Most people will not believe this but playing bingo is actually good for your memory and your brain! Whether it is the fact that every time a number is called out the person is listening attentively for the numbers and swiftly marking them down, or just simply knowing what the next numbers are going to be, it is proven that using bingo even for teaching mathematics in schools help develop the child’s problem solving skills.

Playing bingo online is a more popular and recent activity that many people get involved with and are no longer seen as an elderly person’s game at a gala. Those who play bingo online can do so from the comfort of their own, after work, in between breaks or on weekends for a few hours or less. Busy parents and working individuals may enjoy a game of bingo, but because of the stereotype and stigma attached to the game style, some may feel only too reluctant to admit to this.

A game of bingo online gives the player the freedom to play at any time of the day and keep their identity hidden. It also opens up many more opportunities that a normal gala does not offer. These include promotional gifts, playing for practise than money, playing for free for a trial period and even gaining tips and advice from other experience players. A normal gala is good for people wanting to actually go for an activity that allows them to socialise with others, where they may not have the opportunity to do so normally.

However it does not take into consideration the problem of gambling addictions. Bingo online allows users a certain limit of plays and offers other related games up to a certain so as not to feed the addicts ambition. Gambling addiction like any other addiction can be an extremely life consuming problem. Often this affects the player so much so, that they place everything important in their lives behind them and neglect the important things. They prioritise gambling over everything else, which can be both detrimental to their health and their finances.

Most online bingo games offer the player to play using tokens, playing for free often as a way to practise the sharpness of their mind and only allows certain number of turns to play each time. This prevents individuals from playing for an excessive amount of time, counting each number of plays per user account and keeps every player from falling into the trap of playing obsessively. The idea is not to become addicted, but use it as a hobby or a fun way to unwind or relax.

When playing online, the player must stay alert at all times and be very quick with their mouse. As the numbers are called out at random and in quick successions, it leaves very little time think of your own numbers and does require some memory skills. This keeps your brain active and constantly busy because you are having to undertake many different tasks at one time, which also includes watching your opponents card and making sure you do not miss a bingo. Using these skills on a regular basis ahs shown to help a person appear sharper and improve upon their memory.

Anna Stenning loves to play bingo online and finds that this has helped with her concentration span and memory.

Most people look for cheats and secrets to winning a game of bingo. Others believe that the odds are greatly against you, therefore there are no easy routes to winning that coveted prize. However, those that play frequently or those who have become an expert on the game will know that there are ways around increasing the chance of winning, rather than finding an easy solution.

Taking methodically steps into a big win is better than finding a cheat and will result in a better win. These steps will require some research on the players’ part, but will also be something that becomes more than a game for winning prizes. Serious bingo gamers see this as a great time to socialise and enjoy the prospect of gaming online or at a venue. For many this is a hobby and something for them to look forward to at the end of each day.

For people looking to increase their chances into winning, simple steps begin with researching bingo groups. Some games have a large number of members all playing at the same hall, which makes it much more crowded and reducing your chances to win. Choose a hall or group which have a smaller or limited number of gamers or players, this way when going to play the game there will be less chances of overcrowding and is easier to follow.

The reason why many serious players succeed is due to their experience and knowledge of the game. A good way to gain experience is to register for clubs, find out information on forums and join on plenty of games. By playing in short and frequent bursts will ensure that you will get a good idea of what to expect in every game. Subscribing to newsletters and email updates will also keep you informed of new games, tips from other players and information on other gamer’s experiences.

Look to play higher paying game cards rather than the small cheaper cards, as this will provide higher winnings and more chances of winning. Cheaper cards are good if you want to practise playing the game and gain a more in depth knowledge of playing. Furthermore you will reduce the chances of losing out on a lot of money should you find your efforts are unsuccessful.

Before playing for a game online or at a venue, always research and read up reviews of the group as this will ensure that the group are not operating a fraudulent site and thus reducing the risk of losing big time. Always opt for ones that are well known or recommended by other avid bingo gamers. It is also important to remember that when playing, some sites or venues offer numerous cards at a low cost - do not be tempted to go mad on spending your bucks on more than one card. It is a good idea to buy a set number of cards, but always stay in control of these so you can keep track of all of your numbers. The risks are high when one goes berserk and will affect the gamer in the long run.

Once you start playing and build up more confidence in playing the game, begin to identify your limit. People will not always know their limits, with many of them not knowing when to stop when they are on a winning or losing streak. Once you have identified your ability to play the game, whether you are successful or unsuccessful at playing, always know when to quit. As with professional players, they continue to stay on top of the game because they know when to stop when they need to.

