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Bingo is a game of chance where randomly-selected numbers are drawn and players match those numbers
to those appearing on 5x5 matrixes which are printed or electronically represented and are known as
"cards." The first person to have a card where the drawn numbers form a specified pattern is the winner
and calls out "Bingo!" to alert others to the win.
to those appearing on 5x5 matrixes which are printed or electronically represented and are known as
"cards." The first person to have a card where the drawn numbers form a specified pattern is the winner
and calls out "Bingo!" to alert others to the win.
The Game
Each bingo player is given a card marked with a grid containing a unique combination of numbers and, in
some countries, blank spaces. The winning pattern to be formed on the card is announced. On each turn,
a non-player, known as the caller, randomly selects a numbered ball from a container and announces the
number to all the players. The ball is then set aside so that it cannot be chosen again. The element of
skill in the game is the ability to search one's card for the called number in the short time before the
next number is called.
Canadian and American games often have multiple bingos — for example, the players may first play for
a single line, then after that is called continue playing for a full card, then for a consolation full card.
In Canadian and American Halls, players often play multiple cards for each game. Because of the large
numbers of cards played by each player, most Canadian and American halls have the players sit at tables
to which they often fasten their cards with adhesive tape. To mark cards faster the players usually use
special markers called dabbers. At commercial halls, after calling the number the caller then displays the
next number on a television monitor; bingo cannot be called until that number is called aloud, however.
The numbers already called and the patterns being played are also displayed on electric signs.
Each bingo player is given a card marked with a grid containing a unique combination of numbers and, in
some countries, blank spaces. The winning pattern to be formed on the card is announced. On each turn,
a non-player, known as the caller, randomly selects a numbered ball from a container and announces the
number to all the players. The ball is then set aside so that it cannot be chosen again. The element of
skill in the game is the ability to search one's card for the called number in the short time before the
next number is called.
Canadian and American games often have multiple bingos — for example, the players may first play for
a single line, then after that is called continue playing for a full card, then for a consolation full card.
In Canadian and American Halls, players often play multiple cards for each game. Because of the large
numbers of cards played by each player, most Canadian and American halls have the players sit at tables
to which they often fasten their cards with adhesive tape. To mark cards faster the players usually use
special markers called dabbers. At commercial halls, after calling the number the caller then displays the
next number on a television monitor; bingo cannot be called until that number is called aloud, however.
The numbers already called and the patterns being played are also displayed on electric signs.
Origins of Bingo
Bingo as we know it today is a form of lottery and is a direct descendant of Lo Giuoco del Lotto
d'Italia.When Italy was united in 1530, the Italian National Lottery Lo Giuoco del Lotto d'Italia was
organized, and has been held, almost without pause, at weekly intervals to this date.
In 1778 it was reported in the French press that Le Lotto had captured the fancy of the intelligentsia. In
the classic version of Lotto, which developed during this period, the playing card used in the game was
divided into three horizontal and nine vertical rows. Each horizontal row had five numbered and four
blank squares in a random arrangement. The vertical rows contained numbers from 1 to 10 in the first
row, 11 to 20 in the second row, et cetera, up to 90. No two Lotto cards were alike. Chips numbered from
1 to 90 completed the playing equipment. Players were dealt a single Lotto card, then the caller would
draw a small wooden, numbered token from a cloth boag and read the number aloud. The players would
cover the number if it appeared on their card. The first player to cover a horizontal row was the winner.
Bingo as we know it today is a form of lottery and is a direct descendant of Lo Giuoco del Lotto
d'Italia.When Italy was united in 1530, the Italian National Lottery Lo Giuoco del Lotto d'Italia was
organized, and has been held, almost without pause, at weekly intervals to this date.
In 1778 it was reported in the French press that Le Lotto had captured the fancy of the intelligentsia. In
the classic version of Lotto, which developed during this period, the playing card used in the game was
divided into three horizontal and nine vertical rows. Each horizontal row had five numbered and four
blank squares in a random arrangement. The vertical rows contained numbers from 1 to 10 in the first
row, 11 to 20 in the second row, et cetera, up to 90. No two Lotto cards were alike. Chips numbered from
1 to 90 completed the playing equipment. Players were dealt a single Lotto card, then the caller would
draw a small wooden, numbered token from a cloth boag and read the number aloud. The players would
cover the number if it appeared on their card. The first player to cover a horizontal row was the winner.
Beano
One evening in December of 1929, a very tired New York toy salesman, Edwin S. Lowe, decided to drive
on to Jacksonville, Georgia so that he might have an early start for his next day's appointments.
A few miles from Jacksonville, Lowe came around a bend in the road and was greeted by the bright
lights of a country carnival. As he was ahead of schedule, he parked his car and got out. All of the
carnival booths were closed except one, which was packed with people. Lowe stood on tiptoes and
peered over the shoulders of the participants. The action centered on a horseshoe shaped table covered
with numbered cards and beans. The game being played was a variation of Lotto called Beano. The
caller, pulled small numbered wooden disks from an old cigar box and called the number aloud. The
players responded by eagerly checking their card to see if they had the number called; if so, they would
place a bean on the number. This sequence continued until some someone filled a line of numbers on
their card - either horizontally, vertically or diagonally. This feat was marked by the shout of "Beano!"
