| The amazing success of the favourite pastime of | | | | into 3 horizontal rows and nine vertical columns, |
| many, Bingo does not happen overnight. It does has | | | | instead of the usual 5x 5 grid. Another difference is |
| its own history, which dates back to it first | | | | that the numbers used are in the range of 1-90 while |
| appearance in the early 1800s. Bingo is a direct | | | | nowadays we use only numbers from 1 to 75. |
| descendent of lottery-type games and its roots can | | | | The horizontal rows contained 5 numbered squares |
| be traced back into Europe, to the year 1530, when | | | | and 4 blank ones. As usual, the objective of the |
| the Italian state run game of Lo Giuoco del Lotto | | | | game was to cross out a horizontal row or vertical |
| was organized. | | | | column. The blank squares were marked as "free" , |
| Over the centuries, an offshoot of that game spread | | | | similar to our present game, and the player needed |
| through the whole of Europe. It was played quite | | | | to have the 5 numbered squares called. |
| differently from now as the game card was divided | | | | |