Bingo has come a long way since the smoke-filled halls of the 1960s, when it tended to be played by elderly working-class women and men of limited education on run-down council estates.

These days, players come from all backgrounds and walks of life, and the game is becoming increasingly popular with the affluent young. Facilities are now chic and clean – a far cry from their earlier counterparts – and you’re more likely to be sipping a cafe latte or cappuccino than a half stout.

Despite its environmental transformations, Bingo itself remains essentially unchanged. A felt-tipped dauber may have replaced the old counters and pencils, and sleek plastic cards for the old stiff boards, but there’s still a Caller out front to read off the numbers.

You match these up with the numbers on your card to complete a pre-arranged pattern announced by the Caller at the start. The first player to match all his or her numbers usually claims a cash prize, which can be anything from 50 pounds to a million, depending on the venue. A floor walker will verify the win when a player shouts ‘Bingo’ loud enough for everyone to hear.   

Bingo stimulates the brain and fosters a sense of community. An increasingly popular trend is for a game to be played at several venues simultaneously via a satellite connection. The prizes tend to be bigger at these events due to more money in the pot. Online Bingo has also taken off with advances in computer technology, so you can now sip your cafe latte in the comfort of your own home whilst playing.

Mar 25 2010