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History of Bingo

How it all started

1530
1778
1800s
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1934
1973
1981
1996
2005
2006
2008
2009
2017
2018

1530

Bingo originated in Italy in 1530. “Lo Guioco del Lotto D’Italia” is still played every Saturday in Italy and contributes more than $75 million to the national budget each year.

1778

It spreads to France. “Le Lotto” is played by the intelligentsia aka the rich folks.

1800s

The game spreads across Europe. In 1850, Germany introduced educational lotto for spelling, history, math.

1928

Bingo is brought to U.S. and played on the country fair circuit. Named “beano” – they covered the cards with beans and prizes included a a kewpie doll. 

1929

Ed Lowe, a toy salesman, renamed and trademarked Bingo when a young woman accidently called out Bingo instead of beano.

1930

First known use as fundraiser by a Catholic priest in Wilkes-Barre, PA. To support use of game as a fundraiser, Ed Lowe commissioned Columbia University professor, Dr. Carl Leffler, to create 6,000 Bingo cards with non-repeating number groups.

1931

Lowe published Bingo Instructional Manual. 

1932

Monthly newsletter started by Ed Lowe; The Blotter mailed out to 37,000 subscribers.

1934

10,000 Bingo games played each week. Ed Lowe’s Bingo company had over 1,000 employees. 60,000 people play the largest Bingo game to date, iTeaneck, N.J. Over 10,000 people were turned away.

1973

Ed Lowe sells Bingo to Milton Bradley for $26 million.

1981

Texas lawmakers approve state-regulated Bingo to raise money for charities.

1996

First Bingo game played online in the UK.

2005

Texas Charity Advocates (TCA) founded to educate Texans about the critical role charitable Bingo plays in communities across the state.

2006

70,080 Bingo players hold largest Bingo game, documented by Guinness World Records, in Bogota, Columbia. 

2008

Biggest Bingo jackpot; Scotland prize = $2,371,791 in U.S. dollars.

2009

Highest Bingo game played on Mount Everest, 17,500’ above sea level.

2017

Texas Charitable Bingo pays record amounts to charities (over $31 million), and in prize money to players (over $590 million).

2018

More than $90 million spent on Bingo each week in North America.