Electronic Bingo

In recent years, everything about the game of Bingo has been modernised, including its equipment. If you’ve ever been to a Bingo club, you’re sure to have seen players with portable, handheld electronic Bingo devices. Whatever happened to good old-fashioned paper and pen, you might ask? The answer is simple: thanks to modern technology, electronic Bingo devices allow players to play dozens of cards at the same time with a minimum amount of effort.

Players using these devices simply sit at a table, listen for the caller to call the next number, then punch the corresponding keys on the device. The computer automatically scans the player’s Bingo cards to see if the player has that number. If one of the cards gets a ‘Bingo!’ it’s up to the player to alert the caller using the traditional means: his voice. Should you chance upon one of these devices, it’s your responsibility to shout ‘Bingo!’ and show that you have the winning pattern – some things just can’t be modernised!

If you prefer the traditional system of pen and paper, don’t despair – there is usually a limit to the number of cards that are permitted in electronic Bingo. Many players feel that this form of the game robs them of the chance to use their wit and speed to find the winning pattern, and so decry their use. Others think that relying on a machine reduces the game to a contest of who is able to spend the most money to buy cards.

Certainly, the advent of electronic Bingo has not been without controversy. Added to this is the cold, hard fact that having more cards does not necessarily give the player that much more of a winning edge. A player with 300 cards will have an advantage over players with only a dozen cards, but when 20 other people in the hall also have 300 cards, the advantage is no longer significant.

Certainly, the number of objectors has been enough to ensure that the traditional game retains its appeal, and in fact seems to be growing more popular by the day.

Bingo Video Machines

Another high-tech variation to come onto the market recently, Bingo video machines are similar to video slot or stand-alone video poker games. While they certainly can’t replace traditional Bingo, they offer an alternative form of the game to anyone who might want to try their hand at it.

Typically, the player inserts a coin into a slot, and receives a payout by pushing a button on the screen. Innovative? Yes. Appealing? That’s up to you to decide, but electronic Bingo is here to stay.