Editorial note: this guide is general information about how bingo, competitions, lotteries and gambling work in the UK. It is not advice, and it does not describe any specific promotion offered by Fortune Games. Rules, prices and regulations can change, so always check the operator’s current terms.
The history of bingo: where did it begin?
Bingo grew out of a 16th-century Italian state lottery, spread through France and Germany as an educational game, and took its modern shape in 1920s America, where a toy maker turned it from a carnival game called “beano” into “bingo”. It arrived in Britain decades earlier in other forms, but the bingo hall boom came after the law changed in 1960.
From an Italian lottery to the seaside
Most historians trace bingo to Il Giuoco del Lotto d’Italia, a numbers lottery running in Italy from the 1530s. A French version, Le Lotto, became popular with the wealthy in the 18th century, and German educators used a similar grid game to teach children numbers and spelling. By the early 20th century the game had reached American fairgrounds as “beano”, played with dried beans and a rubber stamp, before being renamed and refined into the version most people would recognise today.
British bingo halls and the move online
In Britain, simple housey-housey and tombola games were played for years, but commercial bingo halls took off after the Betting and Gaming Act 1960 allowed members’ clubs to run cash games. Disused cinemas became bingo halls, and the social side — a night out, a caller, a shared room — became part of the appeal. Online bingo launched in the UK around the turn of the millennium, keeping the calling, the tickets and the chat while letting people play from home at any hour.
Frequently asked questions
Who invented bingo?
No single person invented it. The numbers-lottery format dates to 16th-century Italy; the modern name and 75-ball style were popularised in 1920s America by toy maker Edwin Lowe after he saw a carnival game called “beano”.
Why is it called bingo?
The story goes that a player at one of Edwin Lowe’s early games got excited and shouted “bingo” instead of “beano”. The name stuck and replaced the original.
How old is bingo?
The underlying lottery game is roughly 500 years old. Bingo in its modern, named form is about a century old, and commercial bingo halls in Britain date from the 1960s.
When did online bingo start?
Online bingo first appeared around 2000 and grew quickly in the UK over the following decade, offering the same calls and tickets as hall bingo in a digital room.
Related guides: How to play bingo · Bingo calls explained · Is bingo gambling?
18+ only. Gambling should be fun, never a way to make money. Please play responsibly and only with money you can afford to lose. If gambling is affecting you or someone you know, free, confidential support is available 24/7 from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, run by GamCare. You can also visit BeGambleAware (begambleaware.org) or self-exclude from UK-licensed online operators through GAMSTOP (gamstop.co.uk).