What is Slingo and how does it relate to Bingo?

Everyone’s heard of Bingo, but have you ever heard of Slingo? This hybrid game is a fusion of elements from two of the most popular games – Slots and Bingo.

Created in the 90s, Slingo has really taken off since the shift to online play and the rise of online casino platforms. But what is it that makes this game unique and why does it have such a following?

Where does Slingo come from?

Unlike a lot of other casino games, Slingo is a fairly recent invention. Created in 1994, Slingo is the result of New Jersey real estate developer Sal Falciglia’s desire to invent a new gameshow game.

The original prototypes were based on physical slot machines, combining their gameplay with the Bingo card to put a fresh twist on familiar mechanics.

Slingo’s creation happened to coincide with the rise of the internet, making it an obvious choice to adapt into the digital format once online platforms started to cement themselves.

How does Slingo work?

Anyone familiar with Bingo will recognise much of the setup of a game of Slingo. At its core is a 5×5 grid based on that found in 75-ball Bingo games, with 25 numbers laid out in the various squares.

The twist is the line of reels that sit below the grid. These are how players get their numbers, aiming to mark off every square on the grid within a set number of spins.

But players don’t have to match every number on the grid – each vertical, horizontal or diagonal line of five they mark off is counted towards their potential payout.

Another thing that sets Slingo apart from traditional Bingo is the addition of another slot machine mechanic – symbols. These may land on the reels instead of a number, with a variety of different impacts on gameplay.

Jokers allow players to mark off any number they choose in that particular column, while Devils act as a blocker on that column for the spin. There are also symbols that can increase the total number of spins or act as a multiplier to the player’s total.

The Bingo connection

It’s easy to see the shared features between Slingo and Bingo, from their basic game structure to their outcomes. The Slingo grid is an obvious descendant of the classic US Bingo card, even if it has dropped the ‘free’ central square.

This is part of what has helped Slingo to grow its audience, as players are able to recognise a lot of the standard Bingo gameplay upfront. But with the addition of slot machine elements, it is also different enough to offer something fresh to players.

Those more familiar with the UK Bingo format – with its different card format – may see more differences between the two.

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By bringing together elements of two classic games, Slingo has managed to carve out its own identity and find a growing audience of players.

This fusion game concept could see further additions in the coming years as developers look to expand their offerings outside of the usual staples.