Slingo is a game that was created in 1994, by Sal Falciglia Sr, a real estate developer from New Jersey. From the start, he was so confident in his creation that he launched a company to ensure that he retained control of it.
He was right to feel that way too, as the game has become a very popular feature of the online gaming landscape. It takes two highly successful existing formats – slots and bingo – and blends them together.
The popularity of slingo has really taken off during this century as bingo gained a new young digital fan base. Now there are lots of different sites that allow you to play slingo bingo, but new players need to know what they are doing.
If you’re thinking about giving this game a go for the first time, check out our guide to getting started with it.
Table of Contents
What is Slingo Bingo?
Slingo is a game that combines an online slot with the 75-ball version of online bingo. That is by far the most popular bingo variant among the younger crowd and slots are the biggest type of casino game. Thus the potential customer base for slingo games was always a sizeable one.
It takes the grid with spinning reels from online slot games, but there is a slight difference in the layout. Whereas a typical slot will have five reels with three icons on them, slingo grids feature five reels and five icons on each.
Equally, whereas the icons for a slot game will be images, in a standard slingo game they are numbers. That is where the bingo part of the game comes in, as the point of the game is to spin the reels and then mark off any numbers that you have on your e-card after each spin.
As you can see, the essential format of a slingo game is quite simple for the player to understand. Online bingo is very popular because it is easy to pick up the basic rules and that is true of slots too, so it makes sense for slingo to be similarly straightforward.
Main Slingo Features
A slingo bingo game screen will be dominated by the grid with its five reels of five icons. At the base of it are the reels that are spun to produce the numbers that you have to match up with those on your e-card.
There will also be a ball hopper, which is the bingo ball machine in a standard bingo game. In slingo, the purpose of it is to let you know how many spins you have remaining in the game.
This ball hopper is to the right of the grid, while on the left is the prize ladder detailing what you can win for getting anything from two matching lines to a full house.
How is Slingo Different to Normal Bingo?
There are many things that slingo has in common with normal bingo. The basic point of marking off the numbers you have as they pop up during the game is the same, but there a couple of key differences for new players to be conscious of.
One of those is the absence of the bingo caller. Because the numbers are generated by spinning reels, there is no need for them to be called out.
A second is the occasional appearance of image icons instead of numbers. For example, the super joker icon in slingo lets a player mark off any number they still have unmarked on their card. That is a feature adapted from the wild icon in a slot game.
Slingo Tips
Play slowly
Slingo is a fast moving game so people sometimes get caught up in that pace and excitement. Keeping calm and playing steadily will stop you from making rash choices and improve your odds.
Look for bonus rounds
Another element that many slingo bingo games take from slots is the presence of bonus rounds. Try to find games with them, because they are both more fun to play and also have the potential to multiply your final winnings.
Pay attention to the RTP
Our third slingo pointer would be to pay attention to the return-to-player (RTP) of each game. This indicates your winning probability and the higher it is, the better your chances.
With so many slingo games available at online sites, you do not need to settle for the first one you find.
Be wary of wild cards
Wild cards can sometimes be useful in a game, but they also increase your overall risk level. It can be better to just wait for the number you need to pop up.
Slingo is a fantastic game that anyone who enjoys bingo or slots will learn to love.
