The Golden age of the bingo hall is well behind us and there’s no reason to expect it to return anytime soon. For decades, bingo fans preferred brick-and-mortar locations to enjoy their favourite game, but today they have shifted to the online environment. Internet bingo provides more options and offers enhanced diversity while delivering a more convenient and simple gaming experience.
Three decades of bingo hall excellence
The origins of bingo in Britain can be traced to the beginning of the 18th century, so the game has been around for nearly 300 years. When the early games were played nationwide, they had few fans, but the simplicity of bingo won the hearts and minds of more people. The game has changed quite a bit, with the early games morphing into what is now 90-ball bingo and its varieties.
Even though bingo was played by Brits for centuries, it was only legalized in the 1960s. This represented an important milestone for the bingo community and triggered a surge in the number of brick-and-mortar locations. This was the time when the first clubs were established and over the years, their number increased until they peaked in the 80s.
The 90s marked the decline of the British bingo hall as the expansion of the Internet signalled the start of an irreversible trend. Looking back, we can see how the game grew in popularity after the First World War and its expansion was pushed into overdrive in the 60s. Regulation proved to be the decisive factor, as it created a secure environment for players to enjoy the game and socialize.
Mobile devices make online bingo popular
The decline of the British bingo hall “started with online bingo alternatives, which appeal to most new players” said the popular online bingo comparison website BingoSites — It took a while until elderly people were willing to switch from land-based locations to online environments. Once they were convinced by the fairness of online games and discovered the convenience of gambling over the Internet, there was no going back.
Mobile devices have the merit of making the game popular with young audiences. A significant percentage of bingo players used to be elderly citizens, but this has changed in recent years. Today, the bingo community is more diverse and people regardless of age at background enjoy playing. Smartphones and tablets are used on a daily basis by regular people as they proved to be ideal platforms for online bingo.
The British bingo hall is not yet extinct, but there’s no chance for it to become the main place to enjoy the game. Players have discovered the thrills of online gambling and have no intention of going back. You can still find brick-and-mortar locations where you can play with fellow bingo fans and enjoy social interaction. The good news is that online bingo rooms have live chat and an overall friendly environment where you can make new friends and meet like-minded individuals who love bingo.
