Bingo has gained more popularity over the last decades thanks to its presence online. The game is now accessible virtually for players to enjoy throughout the world.
The popularity of the game is apparent from the number of bingo sites that now exist. Players can find a range of the best bingo sites at: https://www.888ladies.com/best-bingo-sites/.
Playing games online can be particularly convenient if you do not have the time to play in-person with a group of individuals. With online games you can play whenever and wherever you want.
In this article, we will go over the basics of Bingo and give you a quick overview of the game’s history. We will discuss how the game transitioned from an in-person format to a virtual one thanks to the recent technological developments.
We will also explain what ‘bingo lingo’ means and what it represents. Finally, we’ll give you a list of some of the most popular bingo calls and their cultural meanings.
The basics of Bingo
Bingo is usually traced back to an Italian game from the 16th century. This has not been officially confirmed but is likely to be accurate.
The term ‘bingo’ itself appears to be inspired by the Italian game’s name “Il Giuoco del Lotto d’Italia”. The Italian game is a lottery game that later spread to France during the 18th century.
In France, the game became known as “Le Lotto”. It was played with 27 squares, spread out over three rows and nine columns.
Numbers from 1-90 are “randomly arranged in the boxes”. Then, a caller picks up a wooden number token and announces it to the players.
Players who have this number on their board will then cover it. The first player to cover a full horizontal row of numbers wins.
90-ball bingo is one of the most common bingo games.
From bingo halls to online bingo games
The game was originally played in bingo halls but with the progress of technology, bingo can now be played online.
This change came with the spread of the internet and 4G. Now, players can access bingo halls virtually via bingo websites.
The World Wide Web (WWW) was invented in 1989 by British scientist Tim Berners-Lee. His creation revolutionized the world and led to the development of new technologies such as smartphones, 4G, and more.
The popularity of online bingo is also linked to the increasing number of smartphone owners. People can now find mobile apps to play on their smartphones.
A recent survey revealed that 83.72% of today’s world population owns a smartphone.
What is bingo lingo?
Bingo Lingo refers to the terms used when playing bingo. You will come across many different bingo terms when playing.
It is useful, but not necessary, to know these terms when playing bingo. You might need to use bingo lingo when activating the chat room option in virtual bingo halls.
In online chat rooms, players tend to use bingo lingo for quicker communication. Here are some examples of bingo lingo you might come across:
- Wtg: this stands for ‘Way To Go’ and is used for people who win bingo or win a chat game
- Sys: this stands for ‘See Ya Soon’ and is used in online bingo chats before exiting the virtual chat room.
- 1tg, 2rtg or 3tg: these lingo words indicate how many numbers a player is missing to win the game. For example, if you’re only waiting on one number to win, you’ll use ‘1tg’ and so on.
The bingo vocabulary will also depend on where you’re playing. For example, some bingo calls will vary from country to country or from region to region.
Bingo calls tend to have different historical and cultural meanings behind them which is why they can change from place to place. We will give you some examples of popular bingo calls and their meanings.
There are various different bingo call-outs for various numbers.
The most popular bingo calls and their meanings
Ever wondered what a bingo call is and what it means? That is completely normal.
There are many different bingo calls out there with some being more obscure than others. We’ll discuss some of the more popular ones that you’ll have more chances of coming across.
Bingo calls are made by the caller, or the person leading the bingo game. Bingo calls are made by the caller after they announce a number.
The ‘call’ will have a link to the number and a hidden meaning. They are designed to keep audiences entertained and amused.
Some bingo calls even require audiences and players to respond with their own call!
Here are some of the most popular bingo calls:
- Kelly’s Eye
Kelly’s Eye refers to number 1. Some believe that the expression is based on the real-life story of Australian outlaw Ned Kelly.
Rumor has it that Ned Kelly only had one eye. That’s how number 1 became associated with Ned’s single eye.
It turns out that the legend is false. Ned Kelly actually had two eyes according to several sources.
Although the legend has proven inaccurate, the bingo lingo expression still exists and is one of the most popular ones of the game.
- Legs Eleven
This expression is used when the number 11 appears. That’s because the number 11 looks similar to two long and slender legs.
A common response call to this expression is wolf whistles from the audience members.
- Two Fat Ladies
This expression is used for the number 88 that resembles two fat ladies.
Final thoughts
In this article, we have discussed the origins of bingo and the game’s transition towards the virtual world.
Nowadays, you can choose to access bingo halls either physically or virtually, depending on your preferences.
We’ve also explained what ‘bingo lingo’ means and given you some examples of popular bingo lingo words and calls.
You can now access online bingo chat rooms and talk with other bingo players by using some of the lingo words we have presented.
