BINGO & Problem Gambling

Bingo has a long history as a popular gambling game. Research on bingo has been almost exclusively limited to qualitative research. Consequently, little is known about the prevalence of bingo playing and its possible influence on the development of problem gambling. It is argued that although bingo is generally viewed by the public as a ‘’ soft ‘’ form of gambling, it has the potential to lead to significant problems.

In early studies of gambling, bingo was considered an innocuous leisure activity, mostly popular among working-class women in search of entertainment, socialization, and friendship. It can also be viewed as a social game due to its association with fundraising efforts. However, scholars are now revealing the other side of bingo, describing signs and symptoms among regular bingo players that may be associated with excessive gambling and the development of problem gambling.

Bingo is a game solely based on luck in which numbered balls are drawn at random while players mark off the corresponding numbers on their purchased cards that feature randomly chosen numbers arranged in columns and rows. Bingo is commonly played in bingo halls, local churches, community centers, and casinos.

With the recent introduction of electronic bingo, numbers are automatically on the card, leaving players to merely follow the game as it unfolds, The machine informs the players how many numbers are missing before they can win, adding an aspect of perceived suspense and excitement to the experience. Players are competing for jackpots worth 100,000 at times. Online bingo has become very big.

All gambling surveys revealed that women are at least twice as likely to be involved in bingo playing than men.