Slingo is one of the most popular types of online games at casinos in the UK and worldwide. Its unique mash-up of slots and bingo creates a fun and fast-paced gaming experience, and there are lots of great Slingo games to choose from.
In this blog, we’ll dive deeper into what Slingo games are, how they are designed, and how to play Slingo online. Keep reading for everything you need to know about Slingo games.
An Introduction to Slingo
So,what exactly is Slingo? In case you haven’t played it before, we’ll explain how it works. Slingo is essentially a series of online games that blend elements of slots and bingo together in a simple format to create a fun new way to play. Most Slingo games are played on a 5x5 grid filled with numbers – a little like a bingo card.
A reel at the bottom of the grid is filled with numbers and other symbols (such as Wilds or Super Wilds), and the aim of the game is to match up symbols on the reels with those on the grid.
Match numbers to mark them off on the grid, with the aim of completing horizontal, vertical or diagonal lines – a bit like in bingo. Complete lines to move up a ladder on the side of the reels, either unlocking bonus games or bigger cash prizes as you go.
At the top of the ladder is a Full House prize, awarded for marking off every number on the grid.
There are Slingo versions of many of the most popular slot games, including Slingo Rainbow Riches and Slingo Monopoly, as well as lots of original Slingo titles. Slingo has been popular ever since it burst onto the scene in the early nineties, and it’s showing no signs of stopping!
When Was Slingo Invented?
Slingo was invented in 1994, when New Jersey real estate developer Sal Falciglia, Sr. came up with the idea of combining bingo with a slot machine.
Sal had inherited a liking of bingo from his mother, and the prototype version of the game involved using a 1950s five-reel slot machine in combination with a bingo card. Soon Sal was able to create a computerised version of the game, which was launched on popular online games channel AOL. Slingo was a hit, and immediately skyrocketed to the top of the AOL charts, staying at #1 for more than two years.
In 1999 partnered with games developer IGT to create the first Slingo slot machine. Slingo.com was soon launched in 2002, offering a range of Slingo titles as well as other slots and casino games.
How Are Slingo Games Created Today?
In 2022, IGT signed an agreement with Gaming Realms to allow them to create licensed Slingo games. Since then, all new Slingo games have been created by Gaming Realms – one of the most innovative games developers in the industry.
There are a huge variety of Slingo games to choose from, with themes ranging from horse racing (Slingo Racing) to TV game shows (Slingo Deal or No Deal) and more. Slingo games are designed to be simple and straightforward to play, whether you’re using your mobile or desktop.
Are Slingo Games Fair?
Like all slot games played at licensed casinos, Slingo games are designed to be fair, with outcomes that cannot be predicted. Slingo RNGs (Random Number Generators) are tested regularly to ensure that their algorithms are random, and games are designed to be fair and safe for players.
Although some it can be tempting to look for patterns when gaming – for example, that you are ‘due a win’ after a string of losses, or that a particular slot game ‘never pays out’, the truth is that all outcomes are random and not dependent on what has happened before. This is important to bear in mind when you’re playing Slingo games - or any other online game, for that matter.
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How to Play Slingo Online
Playing Slingo online is fun and straightforward. Just follow the steps below:
- Create an account at an online casino like Spin Genie. In order to play games for real money, you’ll need to deposit some funds.
- Browse our catalogue for Slingo games, then decide which one you’d like to play.
- In the game screen, you can check out the rules of the game and determine your bet.
- You’ll see a 5x5 grid, with a reel underneath it. Click ‘spin’ to start the game. The aim of the game is to match up numbers on the grid with those on the reels, marking them off in a similar way to a bingo game.
- If you can mark off five numbers in a row, that’s a Slingo! You’ll win the corresponding prize and have a chance to win bigger instant win payouts (or unlock bonus rounds) as you climb the pay table.
Slingo games generally last for 11 spins, but certain Slingo games may have slightly more or less. Many Slingo games have special symbols to help you on your way towards a win – for example, Joker symbols allow you to choose any number in the column above to mark off on the grid, while Super Jokers let you choose from the whole grid. In some games, free spin symbols can appear on the reels to award you an additional spin, and instant prize symbols can also appear.
Slingo Themes and Designs
There is a huge range of Slingo games to choose from, with a variety of themes and designs to suit all tastes. Many Slingo titles are Slingo versions of popular slot games, like Slingo Reel King, Slingo Rainbow Riches and Slingo Sweet Bonanza. These games all have themes and designs inspired by the original games.
Other releases, like Slingo Fire and Ice, Slingoooal and Slingo Racing, have original designs based on the game’s theme. For example, in Slingo Fire and Ice, there is a red-hot grid and an ice-cold one, and in Slingo Racing, horses race around a racetrack on the edge of the grid.
Fun Slingo Games to Try
Check out the Slingo games below – why not try a few to find your new favourite?
Slingo Racing
At the beginning of Slingo Racing, you’ll be asked to choose one of three horses to race with. The horses have different volatilities and different jackpot prizes, too. Those with a higher volatility are likely to pay out less frequently, but with bigger prizes (and vice versa).
Once you’ve chosen a horse, the game will begin automatically.
You’ll notice that the horses move around the racecourse when a position on the grid is marked off to reveal their colour. If your horse reaches a multiplier value on the racecourse, this multiplier will be applied to your win.
If your horse makes it to the finish line before the end of the game, you’ll win the corresponding jackpot!
Slingo Sweet Bonanza
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, Slingo Sweet Bonanza is the game for you! This game is a mash-up of the Slingo mechanic with hit slot game Sweet Bonanza.
It features the same 5x5 grid format as other Slingo games, and the aim of the game is to mark off numbers on the grid and work your way up the bonus ladder on the left of the screen.
Five or more Slingos will earn you a cash prize at the end of the game. If you manage to complete eight Slingos or more, you’ll gain access to the candy bomb bonus round.
You’ll be taken to a new screen, where you’ll be asked to choose one of four brightly coloured candy bombs to reveal multiplier values. The more Slingos you’ve completed, the more picks you’ll get!
Slingo Deal or No Deal
Slingo Deal or No Deal is probably one of the most well-known Slingo games. Inspired by the iconic TV show, hosted in the UK by Noel Edmonds and in the US by Howie Mandel, this highly interactive edition of Slingo puts you in the driver's seat, allowing you to play the game your way (with some recognizable Slingo features, of course)
When you first start the game, you'll be prompted to pick your fortunate box, which will be placed to one side, much like on TV. You eliminate the famous red boxes from your 5x5 grid by matching numbers from the slot reel to those in the columns above. You'll get a Slingo and climb up the Prize Boost Ladder if you mark off 5 boxes in a row vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. This will multiply the value of any remaining rewards. Will you beat the banker, or crumble under the pressure and take a deal too soon?
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