If you’re looking to blow off a little steam, what about a fun game of online bingo or lottery? Both games are about betting on numbers and relying on chance, but playing bingo at an online casino offers more favorable odds than playing the lottery. You also get to enjoy an engrossing digital gaming experience that adds to the stimulation of live, in-person bingo.

Read on to find out more about the history of both games and how they are different from one another. And also, to answer the vital question, is bingo better than the lottery?

Bingo vs. lottery

Playing the lottery is very simple: you buy a ticket with a unique serial number (usually six numbers) and if the winning numbers match yours, you will win a prize. The more matching numbers you have, the bigger the prize. There are also prizes for fewer number matches, for example, four or five digits matching up. 

With bingo, you purchase a card containing random numbers. The game host selects random numbers one by one and players then cancel those numbers from their cards. Players win when all their numbers are canceled or struck off or when they have completed a row. 

So what are some key differences between bingo and lottery? We explore a few below.

Always a winner

With bingo, the balls continue to be drawn until a winner is found, whereas the lottery requires a direct match for a winner to be declared. With the lottery, it’s possible that nobody takes home the jackpot. How disappointing!

Players and prizes

There may be many players in a bingo game, yet still far fewer than the number of players participating in the national lottery. The prize in the national lottery is generally much higher than what you would win playing bingo online. But remember – there are many bingo games played all over the country, but only one national lottery. 

Venues

There is no venue for playing the lottery. Bingo, however, has two options. You can choose the traditional hall where bingo is usually held or, more excitingly, online or virtual bingo rooms. Now you can play the best online bingo without leaving the convenience and comfort of your own home. Like any other entertainment, virtual bingo has its own lingo and many people make a ton of online friends via a chat function where players can interact with each other. Online bingo games frequently use random number generator (RNG) software to draw balls, which ensures that the games are fair. 

Frequency

Bingo happens much more frequently than the national lottery, which generally only happens weekly. 

The odds

Chance is at the heart of both games. However, the odds of winning the national lottery are extremely low – there are so many players and so few prizes. There is also the possibility that nobody wins the big jackpot. Those who play bingo online can calculate their odds of winning by knowing how many players there are and how many cards each player has. For example, if there are 100 cards in an online bingo game and you have bought five of these, then your chance of winning is 5% (or five in 100.)

Either way, both games offer an excellent opportunity to have some fun and see what lady luck has in store for you. But from where do these games originate?

What is the history of bingo and lottery?

Did you know that bingo came way before The Beatles, the Roaring Twenties or even the Victorian era? We need to go back much further, to the 16th century and a game called ‘La Giuoco del Lotto d’Italia.’ The name might translate roughly to ‘the Italian lottery,’ but the game itself was almost identical to current-day 90-ball bingo. 

In the 18th century, the game hopped over to France, where the name was shortened to Le Lotto. By the 19th century, bingo had become popular in the UK and Germany, but it was the British who took the game to the next level. During the 20th century, bingo halls began popping up all over the country, specifically in London’s East End. 

The history of the lottery can be traced right back to the Chinese Han Dynasty between 205 and 187 BC. These lotteries were thought to have assisted with major government projects like the Great Wall of China. In the 15th century, the northern European regions of Burgundy and Flanders began selling lottery tickets attached to cash prizes. The money raised was used to help the poor or strengthen defenses. Over in the UK, Queen Elizabeth I held a general lottery in 1566 to help with the repair of harbors and other public projects. Lotteries certainly have a long and interesting history. 

Play bingo with Borgata Online

The origins of bingo can be traced back centuries. This game of luck has captivated people for many, many years. Now you can enjoy playing bingo in your own home with Borgata Online. Sign up and try out exciting new bingo games and meet a variety of interesting people from all over the world who enjoy games of chance.