London was once the spiritual home of bingo in the UK, and where many of the first halls were built throughout the 20th century. After the turn of the millennium, interest in the game took a bit of a downturn but now it’s back with a bang online. Thanks to the growth of the digitalised version, bingo live events could soon return to the mainstream and be a big part of the capital’s nightlife scene.
Online Bingo is Attracting More Players than Ever
Before bingo moved online, the game seemed to have clear demographics. It was predominantly played by middle-aged women, who saw the bingo hall as their alternative to the traditionally male-dominated public house. Nowadays, online bingo sites have worked hard to shed this image and attract a wider range of players. This has been achieved through the variety of games on offer. For instance, you can play Slingo bingo on Paddy’s website, and find exciting offerings like Slingo Riches and Slingo Lightning.
These games are a combination of slots and bingo, and they give new players a way to get involved with online bingo. Because of the diversity of themes, the titles can attract a broad demographic. Other players are attracted to bingo sites because they’ve noticed that there are now so many ways to play the traditional pastime as well, with branded bingo rooms booming in popularity.
Bingo Events are Rising in Popularity
Event organisers have quickly jumped on the growing craze of online bingo by offering live bingo parties in the city. The lucky-ball game seems to be finding the greatest success when combined with other things. For example, The Candlemaker in Clapham is offering a bottomless brunch every Saturday with bingo games going on in the background. Tickets are £30 per person, which includes food and Bloody Mary cocktails.
Another interesting twist on the pastime is Blingo at the Electric Ballroom in Camden. Along with the classic ball draw, this hip-hop inspired night includes dance-offs and lip sync battles. It’s a fun and inclusive way for everyone to let their hair down and enjoy a unique way of revelling. It doesn’t stop there either, there are musical bingo events, comedy bingo – you name it.
Bingo Halls are Cropping up Again
It’s not just bingo events that are making waves in London. The classic bingo halls seem to be on their way back as well. Many of these locations shut down in the late 2000s after the ban on smoking in the UK, but there are now more than 20 places to play the game in the Greater London area. A lot of these places include elements of the bingo games found online now, as they realise that a lot of their players discovered the game for the first time on the internet.
The way that bingo is blending in with other events shows how many people enjoy it. As the game’s popularity continues to soar online, it makes sense to think that it could be part of mainstream nights in London soon.
