One of the most unique aspects of bingo over the years has been the variety of nicknames that have been associated with the game. Most of the nicknames have revolved around replacing commonly repeated phrases within the game and simplifying them, ranging from terms such as One Little Duck to refer to the number 2 looking like a duck, to Doctor’s Orders referring to the number nine, considering it was a laxative pill given to military personnel during World War II.

For individuals who played bingo prior to the advent of the online bingo craze through various bingo sites, these nicknames have some reminiscence about them. In many ways they are considered nostalgic in the 21st century, because the introduction of the electronic Random Number Generator, or RNG, all but eliminated the use of nicknames in mainstream bingo. The only place to really come across the old nicknames anymore is in places where bingo is played for fun, such as free bingo at holiday resorts, churches and other social clubs where the focus is on fun rather than big business. But when it comes to the monetary side of the game, nicknames have no place or purpose when everything is about speed and winning as many games as possible in the shortest amount of time to increase earnings. Bingo halls and bingo sites simply refer to things in shorter, simpler terms these days, and much like text messages have replaced common words with acronyms, the same has happened to bingo.

May 06 2010