How is bingo played around the world?

The gambling sector in the UK is booming with the industry now being worth a staggering £15.1 billion according to research by the Gambling Commission.

One game that hasn’t escaped this boom is the game of bingo. Well-known around the world for its simplicity and universal appeal, bingo has broken boundaries and gone on to become one of the world’s most popular games.

If you’re curious about the origins of bingo, we’ve broken down the many ways bingo is played across the world and the shared joy it brings below.

Traditional bingo in the United States and Europe

The game of bingo itself can be traced back to Italy in the 16th century, during 1530. Bingo comes from the Italian lottery, Il Gioco del Lotto d'Italia. From there it took France by storm where it was played by none other than the French aristocracy!

While bingo was once a way of raising funds, it then became a mainstream entertainment activity for all generations.

Online bingo in Asia and Latin America

Somewhat surprisingly, the online bingo market is growing in popularity in Asia and Latin America. But they differ ever so slightly. This is because different countries have different symbols or numbers that have special meanings, so it’s only right that they're incorporated into bingo cards.

In China, the number eight is considered lucky, so it’s more common to find it on the bingo cards if you’re playing bingo in China.

In Latin America, some bingo games will have themes taking inspiration from special festivals such as Dia de los Muertos or Cinco de Mayo. These special themes add to the charm of bingo and reel in huge audiences every year.

Bingo as a social phenomenon

Despite all countries playing bingo slightly differently, there’s one thing in common: bingo has become an increasingly social phenomenon.

Following the introduction of mobile bingo, much younger generations have started getting involved with the game. This is largely down to the fact that bingo is far more accessible as 93% of adults in the UK own a mobile phone. With more people playing, it means the chat rooms have a real draw for many players, helping keep different generations engaged.

Many bingo companies have also made the game unique by using themes based on different popular television series. For example, the new Deal or No Deal bingo game took the world by storm in 2023! This has added another sense of camaraderie to the game, further enhancing its social appeal.

While nobody can be completely certain what the future holds for online bingo, it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.