What is Slingo?
As mentioned, Slingo is a combination of both bingo and slot games. It’s becoming hugely popular around the world, particularly in the United Kingdom. The multi-player game takes features from both bingo and slots and combines them to create something fun and unique.
The game was first created in 1994 by a New Jersey real estate developer named Sal Falciglia who also founded the company Slingo, Inc. which was used to develop, launch and market games using Slingo gameplay.
In July 2013, RealNetworks bought the company for a whopping $15.6 million and then, just two years later, RealNetworks announced that it was selling the company to Gaming Realms, a London-based gaming firm. Slingo games have since become hugely popular and Gaming Realms has developed and published around 12 games for online casinos, known as ‘Slingo Originals’.
The games can be found at several major online casinos and have led to financial success. But how exactly does Slingo work?
Slingo Games
Around the late 90s, AOL offered a multi-player version of Slingo and a single-player version aimed at children. At the turn of the new millennium, Slingo launched a new version with updated graphics and new features. AOL once again updated Slingo in 2009, changing the game’s name to Slingo Classic and updating its graphics.
Many Slingo games were made available as stand-alone PC games published by Atari, Hasbro and Funkitron throughout the 90s and late 2000s. A Slingo console game was also released for the Nintendo DS in 2008, utilising the DS’s touchscreen as a mouse to match numbers.
Slingo has also partnered up with well-known companies such as IGT, Spielo, AC Coin & Slot and the United States Playing Card Company to bring Slingo games to brick-and-mortar casinos such as Bally’s Atlantic City, Caesars Atlantic City, Paris Las Vegas and Harrah’s Reno. Real-life Slingo games include Slingo Video Slots, Slingo Bonus Reel Slots, Bonus Bet 21, Triple Slingo Jackpot and much more.
How Does Slingo Work?
We’ve already mentioned that Slingo takes some of the best features from both bingo and slot games. Slingo games are multi-player and users must battle against each other to win. Basically, players are given a specific number of turns to “spin” the numbers below their Slingo card, which looks similar to a bingo card. With each spin, five numbers appear on the reels at the bottom of the screen and numbers are marked off the Slingo card if present.
Players earn points throughout the game by collecting coins and the user with the most points at end of the game wins. However, later spins in the game must be bought using points. Alternatively, players can use their accumulated free spins in place of their points.
During the game, symbols and special items can appear to help you or slow your progress. For example, Jokers, which act as wild symbols from slot games, can be used to mark off any number in the column that it appears in. A Joker that lands in the centre column can turn into a Super Joker which can mark off a number from anywhere on the board.
There are also Devil symbols which can randomly land during the game. If the Devil appears in place of a number, the player’s score is cut in half and blocks any numbers from being marked off. However, a Cherub can cancel the Devil’s effects by shooting it with an arrow. In addition to this, there is a time limit that the player must spin the reels for each spin. If a user fails to make their spin within the specified time limit, they lose the spin.
Comparing Slingo, Slots and Bingo
Now you understand Slingo a little better you can see how it takes inspiration from bino and slot games. Slingo is heavily based on bingo and takes most of its gameplay and features from regular bingo games.
In bingo, users play against each other to mark off the numbers presented on their bingo ticket and the numbers must be marked off in specific patterns or rows to win. Slingo follows similar gameplay, presenting users with a Slingo ticket featuring a random selection of numbers which must be marked off. Instead of using a Random Number Generator (RNG) to draw the numbers, however, Slingo requires users to “spin” to draw numbers, which is where Slingo borrows its slow features.
As you know, slot machines require users to spin symbols in order to make winning combinations. Similarly, Slingo requires users to spin numbers and symbols to progress through the game. It also takes inspiration from slot symbols by incorporating Wild Jokers which, like in slots, help players.
One of the major differences between Slingo and slots is that the reel space is significantly smaller in Slingo. In fact, it’s so small that only one symbol is shown per reel. This is due to the large Slingo ticket which shows the numbers that need to be marked off.
How to Win Slingo Games
We’ve already mentioned that to win Slingo, players must accumulate the highest number of points. During the game, points are earned by completing specific actions such as marking off an entire row or column.
