Coral’s complete history of UK bingo!

Lift-off in the UK

By the 1940s it was believed that nearly all of America was enjoying bingo, and that would quickly be the case in various parts of Europe, particularly the UK. During the 1950s a popular choice of entertainment for people in Britain was going to the cinema and theatre. However, the introduction of ITV meant that people could stay in and watch their TV, resulting in a overall decrease of cinema-goers now looking for an alternative form of entertainment.

Many cinemas changed to dance halls, concert halls, and eventually bingo halls. Initially some major London cinemas would put bingo on for a few days a week as a trial. Although, it quickly became clear that bingo was far more popular and so, many venues across the country would permanently change.

The bingo halls would attract all sorts of players, all sat listening to the caller, and they still exist to this day, but not in the same number as the 60s.

It was around this time that the bingo calls were becoming more common, which certainly added some entertainment to the game. Many of the calls are still going to this day, although some have been adapted along the way.

Online begins to take over!

Over the next few decades, bingo halls would remain to be very popular, yet you could argue they did peak throughout the 60s. But, as the world began to change with new technology, so did bingo.

The first online bingo game was believed to have been launched in 1996, but it’s fair to say that it wouldn’t have been played by many. Over the next decade however, things would begin to grow.

As mentioned, technology increased and during the mid to late 2000s it became the norm to turn to online methods for various aspects of your day to day life, from shopping to banking. Inevitably gambling took that form, whether you were going to place a bet on the football, or enjoy a game of bingo, it would be done online.

Despite this, it didn’t spell the complete end of bingo halls, with many still in operation up and down the country, often played at clubs and functions. The social aspect of playing and meeting friends is something that the online world couldn’t replicate.

Wide range of games available

Throughout the history of bingo, including online, there was only really one type of game to play, the traditional 90-ball method. That would see the three rows and nine columns, but players could play for a few more prizes. Wins for a complete line were introduced, sometimes for the first two, will the main prize would be awarded for the full house, where every number was marked off.

However, as players with Coral will know, thanks to our brilliant bingo tab, there are more variations of the classic game today than ever before.

The 90-ball format still exists, but you can now try your hand at completely new versions!

This includes shorter versions of the game, such as 40-ball bingo that is based on the popular Rainbow Riches slot, as well 50-ball, 75-ball and 80-ball options. The obvious advantage of the shorter format is that games are quicker — which essentially means non-stop bingo action.

The online option has also transformed how you can play bingo — there are no time limits and you can play whenever, as well as having so much choice.

So, there you have it!  A rundown of bingo and how one of the nation’s favourite games has evolved over time. Regardless of the changes, the idea remains the same, and the prospect of winning from this form of entertainment is a great draw to players everywhere. Given the range of games available, you could argue bingo is better than ever — so go and enjoy! Good luck.