s in Italy, where it made its way into France, later to the UK, and eventually the rest of the European content. It was one of the primary forms of entertainment during the Second World War, and even in today’s digitised world, it still has a massive following. So how has bingo managed to capture people’s attention for this long?

In this article, we’ll look at how bingo is more of a culture and lifestyle than just a game and what it means. Keep reading to learn more.

All Generations Play Bingo

In the recent past, bingo was more popular with the older generation than with the young. But in places like the UK and other regions in the EU, they have managed to turn that trend around and made it cool for the young generations. Furthermore, many young adults who are currently playing say they started playing when they were young and want to keep up the tradition.

Bingo is also a common family bonding event in many bingo-playing cultures, and for many people, it’s the norm other than the exception. Therefore, playing bingo is more of a family event than a generational game like it used to be just a few years back.

The Older Generation Uses Bingo to Stay Active

Bingo is a social game that brings people together. It’s also not uncommon for retired people to look for something to do to keep them occupied and active. Most find bingo as the perfect medium between something challenging, social and rewarding. As such, bingo has evolved from just a game older people play to part of their culture when they get to a certain age.

Furthermore, your life is likely to follow the same trajectory, and bingo might be the only thing that keeps you sane in your olden days.

Online Bingo is Still Popular

Many games have tried the digital transition but failed. The online versions of most games are either not as good as the actual game or not as entertaining or appealing. However, because bingo is more of a lifestyle and cultural phenomenon, audiences had no problem transitioning to the online platforms. Bingo operators enjoy a good share of online players, and that’s only bound to increase.

Statistics show that about 90% of internet users use mobile devices to play online, indicating that even the older generation took to bingo games on line.

Bingo has Survived for Hundreds of Years

Bingo goes all the way back to 1530, when Italians invented the game. It then made its way to France, where the aristocrat took a liking to the game. Then it made its way across the channel and into London, where bingo really picked up.

And after all those years, bingo still enjoys a massive fan base that’s still growing online. We don’t know about you, but we can’t name many things still surviving from the 1500s other than bingo. Furthermore, if it wasn’t for bingo’s lifestyle and cultural status, we doubt if it would have made it this long.

Bingo is UK’s National Game

It would be an understatement to say that bingo is popular in the UK. Brits love bingo more than any other people, including Italians who originated the game. The whole nation rallies behind bingo, and almost everyone in the country plays it. Since the game’s introduction, bingo became a part of Brits culture, and it has ever been so.

Bingo is also the country’s unofficial national game and even enjoys the 27th of June as its unofficial nationwide day. It’s even rumoured that the royal family still plays bingo together as part of their bonding process.

Bingo has Health Benefits

Bingo has shown to have health benefits for those who play the game, especially the elderly. It helps improve hand-eye coordination as well as reduce stress and anxiety. It also enhances hand dexterity in elders and helps keep them active, which is not only good for their physical but mental well-being. Furthermore, playing bingo as you advance in age is recommended to help you cope with your changing circumstances.

In addition, medical practitioners found that recommending bingo to ailing or patients recovering from surgery in the hospital helps shorten their healing period. This means that bingo’s cultural role is not only limited to entertainment but spans even into the medical field.

Commercial Success

Nothing says that something is part of a people’s lifestyle and culture more than commercial success. And since the days of theatres closing down and bingo taking over the halls, to today’s online world, bingo has experienced tremendous success. Bingo players love it for the jackpots and numerous promotions bingo operators have while they enjoy a healthy profit.

Even today, it might seem like bingo halls are constantly running out of business and shutting down. But it’s essential to remember that this is just a reflection of people’s changing preferences. In fact, for every bingo hall that closes, two new bingo sites or games come up. And as long as bingo remains part of people’s culture, it will stay successful.

Conclusion

Bingo is a beautiful game with a lot of rich history. It has survived hundreds of years, and if its dominance in the online space is anything to go by, it’s poised to survive a hundred more. Furthermore, bingo has managed to pull off what only other few games have, and that’s to become a part of the lifestyle and culture of its patrons.

As such, bingo is not just a game but a way of life that those involved love and revere. So if you’re just getting into bingo, learn its roots, and you might find you can’t get enough of the game until it becomes part of who you are.