History of Bingo
Few of us remember a time when we didn't know about bingo. Bingo is a game played not only by adults vying for cash awards, but also by children trying to while away long card trips or learn basic educational principles. However, how did this classic game originate?
Early History of Bingo
Bingo has the same principles as a lottery. In fact, it began as a lottery game in 16th century Italy, called Lo Giuoco Code Loto. The game spread through France and Germany, evolving as it did, until finally it found its way to the United States in the late 19th century. In the U.S., people often referred to bingo as keno, although there is no relationship between the two games as they are known today.
Modern Bingo
In 1929, a carnival in Atlanta was calling a game called Beano, which involved covering numbers on cards with beans. The game's name may have come from its use of beans and the fact that it rhymed with keno. A toy salesman from New York named Edwin Lowe brought the game back to New York, where it not only took off, but became "bingo," due to the excited shout emitted by one of his players upon winning the game.
Today, somewhere every day somewhere in the United States, there is a bingo game going on. It is a popular game for church events and for raising money for charity. It can also be a big gambling game -- the Foxwoods casino in Connecticut has an enormous hall dedicated entirely to bingo. Bingo prizes can be in the form of selected items of interest or monetary rewards.