The winner received a small Kewpie doll.
Ed Lowe tried to play Beano that night, but, he recalls, "I couldn't get a seat. But while I was waiting
around, I noticed that the players were practically addicted to the game. The caller wanted to close up,
but every time he said, "This is the last game', nobody moved. When he finally closed at 3:00 a.m. he
had to chase them out."
After locking up, the caller told Lowe that he had run across a game called Lotto while traveling with a
carnival in Germany the previous year. His immediate thought was that it would make a good tent or
carnival game. He made a few changes in its play, and changed the name to Beano. The game proved
to be such a surefire crowd pleaser and money maker that on his return to the United States, he
continued to work the game on the Carnival circuit.
Bingo
Returning to his home in New York, Lowe bought some dried beans, a rubber numbering stamp and
some cardboard. Friends were invited to his apartment and Ed Lowe assumed the caller's duties. Soon
his friends were playing Beano with the same tension and excitement as he had seen at the carnival.
During one session Lowe noticed that one of his players was close to winning. She got more excited as
each bean was added to her card. Finally there was one number left - and it was called! The woman
jumped up, became tongue tied, and instead of shouting "Beano," stuttered "B-B-B-BINGO!"
"I cannot describe the strange sense of elation which that girl's cry brought to me," Lowe said. "All I
could think of was that I was going to come out with this game, and it was going to be called Bingo!"
The earliest Lowe Bingo game came in two variations - a twelve card set for one dollar and a two dollar
set with twenty-four cards. The game was an immediate success and put Lowe's company squarely on its
feet.
Although the name Bingo could very well have been trademarked, the game itself, having come out of
the public domain, had little chance of being protected. Imitators came out of the woodwork once the
success of Lowe's game was evident. Lowe was very gracious about the whole affair. He asked his
competitors to pay him a dollar a year, and to call their games Bingo, too. A small price to pay to avoid
litigation - and thus the name became generic.
One evening in December of 1929, a very tired New York toy salesman, Edwin S. Lowe, decided to drive
on to Jacksonville, Georgia so that he might have an early start for his next day's appointments.
A few miles from Jacksonville, Lowe came around a bend in the road and was greeted by the bright
lights of a country carnival. As he was ahead of schedule, he parked his car and got out. All of the
carnival booths were closed except one, which was packed with people. Lowe stood on tiptoes and
peered over the shoulders of the participants. The action centered on a horseshoe shaped table covered
with numbered cards and beans. The game being played was a variation of Lotto called Beano. The
caller, pulled small numbered wooden disks from an old cigar box and called the number aloud. The
players responded by eagerly checking their card to see if they had the number called; if so, they would
place a bean on the number. This sequence continued until some someone filled a line of numbers on
their card - either horizontally, vertically or diagonally. This feat was marked by the shout of "Beano!"
The winner received a small Kewpie doll.
Ed Lowe tried to play Beano that night, but, he recalls, "I couldn't get a seat. But while I was waiting
around, I noticed that the players were practically addicted to the game. The caller wanted to close up,
but every time he said, "This is the last game', nobody moved. When he finally closed at 3:00 a.m. he
had to chase them out."
After locking up, the caller told Lowe that he had run across a game called Lotto while traveling with a
carnival in Germany the previous year. His immediate thought was that it would make a good tent or
carnival game. He made a few changes in its play, and changed the name to Beano. The game proved
to be such a surefire crowd pleaser and money maker that on his return to the United States, he
continued to work the game on the Carnival circuit.
Bingo
Returning to his home in New York, Lowe bought some dried beans, a rubber numbering stamp and
some cardboard. Friends were invited to his apartment and Ed Lowe assumed the caller's duties. Soon
his friends were playing Beano with the same tension and excitement as he had seen at the carnival.
During one session Lowe noticed that one of his players was close to winning. She got more excited as
each bean was added to her card. Finally there was one number left - and it was called! The woman
jumped up, became tongue tied, and instead of shouting "Beano," stuttered "B-B-B-BINGO!"
"I cannot describe the strange sense of elation which that girl's cry brought to me," Lowe said. "All I
could think of was that I was going to come out with this game, and it was going to be called Bingo!"
The earliest Lowe Bingo game came in two variations - a twelve card set for one dollar and a two dollar
set with twenty-four cards. The game was an immediate success and put Lowe's company squarely on its
feet.
Although the name Bingo could very well have been trademarked, the game itself, having come out of
the public domain, had little chance of being protected. Imitators came out of the woodwork once the
success of Lowe's game was evident. Lowe was very gracious about the whole affair. He asked his
competitors to pay him a dollar a year, and to call their games Bingo, too. A small price to pay to avoid
litigation - and thus the name became generic.
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