I love playing bingo. It is almost as old as I look when I see my reflection in the mirror.
Bingo is a game of chance played with cards that have squares with numbers in them. The host has corresponding bingo balls and calls out numbers at random. To win, you need to get five squares in a row. Slingo is an online single- or multi-player game with slot games and bingo elements.
Before this article, I had never heard of Slingo, so this was an exciting journey; bingo, on the other hand, brings back fond memories of family game nights. So, let me break it down for you before exploring online.
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Bingo vs Slingo
History
I have seen many interesting articles about bingo. Some claim that bingo has been around since the 15th century and originated in Italy; the first online bingo game was launched in late 1996 by Cyberbingo.com. Over the years, bingo has been part of the lottery casino online category. There are still physical bingo halls worldwide where young and old gather to play traditional bingo.
On the other hand, Slingo is very much a newbie; it was created in 1994 by Sal Falcigia Sr, who also started the company Slingo Inc. The game was initially designed for television. In 2015, gaming company Gaming Realms acquired the rights to the game and went on to develop more versions.
Recently - as my research shows me - Slingo has started to gain popularity as a real-money game at online casinos; at least twelve variations of the game are available at casinos.
Play
You don't need any particular skills or strategies to play Slingo. The game is a combination of a 75-ball bingo and a five-reel slot. The game is played on a 5 x 5 grid that looks like a bingo card, but a reel slot is underneath it.
You get a preset number of spins (between 10 and 20) to spin within the allotted time frame. The objective is to match the numbers or symbols on the reel with those on your grid/card. After every spin, you manually daub the matching numbers; some versions have automatic markers that do that for you. You accumulate points for various actions on Slingo, and extra points are added every time you mark off your board or spin. You can also get extra points for getting certain symbols on your spin.
If you are playing alone, there is a preset score that you must beat to win; if you are playing against other people, then the aim is to beat their score. Once your spins are finished, you can purchase more.
My Tips to Win at Slingo:
- Save your multipliers for as late as possible in the game. That way, you can maximise the number of points you can get.
- Use your power-ups during the game; they give you extra spins and time.
- Be careful when buying extra spins, if you aren’t they may end up costing you more than your bankroll.
Bingo is a straightforward game that contributed to its popularity; it aims to get five numbers in a row daubed off. If you are playing in a land casino or bingo hall, the caller will call out the numbers from bingo balls, and you will draw them off with a marker. The first player/s to call out BINGO will have won. The caller does have to verify if, indeed, you have won. If a winner is declared, a new round starts, and all players will clear their boards. The game can vary slightly based on the number of balls used or the line configuration of the numbers.
When playing online, you can play several cards; some sites only offer cards with 15 numbers so you may want more cards. Since there is no caller, the computer displays the called number on the screen, and you dial the number on your board. The most common online bingo version is the 75-ball bingo, but there are others, such as 90-ball and 30-ball bingo.
My Tips to win at bingo:
- Use the auto-daub, where the computer daubs the called number for you; this way, there's no chance of missing a number.
- If you are new to playing bingo, start with one or two cards. While it is an easy game, looking for one number across five or six cards in a short time frame can get stressful.
- If possible play with fewer people, this might increase your chances at winning big.
Key Differences
- Slingo comes with bonuses, multipliers, free spins, and other prevalent features in slot games.
- Slingo also uses symbols in addition to numbers, whereas the bingo board only has numbers on it. The most common symbols are jokers, cherubs and devils.
Final Word
Bingo is THE nostalgic game we all know and have played before, so there are no surprises. If you want something straightforward, as I do, and familiar to play, then bingo it is. Slingo is also uncomplicated and easy to understand. I can't say Slingo is better than Bingo or vice versa - both are favourites in my gameplay. They are a lot of fun, and you can get lost in the games. And if you want to play the game on the go, mobile versions are available on most Play Stores.