History of UK bingo both online and brick and mortar

Playing bingo online has become one of the most popular leisure time activities in the United Kingdom, and in the Unites States. There are now literally thousands of websites where you can play bingo online. Many sites even offer bingo games that you can play for free with no cash deposit or account needed.

One of the main reasons online bingo is so popular in the United Kingdom, and elsewhere is because you can play any time from the comfort of your own home. If you have a computer and internet access you can play bingo at one of the many online casino websites.

Another reason that online bingo is so very popular is because it is an inexpensive or even free way to spend your leisure time. Many casinos offer bingo games online for free, and others offer large bonuses for even small deposits into an online account. For a fairly small buy in bingo players are offered the opportunity to win large cash prize jackpots.

Besides the opportunity to win large sums of cash for a small deposit, there is also a social aspect of playing bingo online. Most casinos also offer bingo chat rooms where you can get to know your fellow players and develop an online relationship with others who share your interest.

The game of bingo has actually been around since the mid-1500s and originated in Italy where it is still played weekly. In the 1700s the French aristocracy began playing the game and called it Le Lotto. By the 1800s lottery style games were hugely popular all over Europe and educational variations had been developed to help school children learn multiplication tables, spelling, and other subjects. School children around the world still play bingo in classrooms today. Bingo was brought to America by a traveling carnival where the game was called “Beano” these were the first games where you were allowed to win by getting a full row across horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

 A traveling toy salesman Mr. Edwin S. Lowe visited a “beano” tent at one of these traveling carnivals and immediately realized the money making potential of the game. Mr. Lowe made his own beano cards and invited some friends over to play. Upon getting a full line of numbers one of his friends yelled out “bingo” instead of beano, and the name stuck. After that, “Lowes Bingo” quickly became a huge success, and by the middle of the 1930s Bingo halls were popping up all over the place. Churches quickly adopted the game as a means of fund-raising to help them through times of financial struggle.

After World War II, British soldiers brought the Bingo game back home with them. The game was so popular that commercial bingo operations were set up all over the country after the Betting and Gaming Act of 1960 was established. Throughout the 1960s, 70s, and 80s bingo halls remained a popular form of entertainment and socializing in spite of the introduction of the television. Several forms of entertainment like movie theaters and dance halls were adversely affected with the introduction of the television set to homes, but the brick and mortar bingo halls in the UK have remained wildly popular.

Online bingo was first introduced in 1996, on a website called The Bingo Zone. The website was immediately popular, and other online bingo sites were quickly introduced. As more people got internet access in their homes online gaming became more popular. Online bingo is popular with players of all ages and races, but the key demographic of players in the UK seems to be women between the ages of 20 and 25 years old. The latest statistics show that there are more than 3 million online bingo players in the UK alone. These statistics also found that 90% of online bingo players are younger than 50, and 85% of those players are women. Amazingly, in spite of the soaring popularity of online bingo in the UK only 1% of bingo players in the UK play online! The other 99% of players are still playing bingo in the traditional bingo halls. No wonder there are so many sites to play bingo online...the market has nowhere to go, but up...way up!

One of the reasons playing Bingo online is so popular now compared with the traditional brick and mortar bingo halls in the UK is because the game is so easy to play. Even with the different variations of bingo games available all you really have to do is match a line of numbers. The games are inexpensive or even free to play, and the games are fast. Fast games mean more opportunities to win a jackpot prize. The biggest single jackpot prize in the UK is thought to be £1.2 million in 2009. A jackpot that large is rare of course, but players regularly win jackpots ranging anywhere from less than £100 to tens of thousands of pounds.

Most online casinos and bingo websites accept more than one form of payment if you decide you want to fund an account, enabling quick deposits and quick withdrawals. Most sites will accept wire transfers, Paypal, cheques, and most major credit cards, but there are other alternatives to fund your account as well. One such alternative payment method is Click2pay. With Click2pay you can use your debit card, credit card, or bank account to fund an account. Setting up an account is quick and your money is available instantly. Ukash is another payment option that is widely accepted by online casinos in the United Kingdom. Purchase your Ukash voucher at one of 1,000's of retailers and deposit the amount you want to spend on the voucher. This is a great option if you are uncomfortable using your debit or credit card information online and online bingo regulation in the uk is among the strictest and safest in the world.

Neteller is another payment option widely accepted by UK online casinos. Neteller can be funded using your debit or credit card or your bank account. You may also fund a Neteller account by wire transfer. Your Neteller account is funded instantly and you can open an account online with just a few clicks. Skrill, formerly known as Moneybookers, is another payment option that is widely accepted. To fund a Skrill account you may use your debit or credit card, or through a direct wire transfer. Setting up an account is easy and can be quickly completed online. ECO is another e-wallet service. You can fund an ECO account through your debit or credit card, bank account or by wire transfer from Western Union or Moneygram. An ECO account can be set up quickly online, and funded instantly.

The Paysafe Card is another payment method you can use for funding a UK online casino account. The Paysafe Card works by purchasing a card from one of thousands of retailers and placing the amount you want to spend on the card. No bank accounts, credit or debit cards are required to use a paysafe card. Entropay is a prepaid Visa credit card, and there are no credit checks required because you can only spend the amount funded on the card. Entropay is accepted wherever you can use a Visa card. You can fund your Entropay card via your debit or credit card. Clickandbuy is another popular online payment method. 1,000's of online retailers accept this method of payment and most online casinos do as well. Funding a Clickandbuy account can be done through your credit or debit card, or by wire transfer. Clickandbuy accounts may also be funded in person through local merchants that accept clickandbuy payments.

Ewire is another payment option that is accepted by many UK online casinos to fund your account for bingo or other games. Ewire is serviced through EnvoyOneClick and is a secure payment method. You can use your debit or credit card to fund your Ewire account, and keep all your personal banking information private. Instadebit is another form of payment that many online casinos accept. Instadebit is another payment option that is often accepted. Instadebit accounts only require an email account, and a valid bank account. You don't have to have a credit or debit card to use their services. Usemyservices is another payment option that is accepted by many UK online casinos. Usemyservices offers two different payment options called Usemyfunds and Usemycard. Usemyfunds is linked to your bank account and allows you to pay securely without releasing any of your information. Usemycard is perfect for those who don't have a credit card or who prefer not to use their credit cards for online purchases. Usemycard allows you to use your bank account to fund your card.

Playing bingo online in the UK will probably enjoy its popularity for quite some time to come. There are many online casinos for you to choose from if bingo is a game that you enjoy and you prefer the benefits of online bingo compared to traditional brick and mortar bingo halls. Many casinos offer free games or you can fund an account and be eligible for cash and prizes. Most casinos offer a handsome sign up bonus if you decide to fund an account with them, and others offer special promotions on a weekly or monthly basis. Playing bingo online is an enjoyable way to spend a few hours, and you never know you may just walk away with a few extra pounds in your pocket.