If there is one thing you’ll notice when you spend a bit of time in the UK, it’s that the nation’s loves bingo. Despite experiencing varied fortunes throughout the years, bingo has weathered the storm and remained dear to British hearts. 

From April 2019 to March 2020, that fondness generated 910 million GBP in revenue, according to market and consumer data company Statista. Below we look into the story of bingo in the UK and its popularity, especially in the capital, London.

How it all began

There seems to be some confusion as to when bingo arrived in the UK, but one thing on which there is consensus is that the nation’s soldiers enjoyed bingo as a form of entertainment during World War II. During this period, the game boosted their morale and they returned from battle wanting to play it with the families. 

It gradually became more popular throughout the 1950s and found its way into holiday camps, churches and other places. The British government recognized the appetite for the game and, 1960, passed the Betting and Gaming Act, which paved the way for traditional bingo halls to open and people to play the game for cash prizes. Bingo exploded. Unfortunately, these boom times wouldn’t last forever for the game.

Fighting for survival

Bingo truly flourished in the 1960s, but at the same time it was locked in battle with other forms of entertainment that had begun to materialize. This would see the game’s popularity start to diminish and traditional bingo halls to fall on harder times.

As well as taking to dancing, people had welcomed the arrival of television. This new form of entertainment started to keep them away from cinemas — some of which already had been transformed into bingo halls themselves as bingo became more popular —and bingo halls.

The introduction of a smoking ban in the UK kicked bingo halls while they were down. Numerous bingo halls closed. Some tried to counteract the ban by creating shelters outside in which players could smoke between games. 

Then traditional halls faced another big affront from the world of technology: the arrival of the internet, which saw shrewd entrepreneurs invest in the possibility of online bingo. Today, all bingo games are available online somewhere out there on the World Wide Web. Online bingo has boomed with various providers offering promotions and bonuses to attract new players. Providers now even also offer free bingo games, 888ladies free bingo is an example of free online bingo which is available to UK players. Free bingo allows players to trial out bingo games with no risks as they do not need to deposit their own money. Strategies like free bingo games have helped online bingo grow in popularity.

The arrival of the internet and online bingo saw the number of traditional offline bingo halls decline.

Bingo and London

The arrival of online bingo triggered a revival of the game, attracting young new players who revel in the convenience of having bingo available on their mobile devices. No longer is bingo viewed as a game solely for the older generations.

Londoners, in particular, love a good game of bingo. If you happen to be in the city, you can enjoy a range of themed bingo nights and sessions. These twists on the game have helped to breathe fresh life into bingo and make the game appeal to a younger audience, just as the availability of bingo on mobile devices.

What kind of bingo can you expect? Here are some examples:

Tizzy’s Dizzy Bottomless Bingo Brunch — The host is Tina Turner Tea Lady, who calls the numbers and provides the breakfast bites.

UKG Bingo — Are you into garage music or old-school tracks? This boozy bingo could be right up your street and includes a variety of challenges, such as lip sync battles.

Buff Bingo Party Brunch — If you like your men muscular and are a fan of drag queens, you’ll love the Buff Bingo Party Brunch. This bingo afternoon has a touch of naughtiness about it, with drag queens Ophelia Love and Kitty Scott Claus hosting, and ripped men bringing the drinks.

Hackney Mecca — This venue is a favorite with local regulars. Millennials are also fans of this bingo hall. They cannot resist the cheap food and pints.

Lada Gaga Drag Bingo — As you might expect from the name, this bingo night combines drag and bingo. There are also dance-offs, and the night puts some superb prizes up for grabs.

There are many party bingo events in London, with most now incorporating a bottomless brunch.

The benefits of online bingo

Since bingo is a popular game and London is a big city with a whole lot of people, so it is not always easy to find a seat in the city’s many bingo halls. In this case, some Londoners will prefer to turn to the online sphere for their games, since online bingo offers a range of perks and advantages:

Convenience

The greatest advantage, without doubt, is the convenience of not even having to leave your home to play. If you are not feeling particularly sociable, you can stay at home, dressed however you wish, and enjoy a game in comfort. 

Availability around the clock

Naturally, you can play at any time you wish as well, rather than wait for a bingo hall to open or have to leave when it closes. Online bingo is available around the clock. You also don’t have to leave the room if you wish to have a cigarette. 

Variety

If you fancy mixing things up, you can. As well as the standard version of bingo, online bingo operators offer a range of variations, such as 75-ball games. Some even operate games of Slingo or bingo roulette. Players are spoilt for choice.

Despite facing some stiff competition and enduring some hard times, bingo has persevered against the odds. Britain loves bingo. It probably always will.