Bingo is shaking off its reputation as a genteel pastime played in quiet bingo halls thanks to various innovations in Yorkshire which are taking the game into the 21st century.
In Yorkshire, bingo players can take advantage of various creative approaches, which include fancy dress, nostalgic music and dance offs with audience participation front and center.
Taking bingo outdoors
With new bingo innovations springing up all the time, the latest variation is to take the game outdoors (weather permitting!). Bingo Lingo, which will take place at Chow Down in Leeds on the 22nd of July, features a wide range of musical genres from house and club classics to indie and cheesy dance. Nostalgia is the name of the game as the music takes you back to the 90s. The emphasis is on giving bingo fans an all-encompassing experience with the hosts judging dance-offs and lip-sync music battles in between bingo games.
Source: Pixabay
Million pound prizes
These innovations are part of brick-and-mortar bingo destinations reacting to the popularity of online bingo, which allows players the chance to compete for prizes from the comfort of their own homes. Online bingo players can enjoy an immersive experience with automatic dabbing, game moderators and chat communities.
The bingo revolution can also be experienced online with prize money more akin to lottery draws. Players are given the opportunity to play the online bingo with the biggest prizes, including a weekly chance to win a share of a £5 million jackpot for anyone who gets a full house in 20 balls or less. As traditional bingo locations cannot compete with these prizes, they are aiming to innovate in other areas to attract more bingo players.
A large portion of cheese
One feature of the latest generation of bingo which players can experience at events organized by providers such as Bongo’s Bingo, which has regular dates in Leeds, Sheffield and York, is cheesy singalongs. The bingo events this summer, which will be held in Leeds, Sheffield and York, include a Night at the Movies, where attendees are encouraged to come dressed for the part as the event celebrates the soundtracks and characters from films such as Shrek, Ghostbusters and Star Wars.
The iconic sci-fi movie was in the news in Yorkshire recently after Star Wars memorabilia was discovered in Keighley in the former home of the late actor Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca.
Source: Pexels
Similarly, at Bonkers Bingo events the emphasis is on the nostalgia of the 90s with side entertainment, which includes silly games and, in some cases, featuring top music acts such as R&B singer Craig David, who has headlined at York Racecourse in the past, Judge Jules and 911.
Bingo is undergoing a renaissance as the traditional British pastime is boosted by various side events to make the game more immersive, often resembling a club thanks to the music and games featured at the events as organizers hope to attract the next generation of bingo players. Despite the gimmicks on offer, it will be the potential share of big prize money which will influence their decision to play over peripheral events.