In recent years, Slingo has become a staple of online casino games catalogues, providing players with an exciting mix of traditional bingo and slots gameplay. However, while many players are just discovering this game now, its origins began in New Jersey in the mid-90s. Here, we’ve tracked the fascinating rise of the Slingo game.
What is Slingo?
Slingo is a hybrid gambling game that requires players to spin a slot machine-like reel to trigger numbers that are marked off a five-by-five bingo card. Usually, there are 20 spins per game, with special icons falling that can help gameplay such as Wilds, free spins, gold coins, while the appearance of Devils can cut player scores in half.
The online version of the game is one of several new types of bingo games that take advantage of digital technology, offering fun animations, catchy scores, and versatile bonus payout features. There are accessible betting limits and versatile themes that appeal to a wide array of tastes.
The Early Days of Slingo
In 1994, New Jersey real estate developer Sal Falciglia Sr. came up with the idea to combine the simplistic gameplay of bingo with the randomness of slot machines. His concept was a single-player machine that would see players spin reels to mark the numbers on a bingo card.
He spent the following months working on a prototype, purchasing an antique five-reel slot machine from Mexico to act as the game’s shell. In his basement, made stickers with numbers from 1 to 75, as well as the Gold Star coin symbol, Joker Wild symbols, Devils, and the Cherub. Falciglia removed the machine’s symbols and replaced them with the stickers.
Before it was digitized, the player would manually spin the reels to reveal the numbers and mark them on a normal bingo card. He refined the machine to make it a 20-spin game, and in the process, came up with a title that would later become beloved by both slots and bingo fans.
Slingo Moves Online
The game first got its big break when it was digitized and uploaded to popular web portal AOL. It quickly became the number one title on the website, so Falciglia struck a deal with slot machine manufacturer IGT in 1999 to make a Vegas-style machine. It was later launched in partnership with Caesars Entertainment.
In 2001, the company partnered with Scientific Games to produce Slingo-branded scratch cards, further propelling it into the public consciousness. In 2015, the first real money online gambling version of the game, Slingo Riches, was released in the UK. As technology has evolved, the game has been adapted to include many themes and variations on popular slot franchises. The rise of UK smartphone gambling also helped the game to find a new audience, with its simple interface translated successfully to remote devices.
The game’s popularity continues to soar, with its owner Gaming Realms, reporting a 25.6% rise in revenues in 2023 to a record £23.42 million. Considering its humble origins in a New Jersey basement, the game is a testament to how a simple idea can become a beloved phenomenon.
About The Author
