Bingo 'is not a modern phenomenon'

While people may be forgiven for thinking bingo is a modern creation, this is in fact not the case, a publication has pointed out.

According to Flintshire paper the Leader, the pastime has been around for hundreds of years.

This idea can be hard to reconcile with the fact that it is come on so fast recently and online bingo has become such a phenomenon - combining the numbers game with some of the latest social networking technology.

Nevertheless, the publication stated that bingo in fact dates back nearly 500 years, where its roots can be detected in Italy.

It suggested that the activity was initially created as a way for the country's government to raise money and, in contrast to its modern moniker, it was referred to as Lo Giuoco del Lotto d'Italia.

In a number of ways this resembled the lotteries played around the world today, so modern enthusiasts would no doubt be left in some confusion if they attempted to play a game.

This activity was then adopted by the French aristocracy, who used to engage in the pursuit while in their parlours wearing fine silk and drinking expensive wines and champagne.

It was played using cards with three rows of nine squares and each row had five numbered and four blank squares in a random arrangement. No two cards were the same and numbering ran from one to 90.

Meanwhile, chips from one to 90 were drawn from a cloth bag and participants would cover any matching numbers drawn.

From here, the game spread across Europe and developed gradually into the bingo so well loved by many around the globe today.

From its beginnings in Italy all those years ago, the pursuit has transformed into a multi-million pound industry, with online bingo and live halls attracting enthusiasts of all ages.

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