Since it was first developed more than 250 years ago, bingo has become a popular game all over the world. Thanks to its simplicity and continuous excitement, there is great affection for this game of chance that anyone can play.
The basic premise of bingo is that a “caller” reads numbers in a random sequence for players to mark off. Each player has different numbers on their card, the first to mark off a certain pattern yells “bingo!” to win.
Starting as “Lo Giuoco del Lotto D’Italia”, bingo spread from Italy to France during the 1770s. Renamed “Le Lotto,” the game moved from France to Germany, where it was used as a children’s learning tool.
The game first became popular in the UK and the U.S. shortly after World War I. In America, players used beans to mark their cards, giving it the new name of “beano”.
Bingo was formalised into the game we know today by toy salesmen Edwin S. Lowe and mathematician Carl Leffler. Lowe patented his bingo card in 1942 after Leffler developed the layout to minimise the chance of multiple simultaneous winners.
Today, bingo is played internationally in two main variations adopted from the standard U.K. and the U.S. games. People all over the world are also now playing bingo online through respected international platforms such as Jackpotjoy.
In the U.K. the favoured format is 90-ball bingo, meaning balls numbered from 1-90 are used. Each player’s card, or ticket, has three rows and nine columns, featuring up to 15 numbers in its 27 spaces.
This means there are just three ways to win: completing one line, two lines, or getting a “full house”. Tickets are generally sold in strips of six, giving a player at least six chances to win in each game.
In the United States, 75-ball bingo is preferred, this is played on cards with five rows and five columns. Player’s cards may be completely filled with 25 numbers or the centre square may be left blank.
This opens many more possibilities for winning patterns, beyond simply lines or completed cards. Columns, diagonals, circles, or even patterns such as the letter P or a bow tie can be used to win.
In the online world, choice and variety are key and digital players can enjoy both these formats and more. The variations of play online are really only limited by the game provider’s imagination.
Bingo is loved in nations all over the world, and Nigeria is no exception. Despite strict regulations on when and where games of chance can be played, online bingo has flourished in Nigeria.
By playing through international platforms such as Jackpotjoy, Nigerian citizens can freely enjoy bingo as often as they wish. So what is it about bingo that is attracting more and more of Nigeria’s 200 million citizens to play?
- Ease of play
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, bingo is exceptionally simple to play and accessible to almost everyone. Unlike games such as poker, bingo requires minimal learning and only the most basic skill levels.
Due to this simplicity, there are virtually no barriers for beginners looking to try out bingo, either solo or socially. With stake-free games and free credit welcome bonuses, players can even enjoy the thrill of bingo without any cost.
- Variety
75 and 90 ball bingo are not the only variation of games available. 80-ball bingo and mixed sessions are also available from many providers.
In addition to this, online bingo often includes special bonuses which give players the chance to win huge prizes. Special themes, music, graphics, and calls are also incorporated to create novel game variations to suit every player.
- Safe payment
While most online transactions are perfectly safe, there is always a small risk of fraud or theft. Registered and trusted online bingo platforms, as with all online casino games, have developed some of the internet’s safest systems.
With the increased integration of cryptocurrency using blockchain technology, this financial security continues to grow for players in every country. Using decentralised currencies through ultrasafe and completely transparent systems is reassuring for many Nigerian players.
- Fun
Above all, bingo’s popularity in Nigeria is growing because it’s a huge amount of fun to play. Prizes are a bonus but the thrill of knowing you could win at any time makes bingo incredibly exciting.
Bingo wouldn’t have become one of the most popular games on the planet for three centuries if it wasn’t fun. With increased access to it through new technology and the online space, Nigerians are discovering just how enjoyable it is.
Bingo has been played in Nigeria since British colonisation, but not on the same scale as in other nations. Now, with the phenomenal rise in online bingo, and its accessibility for Nigerian citizens, that all looks set to change.
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