Bingo (British version)
game played in the United Kingdom
Bingo is a game of probability in which players mark off numbers on cards as the numbers are drawn randomly by a caller, the winner being the first person to mark off all their numbers. Bingo, traditionally known as Housey-Housey, became increasingly popular across the UK following the Betting and Gaming Act 1960 with more purpose-built bingo halls opened every year until 2005. Since 2005, bingo halls have seen a marked decline in revenues and many have closed. The number of bingo clubs in Britain dropped from nearly 600 in 2005 to under 400 in 2014. These closures have been blamed on high taxes, the smoking ban, and the rise in online gambling.
In Quebec, this game is called Kinzo. In India, it is known as Tambola.
Bingo played in the UK (90-ball bingo) is distinct from bingo played in the US (75-ball bingo), which has a square ticket layout and a different style of calling.
History
The game itself, not originally called bingo, is thought to have had its roots in Italy in the 16th century, specifically, around 1530. Bingo originates from the Italian lottery, Il Gioco del Lotto d'Italia.
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This entry incorporates text from “Bingo (British version)” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.