Each action rewards the player a different number of points. They are as follows:
- Clearing a line horizontally, vertically or diagonally: 200 points
- Clearing another line horizontally, vertically or diagonally: 1,000 points
- Landing a coin symbol: 1,000 points
- Landing three joker symbols in one spin: 1,000
- Laning four joker symbols in one spin: 2,500 points
- Landing five joker symbols in one spin: 10,000
In addition, players earn points for clearing out the entire board. Again, users earn a different number of points depending on how many spins are used. For example:
- 12 spins: 11,000 points
- 13 spins: 10,000 points
- 14 spins: 9,000 points
- 15 spins: 8,500 points
- 16 spins: 7,500 points
- 17 spins: 7,000 points
- 18 spins: 6,500 points
- 19 spins: 6,000 points
Completing multiple actions, landing free spin symbols and utilising Joker symbols will help you earn higher numbers of points and could lead you to win the game.
Most Popular Variations
Due to the rising popularity of Slingo games in the United Kingdom, Slingo decided to develop and launch a selection of games targeted specifically to users based in the UK. In fact, the company actually released several Slingo games based on popular UK reality television shows each featuring different designs and symbols.
Slingo Who Wants To Be A Millionaire
Slingo Who Wants To Be A Millionaire is one of the most unique Slingo games available. The entire game is themed on the iconic quiz television show and features a fixed £1 million jackpot which players can win.
This variation follows the ordinary Slingo rules with one exception. For every five numbers marked off, players earn a Slingo and will be presented with a symbol that is attached to a cash prize. Players can win the prize by revealing three matching symbols.
Slingo X Factor
Slingo X Factor plays like an ordinary Slingo game. Users are required to mark off numbers as they’re spun and completing actions earns them points. The main difference is that this variation features an X Factor-inspired backdrop with bright lights, a stage and the X Factor logo.
Deal Or No Deal Slingo
Deal Or No Deal Slingo is themed around the game of the same name and the Slingo ticket card is presented with the Deal Or No Deal boxes. This variation also features a £1 million jackpot. While the game follows traditional Slingo rules, there are a few exceptions.
Each numbered box contains a prize and when opened, the prize value is removed from the game. When players open five boxes next to each other (Either horizontally, vertically or diagonally) they create a Slingo and each Slingo moves the player up the prize multiplier bar on the left side of the screen.
Once players create four Slingos, they unlock the Banker’s Office. Creating five or more Slingos earns the player multipliers starting from 2x to 7x.
Slingo Britain’s Got Talent
Slingo Britain’s Got Talent plays similarly to the X Factor variations. It features star symbols and players can win a £20,000 jackpot. Like ordinary Slingo, players must spin numbers to mark them off their ticket and create Slingos by marking off five numbers in one spin.
Love Island Slingo
The Love Island Slingo plays just like an ordinary Slingo game and the aim of the game is to mark off as many numbers off the grid as possible. This variation features a beach backdrop and heart and beach symbols.
Best Slingo Sites
Despite their popularity, Slingo games can actually be quite hard to find. At the time of writing, the most popular Slingo site is Play OJO, an online casino that launched in 2017.
Play OJO offers 13 Slingo games including Love Island Slingo, Wheely Wheely Big Win, Dancing On Ice, Slingo Britain’s Got Talent, Slingo Rainbow Riches, Slingo Extreme, Slingo Fortunes, Slingo Reel Extreme, Slingo Reel Riches, Slingo Reveal, Slingo XXXtreme and Slingo Riches.
Slingo games can also be found on the official Slingo casino, which also offers a collection of slot, table and live casino games. You’ll also be able to find a few variations of Slingo on bingo sites such as Foxy Bingo and Wink Bingo.
If you want to play Slingo games, we suggest you try them over on Play OJO. It’s one of our favourite online casinos due to its fast payouts, huge game selection and fun design. The Slingo site also offers regular promotions and features great customer support. You can find out more about Play OJO by reading our review here.
Summary
Slingo is a unique game featuring fun gameplay elements from two of the most popular gambling games ever made. The game is exciting, fun and has all the benefits of playing slots and bingo and much more. The games allow users to win large prizes and interact with each other.
While it Slingo may came across as overwhelming and complicated to new players it’s actually incredibly easy to learn. What isn’t easy, however, is finding an online casino that offers Slingo games. Despite this, they’re definitely worth trying, particularly if you enjoy the two games its based on.