Bingo is a game often associated with old ladies, church’s fund raising, charity events and of course, socializing. Many people see bingo as a form of betting and a means of making some extra cash. But is it really true? Is bingo a type of gambling? We’re still not sure.

Bingo, unlike most casino games, started off as a small game, rather pastime, played in churches to raise funds for some noble cause. As compared to the flashy casinos at Las Vegas, where gamblers put money on games in anticipation to double their cash, bingo games were generally played in a very sober setup, including homes.

In 1939, when Connecticut General legalized bingo officially, people were authorized to play bingo. At that point, the very first bingo site with lighter betting games was launched. The site aimed at offering bingo games for fun and didn’t want people to become problem gamblers. Bingo is hooking, no doubt. But if played within the set limits and respects, it may not be as addictive as casino games.

Bingo is not just limited to winnings and raising money, but it also offers some clean, good fun to players. A lot of people, if not all, like to play online bingo for its social aspect. The chat room facility of online bingo sites is being used by players to interact with people from all over the world. Besides, the chat games and the overall camaraderie add even more excitement to the game.

As bingo grows in popularity, you can now find a lot of websites to play bingo online. These sites offer fantastic cash rewards along with some fresh variations of bingo. So, has bingo become a form of betting now? If we go by the technical definition then bingo, like lottery, is a ‘soft’ form of betting. Now the next question that arises is - Does online bingo websites encourage gambling addiction?

Any form of online game, and not just bingo or casino, becomes addictive when played all the time. According to recent survey, a lot of players become hooked to online games because of the pleasure it gives. Moreover, online bingo is convenient. Players can play bingo anywhere, anytime they want. All they need is a computer with internet connection and they are good to go. Technology has turned online gaming into a world that never sleeps. And as with every technology, there are both good and bad aspects to online gambling, but its up to a player which side he selects.

Try to maintain healthy gaming habits, no matter how much you feel hooked to the game.

Remember to:
1. Play for fun and not for the money.
2. Set a limit on how much you will gamble and follow it strictly.
3. If you’re on a losing streak, don’t hesitate to quit the game.
4. Don’t repent for the games you’ve lost.
5. Don’t let the game overpower you. Think of your responsibilities first.

Playing bingo online doesn’t amount to gambling as such. Bingo can be played for a variety of reasons other than just money - such as fun, socializing, charity, fundraising etc. Given that the players set their limits and follow them religiously, they could enjoy bingo without falling into any addiction, whatsoever. Bingo was devised to facilitate good interaction among people in the neighborhood, who could meet and spend some fun time together. While playing bingo, whether online of offline, just remember to enjoy it!

Think of bingo and we conjure up images of elderly people hunched over lots of cards, marking off numbers and meeting up with pals in a large smoke filled hall.

My grandmother used to take me to bingo when I was a kid. You can’t even imagine how I envied her for she could play bingo, while I was just allowed to peep from outside. Bingo has always fascinated me. The fun of yelling bingo, watching callers calling numbers aloud has always piqued my curiosity.

But sadly, I was not as lucky as kids these days are. All thanks to Sir Alan Steer, British government’s behavior expert, who recognized the power of bingo as an effective learning tool and introduced it to children.

He believes that the best way to teach kids and encourage them to learn new thing is to get them involved in bingo. In fact, a lot of teachers are now exploiting with every opportunity to club bingo with studies. So, next time if you see your little one daubing cards in the classroom, don’t be taken aback. He’s studying…nothing more!

We know that teaching becomes simpler if children are taught with examples rather than just textbooks. With the current popularity of bingo, the day is not too far when bingo will become a part of schoolbooks and curriculum too.

However, the role of bingo in education has not been discovered recently. From years bingo industry has been experimenting and in fact, practicing what Sir Alan Steer has said today. Math bingo, science bingo, English bingo, alphabetical bingo etc. are a few examples of how bingo can be used to teach children.

There is no better way to introduce kids to simple arithmetical calculations such as addition, subtraction, division, multiplication than having them play math bingo.

To improve children on the vocabulary front, make bingo cards with words written over them and distribute it in class. Call out the meanings or synonyms of the words and ask students to mark off the corresponding word/s.

Likewise, you can apply this concept to other subjects such as history, science, grammar and so on.