The history of bingo in the United Kingdom has progressed significantly since the onset of the digital age and it's well worth taking a trip down memory lane to track the popularity of one of the most popular games in the world.

Bingo, in its original form, reportedly originated in Italy as far back as the 16th century and eventually spread to France before moving into Great Britain and European surrounds, including Germany, across the 18th century.

How the modern version of bingo has come to be is the subject of debate. Its name is said to derive from vintage British slang, which recorded 'bingo' as a customs officers' announcement after a search had proven successful.

It grew in popularity when it first appeared at carnivals and other festive functions in 1920 and beyond. One Hugh J. Ward was among the first to market the modern version of bingo with success before Erwin S. Lowe patented the latest version of the game and its card design in the early 1940s.

Bingo ostensibly went even more mainstream in the early 1960s, when the arrival of the Betting and Gaming Act yielded Mecca Bingo, which was started by Eric Morley, who put bingo games into his popular dance halls such as the Lyceum Ballroom. Circuit Management Association also got in the act and held events that centred around bingo at their several cinemas, including the Blackpool Odeon.

Nowadays, in-person events that include bingo are still very popular, but playing the game on the world wide web is equally - if not more - accessible. People can play bingo online from the comfort of their homes and convenience of the palm of their hand via their mobile phone or other smart device.

One doesn't necessarily have to travel to a bingo hall to play the game. Fans of the bingo don't have to set aside time on a specific day to play. Instead, at anytime and anywhere, bingo can be accessed online.

Digital companies that offer bingo have jumped onto this growing popularity and continue to pump plenty of investment to ensure the experience and engagement is excellent. There is plenty of competition, so competitors are often jostling for position and trying to offer a stronger experience from one week or month to the next.

Bingo can also be played for money online. And, with cyber security at front of mind for many customers and the companies looking to attract those clients, privacy and safety of funds is a top priority. The top online bingo sites ensure that your cash is kept in safe hands. They have some of the best online security measures available, such as password protection and other features that should give you plenty peace of mind when using such sites.

Bingo can be a lot of fun to play, whether done in-person or online. Thankfully, in this day and age, fans of the game can do one or the other - or both. Bingo continues to thrive, as hundreds of thousands of players can attest.