June 27th is National ‘Bingo Day’! It's hard to believe, but the beloved game of Bingo has been around for centuries. With roots stretching back to the 16th century, the game of Bingo is one of the oldest forms of entertainment around, having been played by royalty, peasants, and everyone in between. Back then, the game was known as "Lo Giuoco del Lotto D'Italia," which roughly translates to "The Italian Lottery." The game was initially used as a way to raise funds for the government, and it quickly became popular among the Italian citizens.

It wasn't until the 18th century that bingo truly began to take shape. In 1778, a game called "Housie" was introduced in England, which featured a playing board divided into numbered squares and players using beans to mark their numbers. The game quickly became popular among working-class people and was even used as a way to raise funds for various charities and causes.

As Housie continued to evolve, it eventually made its way across the pond to North America. In the early 20th century, a New York toy salesman named Edwin S. Lowe was introduced to the game at a carnival and quickly saw its potential. He renamed the game "bingo" after hearing someone accidentally yell out "bingo" instead of "beano" (the game's original name) when they won.

Bingo has also appeared in movies such as the 2018 movie "The Hustle," starring Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson. The movie features the two con artists attempting to steal from an elderly
woman at a
bingo game!