How Bingo keeps up in the digital age

The early online revolution shook things up considerably for the gaming sector. At first, it wasn’t clear if games could successfully make the jump to digital, especially those that were so associated with physical venues.

During the boom of the Bingo halls, it would’ve seemed outlandish to imagine that thousands upon thousands of players would one day be playing daily free Bingo from their own homes instead.

But how did Bingo manage to make the move online so well? And what keeps players coming back to this classic game in the digital age?

Simplicity of gameplay

Possibly the biggest factor in Bingo’s favour is how simple it is to understand. Unlike more complex games such as Poker or Baccarat, it’s easy to pick up how to play Bingo within the space of a couple of minutes.

All you really need to know is that your goal is to match numbers on your Bingo card and fill out lines until you have a complete card. There are no complicated rules to learn, other than the differences between formats and a bit of player etiquette.

Any player can quickly pick up and play Bingo.

A variety of formats

Simplicity doesn’t have to mean boring, and Bingo is a great example of this. Players can grasp the basic gameplay quickly but that’s only the start.

Thanks to the variety of different Bingo formats on offer online it’s easy to vary things up. With differing ball counts, card layouts and win conditions, there’s always another version of the game to explore.

British players are likely more familiar with 90 ball Bingo, but thanks to online platforms they are free to try out the 75 ball version that Americans prefer.

Being presented on a computer or mobile screen also allows developers to experiment with different theming options that you wouldn’t see in a land-based Bingo room. In-depth theming, colourful graphics and effects all help to set online Bingo games apart.

Speed Bingo

One particular format that’s thrived online is the streamlined 30 ball format. Appropriately known as speed Bingo, this version of the game moves far faster than those with traditional high ball counts.

Players who wouldn’t have the time for a full round of 90 ball Bingo can still log on for a game of speed Bingo. With such a small number of balls in play a game can easily be over in minutes.

Only having to match a total of nine numbers and only getting to win on a full house gives a game experience that’s very different from any other.

Innovating with the basic format helps to keep Bingo feeling fresh and relevant to players. Fusion games like Slingo show that this old game still has plenty to offer players.

By taking advantage of its easy-to-understand gameplay and the variety of its different formats, Bingo was able to grow its popularity online. It doesn’t matter whether you’re more of a fan of classic 90 ball or the speedy 30 ball game, Bingo has fun to offer players of all tastes!