One of the unusual games that has captured the hearts and minds of the public in 2024 is Slingo. It is a game that combines elements of the play from both bingo and slot machines.
Slingo was the invention of a man by the name of Sal Falciglia Jr. He developed it as a sideline from his main job in property, as a way of indulging his passion for bingo.
Given that both online bingo and slots are very popular, the success of Slingo was almost guaranteed. The fact that it is the sort of mobile-friendly game ideal for playing when on the move did not hurt its chances in the fast and furious modern world either.
More people are discovering the fun of Slingo games all the time. If you would like to join them, we recommend reading on to learn what you need to know before starting.
Where to Play Slingo Games?
There are a lot of sites on the internet that advertise Slingo games, often with improbable bonuses and prizes. The popularity of the game means that unscrupulous people are trying to capitalise with fake games designed to take your money and/or your personal data.
The best way to ensure that this does not happen to you is to play the Slingo games at a properly licensed site. Always check the information pages on a site to be sure that it has the necessary registration and licensing to offer real-money betting games.
Look for SSL encryption software to guarantee safe financial transactions too.
How Slingo Works?
When we described Slingo as a combination of bingo and slots we were not kidding: that is exactly what it is. It features the reels that you have to spin, just like on an online slot game.
What you will quickly notice though is that, instead of lots of picture icons, these reels mostly have numbers on them. The numbers are taken from one of the most popular versions of bingo – 75-ball. Each player also has a game grid with numbers on it.
That is not to suggest that there are no picture icons at all on the reels though. Alongside the numbers, a standard game of Slingo can feature icons like a Joker and a Super Joker.
The basic game just involves spinning the reels and then marking down any that are also on your grid. If you are able to mark off all the numbers it means a ‘full house’ just as with normal bingo. There are prizes for getting a vertical or horizontal line of them too though and the value of the prizes goes up on a ladder system.
Important Slingo Reel Icons
To have the best experience if you are playing Slingo for the first time, you should know what the different icons are and what they mean for the game.
- Free Spins
This one is fairly self-explanatory. You get a single free spin if one of these pops up on the reels.
- Joker
The Joker icon lets you mark off a number of your choice from your grid as long as it is in the same column as the Joker.
- Super Joker
This one lets you cross off any number at all on your game grid.
- Devil
This is a negative icon. If it appears on the reels, it will prevent possible winning matches.
- Gold Coin
This icon popping up on the reels will mean you win a cash prize.
Strategies for Better Slingo Play
Balancing Winnings
Slingo games offer the opportunity to buy an extra spin after your initial ones are finished, but it is not always wise to do that. Buying that extra spin is a good idea if you are getting near to the lucrative bonus rounds or the coveted Full House.
If you are a long way away from either of those, the better strategy would just be to start a new game from scratch.
Joker Strategy
The Joker and Super Joker icons enable you to cross off a number within the relevant column or any part of the game grid respectively. For this game strategy you concentrate on those spaces on the grid that provide the greatest chance of several potential winning lines.
In a Slingo game, those spaces will be the four corner ones and the one in the middle of the grid. The latter is connected to as many as four lines and the corner ones to a maximum of three, so they can really pay off.
The key to getting the best experience from Slingo is to pick the right site to play the games at, take a little time to learn the ropes before betting money and then employ a bit of strategic thinking.
