For three decades, long before the innovation of cheap Spanish package holidays, most people’s summer vacations involved a seaside town or holiday camp such as Blackpool, Southend, Butlin’s and Pontin’s. And the No. 1 adult leisure activity at these Meccas of social culture, Bingo.
But as the 1980’s dawned and flights to utopias such as Magaluf and Benidorm got cheaper, Britain’s seaside’s suffered and the popularity of Bingo (and with it road trip bingo) waned as the sangria sales boomed.
Of course the blue rinse brigade remained loyal to the game, which probably originated in Italy in the 16th century, and this hardcore
fan-base meant bingo callers the length and breadth of the UK still had a small audience to declare outrageous and politically incorrect statements to – Sweet 16 (No. 16), Dirty Gertie (30), Life Begins (40), Old Age Pension (65), Two Fat Ladies (88) – come to mind.
The Internet Age
But then the internet came along and in addition to decimating auction sales, travel agents, sex shops and high street banks in a retail apocalypse, the microphones billowing “Garden Gate, Danny La Rue, Kelly’s Eye and 39 Steps” were sure to be unplugged forever as the glorified numbered ping-pong balls fell from the drum for a final time.
Yet, in more of a u-turn as opposed to a full-circle, the ease and simplicity of armchair bingo via online bingo sites has worked to send people back to bingo halls as opposed to draw them away forever.
Yes, you can enjoy the best bingo bonuses and promotions at Freebets.com, but a plethora of free-play online Bingo has simply served to educate a new younger audience to the virtues of one of the most fun-filled and exciting pastimes. Online bingo and online poker has
served to remove many of the intimidations newcomers of previous generations have suffered. No longer do people walk into a casino seeking a poker game not knowing if a flush beats a full-house and there can be no doubt a line is superior to four corners and a full house smashes two lines. Live bingo is enjoying a revival.
Bingo and Beyond!
But the old dog also has new tricks and new-age bingo halls may soon trade in their uniforms and tragically boring décor for a wild and wacky approach which sees an evening at the bingo closely represent a homogenised mix of a night at the darts, a Jean-Michel Jarre light show, a hen night and a prosecco fuelled Anne Summers party.
It’s true, it’s happening! Private bingo operators have been making some serious hay in recent years by throwing this lot into one melting pot and it has conspired to give live bingo a rebirth and this mamma is planning on having a big family.
