If you’ve played at UK online casinos before, you may have seen the game offered. If not, you’re no doubt still wondering, just what, exactly, is Slingo? You may even have an inkling that it has something to do with bingo and slot gaming, but you aren’t quite sure how the game is played. Whatever your concerns, I’m here to help you understand them.
As Slingo has become a huge part of the UK online gambling scene, the topic deserves a closer look, and that’s something I aim to do with today’s blog. Here, then, is everything you need to know about Slingo in ten minutes or less.
What Is Slingo?
Bettors in the United Kingdom have nothing short of an affinity with bingo. Bingo is arguably the national pastime when it comes to gambling. Slots are, by definition, the most popular online casino game around and certainly the most numerous. Slingo, then, is an amalgamation of both popular games – a game that takes the best parts of bingo and slots and weaves them together.
Slingo is played over a 5×5 grid, just like a bingo card. It dates to 1994 when its creator (oddly enough, an American named Sal Falciglia) decided to combine one-armed fruit machines with bingo. Below the grid is a set of reels, just like a slot. The objective, if you haven’t guessed it, is to match the numbers on the card or grid with those that appear on the reels.
Are you still confused? Let’s explore how the game works next.
How to Play Slingo Online
Once you’ve decided on somewhere to play Slingo (non-GamStop casinos with Slingo games are typically a good idea), then you need to place your bet and get ready to play. Here’s what follows:
- Place your bet by using the button which appears on the Slingo game screen.
- Hit the Slingo “spin” button to begin the game.
- Any numbers which match on both the grid above the reels and on the reels, themselves will be automatically crossed off. You don’t need to get your bingo dabbers out.
- As with a bingo game, you can win horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. You’ll climb one step up a ladder with every “line” you complete. The more you complete, the better your prizes.
- Make it to the top of the ladder, and you can bag a Full House. This is worth the top prize.
Slingo games may also include bonuses, such as Jokers and Super Jokers. These act as wild symbols in slots and can help you cross off numbers quickly. There may also be “extra spins” and instant win cash prize bonuses up for grabs – it all depends on the Slingo game you choose to play.
Key Things to Know About Slingo
So far, so simple, right? Slingo doesn’t appear to be that complicated. You may question why Slingo feels the need to have reels to determine which numbers are selected, but that is how the game works.
There are two other things you may wish to know about Slingo before sitting down to play the game. These aren’t super-important features, but they do help explain why Slingo has gone on to be one of the most popular gambling options at UK sites.
Games Are Often Attached to Major Brands
Many of the most played Slingo games in the UK are tied to popular UK television shows. These may be game shows, reality shows, soap operas and more. For instance, at various points in time, Slingo games based on Britain’s Got Talent, Coronation Street, Deal or No Deal, I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire have all been hits.
Some Slingo games are also tied to major slots, such as Rainbow Riches, Starburst, Fluffy Favourites, and Reel King. Because so many Slingo games are tied to established top-tier brands such as these, they often find favour and become more popular with UK bettors.
Slingo Is Usually Linked to UKGC Casinos and Bingo Sites
While Slingo isn’t impossible to play outside the UK, its ability to fit into seemingly any site has made it a hit with UK players. As touched on, British gamblers already have an affinity for slots and bingo games, so that certainly helped. However, Slingo’s popularity has partly gone through the roof because it is widely available not just at UK-licensed online casino sites but also at many of the most popular internet bingo rooms catering to Brits.
Slingo Isn’t the Only Slot Spin-Off
Some readers may be thinking about those barmy Brits and their weird games. Why not just play bingo if you want to play bingo and slots if you want to play slots? As it happens, Brits aren’t the only online bettors to take the slot format and mess with it a bit. As a matter of fact, there are at least two (but probably countless more) examples of slot spin-offs which you may wish to consider if you like Slingo or even if you don’t.
- Live Slots: These aren’t truly “live dealer games”, and they aren’t actually “slots”. Instead, live slots are often simply wall-based games found in the live casino section at online gambling sites. They have symbol-based gameplay elements, but Slingo is arguably closer to true slot action than these games.
- Dice Slots: Popular with Belgian casino players and commonly found across the continent at European online casino sites, dice slots offer you another way to play. Dice slots also use a grid and reels, but they often come under a different type of legislation, making them legal in places where slots may not be.
Of all the slot variants you can find, in my experience, I’d say that Slingo games tend to be more popular, especially with UK-based players. With that said, where can you expect to find them if you want to play?
Where to Play Slingo in 2024
In the UK, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to Slingo games. Any recommended online casinos catering to UK players, especially those sites licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, are great places to start looking. However, there’s no shortage of bingo rooms not on GamStop, which also support Slingo games, and any of these could be the ideal venue to start playing Slingo online for real money in 2024.
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