When you think of bingo, there are undoubtedly certain stereotypes that will immediately pop into your head. But, regardless of whether you play bingo online or in person, you may still wonder whether these stereotypes make any sense. Take a look at five common stereotypes that don’t make any sense in the context of modern bingo.
Bingo Has a Long and Deep History
Bingo is believed to have originated in Italy in around the 1530s and was known as Il Gioco del Lotto d’Italia. From there, it spread to France, the UK and eventually to the U.S. in the early 20th century. With the game becoming as popular as it did, it’s unsurprising that some stereotypes began appearing around it.
A Look at the Common Bingo Stereotypes That Don’t Make Sense
Now that you know more about the history of bingo, it’s time to unpack the bingo stereotypes that don’t make sense.
1. It’s for Old People
This is probably the most common example of stereotypes in bingo. If you were asked about the type of person who plays bingo, no doubt the first image that will appear in your mind is that of an older person (most likely a woman.) While there was once a time when a certain generation dominated the bingo halls, there’s no doubt that the demographics for online bingo have changed this stereotype.
The Online Bingo Annual Report 2021 was published by WhichBingo, a U.K. bingo review site. This report found that the largest players were not seniors but players between the ages of 25–54. This is a full decade younger than the findings of its previous report, which put the largest group of players at 35–64. It seems that developers are drawing in an increasingly younger crowd when it comes to digital bingo games.
2. Bingo Is a Game for Only Women
Now, to be fair, a lot of women do play bingo. In fact, in 2019, an article from Deadline News Agency titled “Why do more women play bingo than men?” shared that more than 80% of bingo players worldwide were indeed women. However, this trend seems to be shifting, particularly online. Again, referring to the Online Bingo Annual Report 2021 from WhichBingo, it found that in 2020 only 21% of its respondents were male. This increased to a massive 48% for its 2021 report.
In the past, it may have been that some men might have been a bit shy to go and sit in a room primarily filled with women to enjoy a game of bingo, which could have fed into the stereotype that it was a “women’s game.” However, with a certain degree of anonymity when you play online, no one knows what gender you are, making it a more welcoming space for men who may have avoided joining in-person bingo games.
3. Bingo Is an Anti-Social Game
Some believe that bingo, like other online casino games such as slots, is an anti-social experience. After all, you’re too busy focusing on marking numbers off your cards to be able to socialize, right? While even the WhichBingo report found that many players hope to one day enjoy the atmosphere of a bingo hall when they play online, chat rooms where online bingo fans could interact with each other did help add a social element to playing a bingo game online.
4. It’s Rigged
You may have met someone who’s had a bad run of luck in any game and decided that the game was rigged. Being a pure game of chance, this has undoubtedly been experienced by bingo players, some of whom have also made similar claims about their rotten run of bad luck.
While there’s no way to say that no one could ever cheat in a game of in-person bingo, the likelihood of being cheated if you’re playing at a licensed online casino or bingo site is even less. This is one of the many reasons that online bingo is more popular than traditional bingo. At fully licensed sites, the operators must have their games audited to ensure they are fair and that no cheating is actually taking place. However, this doesn’t apply to unlicensed gaming sites, which don’t comply with these rules and could, in fact, rig their games so that players lose more often.
5. No-One Plays Bingo Anymore
In the second half of the 20th century, bingo was an incredibly popular hobby, particularly in countries like the U.K. and the U.S. While it’s safe to assume that the game is not quite as popular as it was in its heyday, the reality is that bingo is far from dead. In its article “Bingo around the world — facts and figures,” daily news site Cult MTL shared that an estimated 1.6 billion people play the game each year, with roughly 100 million people playing the game online.
Not bad for a game that “nobody plays.”
Where Do the Outdated Bingo Stereotypes Come From?
The age stereotype often associated with bingo has a lot to do with its history. The game rose in popularity in the 50s and 60s, so the original fans of bingo were already seasoned by the time many of today’s players were born. While the game certainly has deep roots, it’s important to note that its appeal has expanded beyond the age barriers it is typically associated with. Today, bingo enthusiasts span multiple generations, both young and old.
Modern Media and the Bingo Stereotypes
Despite a growing number of younger people playing bingo the media portrayal of bingo hasn’t necessarily caught up with the evolving reality. More often than not, movies perpetuate bingo stereotypes and offer a very skewed representation of how the game is played today. Films like “Bad Grandpa,” “Hotel Transylvania,” “Big Momma’s House 2,” and even “The Simpsons” share prime examples of these outdated bingo stereotypes.
On the other hand, the marketing and advertising industries are taking a step forward in reshaping the game’s image with a growing number of advertisements for online bingo games that feature young people enjoying a game of bingo in a social setting. These efforts reflect the contemporary appeal of bingo beyond traditional stereotypes.
It’s Time To Update Perceptions of the Modern Bingo Player
Whether it’s how someone’s portrayed in a popular TV show or movie, or just your own thoughts about the game and people who play it, there’s no doubt that there are still a few outdated bingo stereotypes that need to be updated.
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