If you’ve ever played at online casinos, you’ve probably seen a game called Slingo and thought someone made a typo. Well, they didn’t! Slingo is a real, and super cool game, and loads of people love to play it. But what is this mysterious game with a catchy name, and just where did it come from?
If you’re a gambler and haven’t visited an actual casino before, you might think Slingo is something new. The thing is, people have actually been playing this game at real life casinos since the 90s! That’s like, a really long time. Since then, it’s obviously moved online (like all the best games have!). So let’s take a look at how to play this curious pairing of slots and bingo, to get a better understanding of what it actually is:
When you first play a game of Slingo, you won’t be wrong for thinking, ‘hang on… is that a bingo card?’ Because the main play area looks a lot like one! But it won’t be long before you realise this isn’t just another version of bingo, because hey presto! — the 5 number slot-esque reel will soon catch your eye!
A click of the spin button starts the magic. Once the reel stops spinning, it reveals five random numbers. You can then click or tap the matching numbers on your card (or let more modern versions do it for you), before you spin the reel again to try your luck once more!
Just like 75 ball bingo, you need to complete horizontal, vertical, or diagonal rows of numbers to win. Depending on which version of the game you play, you might be rewarded with points, or you could get your hands on some actual prizes.
So now can you see how slots and bingo came together and had a wonderful lovechild?
There were many prize-less versions of Slingo before it became a popular casino title, but who wants to play games without prizes? Luckily the game was designed with prizes in mind. After all, the idea for the game came from Sal Falciglia, a passionate gambler from New Jersey.
Sal’s love for the exciting world of gambling went beyond just playing games. One day he realised that you could take the best parts of bingo and slots to make something new and exciting. He got to work, and built his own game using parts from old casino machines and other bits and pieces. Very innovative!
Unfortunately, Sal was not Arnold Schwarzenegger, and his first version of the game was simply too big and heavy for him to move around. He knew he was onto something, but without steroids and a whole lot of hours in the gym, there was no way he could show his casino machine to potential investors.
But you know what’s not big and heavy?
Video games.
Sal later decided to make a computerised version of the Slingo to show off to interested companies. This version had the same gameplay as his original machine but also had a few snazzy new features. In the computer game, the player started with 20 spins. You then had to match numbers and score as many points as possible, before your spins reached zero.
The computer game also saw the player rack up points, and featured several bonus symbols, including a joker, a cheeky cherub, and a dangerous devil. If a devil appeared, you’d see half your points disappear! But(t) don’t worry, the cherub could protect your booty, which it did by putting an arrow into the devil’s rear end. The last bonus was the joker, a wild symbol that allowed you to mark off any number!
Sal set out on the road with his potential hit game. One organisation that thought his idea could be a success was internet giant, America Online (AOL). They had some doubts, but bought the game anyway (a leap of faith that paid off, in our opinion!).
Slingo launched on AOL’s online gaming service, where it quickly Slingo’d through the competition and became their number one game.
The Slingo formula was a hit, and Sal and his partners realised the game had even more potential. They created many versions of the game, some without any prizes, and others which offered actual rewards.
Even though Slingo has since hopped into bed with casinos, there were and are still many prizeless versions of the game. Do you have a computer? There are 9 Slingo PC games. What about a Nintendo DS? Yes, there’s a version for that handheld too. What if you don’t have a computer or a DS? You could get your hands on a dedicated handheld game, two mobile-only versions, or even play Slingo games on Facebook! —a nice distraction from seeing Aunt Maud’s continuous stream of lame memes.
Slingo may have started off without real prizes, but Sal always knew it was meant to be a casino game. Oh Sal, the Nostradamus of Slingo!
The Slingo brand first made a deal with International Gaming Technology (IGT) for their Slingo machines, but they soon realised there was more than enough love to go around. They hooked up with other companies to produce even more Slingo machines, including AC Coin & Slot, Gamelogic, and Planet Bingo.
And so it was that a game that once sat in Sal’s basement because it was too heavy to move became a hit across the world.
Like many other casino games, Slingo fit online casinos like a glove. It had its first real-money release in 2015, but today there are more than a dozen Slingo online casino games — talk about being spoilt for choice!
Do you like games with magic, leprechauns, and pots of gold? There’s Slingo Rainbow Riches. Spend hours playing Monopoly with your friends? Curious about the online casino game that started it all? Go for Slingo Riches.
But these aren’t the only ways you can get lucky with Slingo. If you like your gambling action fast and furious, you can buy Slingo scratchcards. Sal also dreamed about seeing Slingo on TV and even made a pilot for a TV game show. Unfortunately for Slingo fans, it never caught the interest of studio execs.
Don’t worry Sal, we’d totally watch a show about Slingo!
In 2016, the Slingo brand popped the champagne and celebrated two decades of fun and excitement. The owner, Gaming Realms, and its U.S. subsidiary, Blastworks, let the online casino world know they would soon be partnering with even bigger brands for even more exciting games. New licensing deals were also being planned to bring the joy of online Slingo to even more players across the planet.
If all this talk has gotten you hot under the collar for online casino games, you should try your hand at one of the many enticing experiences at Lucky Pants Bingo.
At Lucky Pants Bingo, we offer a premium online bingo service to all our visitors. You can enjoy 90 ball, 75 ball, and turbo bingo, as well as dozens of other casino games, including slots, and scratchcards.
We also offer (you guessed it) Slingo! We have almost 20 exciting titles for you to choose from, so you can find the game that tickles your Slingo fancy.
There’s no need to be shy and stick to only one game. Whether you’re looking for the best online bingo games, you want to try your hand at Slingo bingo, or give both a go, be sure to play on Lucky Pants Bingo!
At Lucky Pants Bingo, we want you to enjoy every second that you play with us. Find tips on how to play safely, discover places to get support and get information on all the tools we have in place at: keepitfun.rank.com
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