Ever been taken to a bingo hall? They used to be a whole other world in the smoking days, you'd wander through the haze of smoke, and see lots of people concentrating on these funny little cards, scribbling on them with a sense of urgency. As it seemed like a sociable environment you may make the unfortunate mistake of talking only to have a whole bunch of heads swing around to you, and the overwhelming sounds of tut-tuts and ssh-shes. The director of the whole show seemed to be talking another language altogether. The first time you go it is hard not just to sit there mesmerized by the whole atmosphere, and wonder what is actually going on.



This person is the revered bingo caller, and if you want to get your bingo bonus you will be hanging on their every word. These bingo callers have been integral to the success of the bingo halls, so much so that someone even created a bingo caller of the year award, would you believe. Nowadays with online bingo there is less importance attached to this phenomenon but luckily there are some sites which have converted this online for nostalgic and full sensory reasons! They use professional actors and actresses choosing tones of voices which will enhance the online experience. It keeps the tradition alive and for newcomers gives them a fuller experience of how it used to be, although they have to learn a bit of bingo lingo while waiting to get their bingo bonus.

Some of these are based on the shape of the numbers and some are based on rhyming slang like the Cockney rhyming slang, from the East End of London. But there are some which need more explanation. Kelly's Eye, which is number one, can be traced back to a variation of bingo which became popular as a British army game, apparently the only gambling game allowed in the army. Although we don't know who Kelly actually is. The number nine, which is Doctor's Orders is also from the army days, when a pill known as Number 9 was given out by doctors as a laxative.

The number ten is a funny one as this changes according to which British Prime Minister is residing at no. 10 Downing Street at the time. Tony's Den refers to what the Brits just call Number 10 meaning the house of the Prime Minister. Then we have the Dancing Queen, which is easy for any Abba Fans, young and sweet, only Seventeen. For the next one you would need to know your Bible quite well ? The Lord is My Shepherd ? is number twenty three as it is the psalm 23. Would you have the faintest notion what number would be Bed and Breakfast, I certainly wouldn't. It is apparently number twenty six as this was the traditional price in Britain, two shillings and six pence for a bed and breakfast. Or another very British meaning, is the number thirty three for all the trees in Sherwood Forest where Robin Hood used to be. 33 is Sherwood Forest. As you can see it could take a bit of learning, but it is a lot of fun this bingo lingo.