Movie-goers are used to seeing casino games on the big screen. From roulette and blackjack in movies such as Casino and 21 to poker in Casino Royale, gambling has become a popular trope. However, there’s one game that’s often overlooked by movie directors, and it’s called bingo. TV scriptwriters and producers are more in tune with the game. Indeed, you’ll see bingo scenes if you watch Better Call Saul and Curb Your Enthusiasm. But when it comes to the big screen, bingo is criminally underrepresented.
The Forgotten Game
We’re not saying you can’t find examples of bingo in movies. Big Momma’s House and Rampage have scenes in bingo halls, but the game isn’t the main focus. That’s interesting, given the renaissance bingo has experienced over the last decade. This renaissance is apparent when you scroll through the gaming lobbies of online casinos.
Rhino Casino UK, for example, has a variety of bingo-inspired games. What’s interesting about the bingo-inspired games at Rhino Casino is that none of them follow the classic format. Even though players still enjoy marking bingo cards as their numbers are called, the game has evolved.
An Old Game with New Twists
The Green Machine Bingo Slot game is an example of this. Instead of purchasing a game card filled with numbers and waiting for them to be called, players hit a spin button. This brings a selection of random prize multipliers into view. These symbols lock in place for a random number of spins, and you win prizes by filling up lines.
Online Slingo is another example of bingo’s evolution over the last decade. A mashup of bingo and slots, games such as Slingo Journey to Asgard offer a mix of instant prizes, bonus features, and immersive animations. You start by spinning a reel filled with random numbers. If any of these numbers match what’s on the gameboard, they get crossed off. Cross off all the numbers in a line, and you win a prize. It’s like classic bingo but different enough to keep modern casino players entertained.
We Want More Bingo-Based Movies
With bingo finding favour among the gamers of today, it should get more airtime on the big screen. That being said, there is one movie where bingo takes centre stage (see video above). Released in 2021, Bingo Hell is a light-hearted horror movie that sees the owner of a small town bingo hall succumb to the forces of evil. After selling his bingo hall, Mario returns home in a daze. Overcome by supernatural forces, he dances around the house before eating a plate of bingo balls.
Mario, unfortunately, chokes on the balls and dies. It’s at this point that the spooky capers start. The characters who exist after Mario’s death are drawn to the bingo hall that’s now under the control of an evil force known as Mr Big. It might not be an Oscar-worthy movie, but it taps into a part of the casino world that others don’t. What we’re calling for is more movies like Bingo Hell. The numbers show that bingo is a popular game. It’s no longer an activity for the elderly alone. Adults of all ages love it, which makes it perfect fodder for directors looking to use the gambling genre in a different way.
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