The internet has facilitated the growth of many a new avenue for businesses both old and new alike. Just as its development has spawned the growth of services such as email and firmly placed them into the collective consciousness of the public, so it has also seen the rebirth of many more traditional forms of entertainment. Most shops now have an online presence and bookmaking has also taken advantage of the Internet to expand into this vast new market and now one of the mainstays of British life,
Bingo, is making the same journey, with equal success.
Online bingo is a relatively new notion in the world of online gambling. However the game itself is perfectly suited to the medium and as such, online
Bingo games have seen a massive increase in uptake over the past couple of years, so much so that Bingo is now the most popular leisure activity for UK women aged between 20 and 25 years!
But what is it that makes Internet Bingo, so appealing?
The truth is that there are many reasons. Firstly there is the social aspect of the game. Many users can log onto their favourite Bingo site, open up the chat facility included with many of them, load up the software and play the game while they chat to friends. It is almost a perfect replica of going to the bingo hall!
Except that in online bingo, you are allowed to chat to your friends while the game is in progress without some hard of hearing old dear chastising you for it, you only have to travel as far as your PC or laptop to play and don’t have to pay for overpriced drinks at the bar!
Another reason that has seen Bingo increase in popularity is the fact that many games providers now offer a facility where once you have purchased your tickets for any particular game, the software will mark your card for you. Sometimes called ‘auto daub’ or a variation on that, this means that as the numbers are drawn out, the software will ensure that your card is marked for you. This means that even as you chat to your friends, you won’t miss a ball.
Another online feature that helps the player is the “Best Card Sort” feature offered by many sites, this sorts a players card’s into order from the best card (i.e., the card on which they have marked off most numbers and are closest to winning on). This simple but effective tool allows the player’s to keep a track of their online bingo cards at a glance to see how close they are to winning.
Whilst we are on that topic, winning is another reason that online bingo games are a hit with so many! The inclusive nature of online Bingo combined with the sheer number and variety of games on offer, means that you can be playing for a wide variety of winning amounts. Winnings can vary from a few pounds in some small games, to several thousands of pounds in other larger games, and this can be further enhanced by winning a jackpot! Most
UK Bingo sites will show a list of recent big winners on the front page of their website and furthermore, these big prizes are often won on a daily basis, or occasionally more frequently! Smaller amounts are won far more frequently and together with bonus items, such as a sign up bonus that gives a new customer up to 100% of their initial deposit to play with, or free turns on other online games, mean that a new customer can deposit £20 into an account, have £40 to play with and start winning money quickly and easily.
However, it isn’t just the ease of use and the money on offer that is attractive to many. For others, playing Bingo serves as a fine way to relax and reduce stress levels, especially if you are able to chat freely with friends whilst playing. Online Bingo is much more a social phenomenon, rather than a gambling phenomenon and indeed for many the desire to win often comes a distant second to the chance to relax and chat with friends over a game online.
Finally of course, there is the game itself. Bingo is a hugely popular game because it is fair, simple and easy to understand. Before each game you buy at least one “bingo card” (you can buy more to increase your chances of winning if you choose to do so). On your card are marked a series of ‘houses’ each of which contain fifteen numbers, printed in ascending order from left to right and organised into units, tens, twenties, thirties, up to 75 (if you are playing a 75 ball game) or 90 (for a 90 ball game).
Once everyone has bought their ticket the game commences by the drawing of a numbered ball from the machine. If you have this number on your ticket, you mark it off by putting a cross or a daub on it. The first person to mark off all the numbers for the type of game being played, wins and announces it by shouting “Bingo!” or “House!” or something equivalent!
The winner of the game depends on the type of game being played. Some bingo games ask for the four corners of your card (that means the numbers in the top left, top right, bottom left and bottom right corners of your card) to be marked off for a win. Others ask for a line. Most, usually have a prize for all fifteen numbers to be marked off the card quickest, which is called a house.
To be successful in bingo requires nothing more than good luck and an ability to mark numbers and this is where the appeal lies. There is no great requirement for deep and detailed knowledge of the subject, no betting systems in place trying to assure you of victory. It’s just you and the numbers combined with relaxation, fun and the chance to win a serious amount of money if fortune favours you!
If you are looking to try some of the bingo games here in the UK then a good place to start is Bingo Liner. A simple to use site that offers a great deal for new customers, including a nice £20 bonus once you register and deposit some cash to play as well as containing everything you need to start enjoying the many and varied attractions of online bingo!