When Did Online Bingo Start?
Bingo is a classic game, as it was invented centuries ago and quickly spread across Europe and then the entire world. Easy to learn and master, fun to play, and encouraging social interactions, it has won the hearts and minds of people from all over the world and all backgrounds. Online bingo is a relatively new invention, as it was made possible by the arrival of the Internet and its spread worldwide. The first online bingo games were played in the mid-90s, but the gaming industry grew a lot since then.
Two decades of roaring success
The first online bingo sites like SwankyBingo.com were created in the mid-90s, but at the time, they offered a handful of slots to a small community of enthusiastic players. The industry came a long way and nowadays, there are thousands of casinos, including many that offer bingo. Software developers have diversified their portfolios to accommodate fans of the genre and there are also plenty of dedicated bingo rooms. These are the best places to try your luck if you’re a fan of the game and want to play for free or real money.
Bingo is one of the last games to be wholeheartedly embraced by online casinos, as they were unable to meet the high expectations of conservative players. Those who enjoyed the game in brick-and-mortar bingo parlors were reluctant to switch to online bingo. They were afraid that by embracing Internet gaming, they would miss out on one of the key components of the game, which is socializing. The arrival of chat rooms put this concern to rest and ensure the popularity of online bingo.
Online bingo is played mainly on mobile
Smartphones and tablets have acted as catalysts for success for the entire gaming industry and bingo rooms were some of the beneficiaries. Handheld devices have simplified matters for online gamers, by bringing their favorite games to their fingertips. Bingo is one of the games that run smoothly on smartphones, as they look and work nicely on smaller displays. Given the ever-expanding size of modern phones’ screens and the growing popularity of tablets, online bingo only got more popular.
Internet bingo rooms now allow players to sign up for an account, make a deposit, and cash out winnings entirely on mobile devices if they prefer. They also meet them halfway with bonuses and promotions that can be claimed on these gadgets, including some exclusive for mobile. These are all strong incentives for punters to switch to smartphones and tablets, which in turn, increases the number of active bingo players.
The beauty of online bingo is that you can play it for free or for real money, depending on your bankroll and preferences. A significant chunk of the community consists of recreational punters, who regard bingo as a casual pastime. That’s why, there are so many more people playing bingo online today, as opposed to its humble beginnings, more than two decades ago.