Does it get any crazier than playing bingo online in the USA, when you never know who’s going to claim the bingo rooms’ top prizes? Well, maybe it does, just with balls of a different kind. We’ve compiled a list of some of the craziest ball games from around the world. You’ll be amazed how obscure they are! Now let’s get into it: Here are five ball sports you probably didn’t know existed. Could you imagine yourself playing any of them?

1. Sepak takraw

Our crazy ball sports list kicks off with an Asian twist. Sepak takraw is Malaysia’s national sport. Though unknown to the West, it’s very popular in countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Indonesia. It might look like a combination of soccer and volleyball, but the game dates back centuries. 

In sepak takraw, two teams of three face each other on either side of a game court, divided by a net. Players are allowed a maximum of three contacts with the ball to get it over the net. Opponents want to serve in a way that makes it difficult for the other team to defend. Feeders move the ball to the striker so they can strike the ball into the other team’s side of the court. Strikers also block spikes from the other team. 

Maybe that doesn’t sound hard at all. Well, then imagine a considerably smaller ball. Then imagine playing volleyball with your feet? In sepak takraw, players can only kick the ball over the net. Using hands, arms or forearms is strictly prohibited. Playing this way demands core strength, great flexibility and agility from participants. 

Looking for an action-packed sport that often resembles a giant game of Twister? Look no further than sepak takraw. Of course, if you prefer a ball game without all the acrobatics, you could always try your luck from the sidelines with virtual bingo. 

2. Pelota

Pelota is truly four games in one. The game is believed to have originated in Ancient Greece and is most popular in Basque Country, an autonomous region in northern Spain. In 1900, pelota was an official Olympic sport at the Paris games. It’s now played in much of South America, Spain, France, the Philippines and even some places in the US. 

Variations of pelota include Hand, Pala, Zesta Punta and Remote. In Zesta Punta, a hand-held wicker basket is used to fling the ball against the wall back into the court. In Hand Pelota, players use their bare hands to throw the ball. A racket is used for Pala Pelota, and a short, flat basket glove is used for Remote.

Pelota is considered one of the fastest games in the world. It plays like a cross between squash and handball, and packs a lot of fun with simple rules and unique equipment. If you’re in search of something fast and virtual instead, you might find online bingo is more your style.

3. 360ball

The sport known as 360ball was created by brothers Mark and John Collins in the early 1980s. This South African game is played on an enclosed circular court one-on-one or two-on-two. Players can move anywhere on the court. A point is scored when a player bounces the ball off the center disc (which is where the 360 degrees come in) and an opposing player can’t hit it back. Balls can only be hit twice before they bounce off the disc. To win the match, a team needs to score 21 points.

In 2011, 360ball became the first ball sport to receive the Brand New Overall Award at the ISPO Brand New Awards in Germany. It has grown significantly, with leagues in Spain and France. You’d certainly need to have lightning-fast reflexes for this one, that’s for sure!

4. Unicycle hockey

Unicycling on its own is already quite bizarre, but add hockey to that and you’ve got this wild entry to our list. No records show when the game was created, but it is depicted in the 1925 film, Varieté. The game is similar to roller or inline hockey, but with the unicycle it requires more core strength – a lot more! Each team has five players and no goalkeeper, so every member of the team has to keep their opponents from scoring. The game uses an ice-hockey stick, and players must have both feet on the pedals when possessing a ball. 

Unicycle hockey is most popular in France, with more than 50 registered teams, while there are 11 teams in the UK. Can’t balance on a unicycle to save your life? Well, hopefully you won’t have to, and in any case, you’d probably have more fun playing some online bingo games – after all, you’ve already visited one of the best bingo sites for USA players! 

5. Calcio storico

Perhaps all these rules aren’t your thing. Maybe you like things a bit edgy and unpredictable? Then calcio storico, possibly the most brutal sport in the world, might be right up your alley. This incredible contact ball sport combines many different sports: soccer, rugby, boxing and even Greco-Roman wrestling. The game was originally a primitive form of soccer and has been played in France since 1580. 

The point of the game is to score points by getting the ball to the opponent’s goal. However, there are no rules, remember? You can move the ball however you want. Players are free to kick, throw, punch, tackle, headbutt and wrestle. Even choking is commonplace in this intense game! Despite its seemingly barbaric rules, the game was historically played by rich aristocrats and even a few popes, representing various neighborhoods. The historical costumes required to play this sport add a fun flair to an otherwise bloody ordeal. Rather them than us!

Experience the best online bingo at Borgata Online

We hope you enjoyed reading about these more unusual ball sports, but if these games are just a bit too wild, don’t worry: You don’t have to travel the world to find a good game involving balls, because you can have a crazy time playing online bingo right here at Borgata Online. Just log in or register to play some of the greatest real-money bingo in the USA. 

Who knows, it might be you who’s next to shout “Bingo!”