By around the 19th Century the game got a chance to ‘see the world’ as it became the only form of gambling allowed by the Royal Navy. Around the same time the game hit Germany, but was seen as an educational tool rather than as an opportunity to have a flutter.
It was during the infamous year of 1929 (Wall Street Crash anyone?) that the game officially crossed the pond and became widespread in the USA. It was believed to of been picked up by carnival pitchman Edwin S Lowe, who had learned of the game on a trip to Germany in the previous year. He introduced the game at the Pennsylvania State Fair, before bringing it back to his native New York City, where the game really took off. By 1934, around 10,000 bingo games were played across the USA every week.
Later, in the 1960’s, the game of bingo became popular in Britain, when a UK Act of Parliament allowed it to be played in members only clubs. Soon bingo halls were popping up across the country and calls including Two Little Ducks, Snakes Alive and Was She Worth it were born, until all 90 numbers had their own nickname. Bingo soon became building block of local communities and also as much a part of a British Seaside holiday as Fish and Chips and Kiss Me Quick Hats.
Brick and mortar bingo halls remained popular in the UK until around 2007, when the advent of online bingo and the UK wide smoking ban saw many people leave the halls and try and call a house from the comfort of their own. With around 70% of bingo players believed to be smokers the ban hit halls hard with may halls across the country being forced to close as numbers dwindled and players took up the game online.
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