Anna Stenning is an avid bingo player, having researched basic steps into standing a better chance of winning and understanding the true nature of the game.

Bingo is probably one of the most gambling games in the world, especially now that many people join in online rather than going to their local Gala. Some people with a distinct passion for finding things to do in their spare time enjoy playing bingo with others. In fact Gala bingo has made efforts to advertise and promote this game with people of different generations rather than targeting senior citizens! People like Sharon Osbourne have been used to share their love for playing this game online.

Most people however, will not know that this game can spark some unusual superstition about it, those who play the game regularly will be familiar with this. To the lay person having this kind of superstition would be silly; one may argue that superstitions themselves are silly paranoid thoughts that are based on no logic whatsoever. However bingo players will disagree and there are the avid players who do live by this kind of superstition when they play.

There is no spiritual ritual or voodoo activity happening, this kind of superstition is slightly different from what the general public are familiar with. Just like some gamblers blowing a kiss on the dice before they roll in a casino, bingo superstition works in a similar manner. In fact some people believe that using some of the tips and trick before playing will bring them good fortune when playing.

Regular players are more likely to practise a ‘ritual’ of some sort before they begin to play, more than half of these people have been playing for a numbers of years and have developed from their own personal experiences, or have picked it up from existing players. These practises can be as simple as sitting in the same seat every week when going out to play at a venue, or using the same dabber that has been during previous successful attempts, or wearing the same t-shirt when playing online.

Whatever the ritual studies have shown that more than half of these players have something in common, the burning passion to win with a belief in something more than just coincidence. This does not automatically make then spiritual or religious people; this makes their game playing all the more interesting and draws them in to play over and again. Furthermore, these rituals or lucky t-shirts bring confidence, excitement and hope into the players, which is why their self-esteem is raised when they play. Whether these superstitions are true or not, they play a part in their enthusiasm to win and play regularly.

Anna Stenning is an expert on bingo games, having seen many people become superstitious over increasing their chances in winning.

Why is it that when someone mentions or repeats the word bingo, an image of a group of senior citizens springs to our minds? Possibly because the Gala’s attract more people over the age of 65 years and give them the opportunity to socialise outside of their homes. Furthermore, they cater for large groups of people to play together and provide refreshments making it feel like an enjoyable night out.

However, bingo was once a game played by many people of all ages back in the days of when it was relatively unheard and before it became a global activity. The game is quite different from what it was once played as and was something that not everyone was involved with. Its origins are found in Italy of 1530, whereby it was not called bingo but it was called Lo Giuco Del Lotto d’Italia, which has continued to be played on Saturdays in Italy.

As the Catholic Church was a major influence on the country, they were against any form of gambling. However, this did not stop the game from becoming widespread. The game very quickly spread out to France around 1778, whereby the rules for gambling were considerably lapsed in comparison to Italy, even though the French Church was against the game. The game was successfully received by the French citizens who helped boost the popularity of subsequent games similar to this one.

The bingo game at this point was later played over a table divided into nine vertical columns and three horizontal lines. The format is similar to the modern day 90-ball game. Each line had five numbered square and four blank squares laid out randomly. The first line was numbered 1 - 10, followed by numbers 11 - 20 on the second and this followed through each line until reaching the number 90. These had a unique configuration and were played in a similar fashion to the modern day game.

The game thrived for more than a century, before it spread across the Atlantic into the U.S by the 1920s, where it very quickly adopted its own American style. At the time the game was called beano, because players would mark their cards with beans rather than a pen when their numbers were called. This was the beginning of a new system of playing, whereby wood chips were used before. The new system consisted of drawing out the cards from a matchbox at random, calling out the numbers and placing the bean on your card.

Although the game was less pronounced, it would not be until 1929 when a man named Edwin Lowe popularised the game having randomly discovered it upon his travels. He took on board the game and shared the experience with friends and family. However, instead of shouting out beano, the word bingo came out to which the name stuck with the game. Lowe believed that the name bingo was catchier and suited the game well.

Soon Lowe had popularised the game by advertising the game and using the help of a Mathematician, Carl Leffler, he was able to randomise the numbers 900 times (causing the unfortunate demise of Lefflers mental health upon completing this task). Leffler had produced 6,000 different bingo cards, which boost its expanding popularity in as much as attracting Catholic Church officials for using the game to raise Church funds.
Subsequent years after these events saw the game grow from humble beginnings and lesser known pronouncement to a global multi-million pound industry.

Anna Stenning is knowledgeable in the world of bingo having played this in the past and researched how it became a popular gaming industry.