Online -bingo games have been around since the internet was born. From the mid-1990s, the game became more accessible, and we started to see the first licensed gaming operators.
Bingo often formed some of the online casino platforms, while other websites were set up to offer this game exclusively. During the decades that have followed, it has become more popular but why does bingo online attract more interest in adult players than the original game played in physical halls around the world?
Pushed forward
While real bingo still has a significant audience, the online option begins to attract more players. Figures 2023 show that about 45% of players only played the game on digital bingo sites. Either they had never played in a physical hall or they would have stopped doing it.
Two years from that survey, it can be assumed that over half of the players are now focused online. With a growing customer base, digital platforms must offer something that their brick and mortar cannot match.
Ease of use
The most obvious advantage of playing online bingo is the convenience. Most operators have an app and at least there is a dedicated mobile website, so you don’t even have to turn on a computer or a laptop.
This is an area where physical bingo halls cannot compete. One night at Bingon remains a major social opportunity, but it is about planning and organization in advance. With the digital game you can access the platforms spontaneously by logging into your smartphone and tapping the app.
The convenience element in online bingo has really helped to grow its adult audience, but there are other benefits of digital play.
Your choice of game
Without restrictions on the floor space, an online bingo operator is free to list as many games as their customers want. In a physical gaming hall there is only one type of game available and although there may be several rounds on one night, that inflexibility is a problem.
In the UK, 90-ball bingo is the most popular game, while 75-ball in other countries around the world has a following. Whatever option your bingo hall chooses, that’s all that is offered.
On an online platform there will be options for 90-ball, 75 ball and much more. To keep things interesting for players, game developers produce exciting and innovative versions while maintaining the essence of bingo.
Games are also based on different themes, so you can see options linked to your favorite TV quiz. There is really no limit to what the developers can do and having so much choice is another clear advantage of online games.
Fill in the gaps
A night out on bingo is a major social opportunity, and there will always be a place for physical gaming halls. Online producers know that they cannot replace human interaction face to face, but they have worked hard to deliver a social element to their platforms.
At the majority of digital operators there are chat rooms where players can discuss the games or any aspect of their day. For example, if you were unsure of the rules for a specific bingo version, you can add a message and someone will go in to help.
A moderator is at hand to monitor the chat, and this is a good way to maintain the social benefits of bingo.
Although it is important to keep friends close to you in the physical world, chat and interacting online really provide an advantage.
Online -Focus
There are other benefits to playing online bingo that may not be so obvious. For example, the fact that the games are automated is important. If you play in a bingo hall you have to listen intensely to the caller and if you are distracted you can miss one of your numbers.
With online bingo, any matching numbers are automatically crossed by your card. There is no danger to miss a call and lose a potential price. This is particularly advantageous for those who like to play more than one bingo card in one round.
Online bingo can also be more cost -effective: there is no need to spend money on transport to get to a hall, and you do not need to buy additional food and drink during these breaks in the game.
Although there will always be room for both forms of bingo, it is clear to see why more people play exclusively online. Over time, the percentages will increase further as the benefits of digital bingo become clearer.
