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Putting To Bed Bingo Stereotypes & Bingo Myths
Katrin Becker
Bingo has been around for centuries, however in more recent decades, the game has developed a certain… reputation.
Let's have a look at some of these variables on the reputation.
Bingo Is Only For Old People
For many years, it's been assumed that bingo is a game that only older people play, and if you take a superficial view, this very well may the case.
This stereotype has also been reinforced by popular media, with films and television depicting bingo players as old people. But as always, the truth is always more complex than it seems.
While in-person events may indeed lean to an older demographic, many younger people are playing the game too… the difference is they're just doing it online. According to a British YouGov study, the biggest group of people who play bingo online are actually between the ages of 24 and 30. This group made up 28% of the total player base, with the next largest age bracket being 35- to 44-year-olds, who made up 26% of the results in the 2018 study.
While this may mean older people prefer to play in person, there's undoubtedly a community of young bingo players who enjoy playing online, which likely bodes well for the future of this fun game of chance.
Old People… And Only Women Play Bingo As Well
Another stereotype that seems to have stuck around the Bingo branding is that only women play Bingo. Looking back over the history of the game, it's easy to see why people made that assumption. For decades, bingo halls have been dominated by female players. Even more recently, the breakdown between male and female players has leaned heavily in favor of women 32% men vs. 68% women. Bingo is a terrific social game.
Many have hypothesized why this is the case, putting it down to bingo being a more social game or one that's less competitive, or even due to the way some companies market their bingo services, but for whatever reason, the demographics of players are starting to change.
Bingo Has Passed It's Hay Day - Bingo Is Now A Dying Game
Bingo halls used to be a big deal. They were not only pretty common, but they offered at times grand prizes as well. And since these days have passed, then surely this means bingo is dying? No. Bingo is far from dead, it's just evolving to keep pace with the changing times.
As we have established, online bingo is being embraced by a younger generation, with a growing number of men choosing to play the game online as well. As far back as the early 2010s, people noticed how the online version of the game was drawing in players.
A 2013 article from the BBC, "Online bingo: A very full house," highlighted how UK players were flocking to sites to play, attracted by the convenience of gameplay and the buzzing chat rooms. Add to this the fact you can play multiple games, and that there's much more variety, and you have a recipe for success!
Bingo has become social again! It is a classic case of the Lindy effect. Bingo is lindy.
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