Slingo is part slot, part bingo, and entirely its own thing. First launched back in 1996, the format has steadily grown into a familiar feature across online gaming — in fact, you may have already played some Slingo Originals games before! Over the years, millions of players worldwide have tried out its many variations, all the way from original releases to TV-themed tie-ins. With so many versions now available, Slingo has certainly carved out a rather unique space for itself. Click here to read more.
A history of Slingo Originals
It may surprise you to learn that Slingo has actually been around for almost 25 years, having first launched back in 1996. The game had been invented by a US businessman called Sal Falciglia Senior, who decided the world needed a game that combined the best of slots gaming with bingo. Back then, he would never have dreamed that the game he invented would become a world-wide phenomenon, especially since the internet was still in its earliest days, when nobody could have guessed its global impact. In fact, he’d hoped, somewhat modestly, that Slingo might someday become a game show on TV!
But once the world started gathering online, Slingo was there to greet them. It’s considered to be the very first ‘casual’ online game, having been originally launched on the AOL platform, before going on to feature on MSN. From there, the Slingo brand made its way onto Facebook, and CD ROMs, before ending up on mobile platforms, where it can be enjoyed by players around the world.
Around 55 million Slingo fans around the world can attest to the game’s extraordinary appeal. And it’s not just confined to the online world either. From instant-win games to land-based slots cabinets in bricks-and-mortar casinos, Slingo is a global phenomenon.
Slingo Originals has connection with major brands
What makes Slingo tick? It’s all about that simple idea: cross off lines on a bingo-style grid with numbers or symbols spun from a slot-style reel!
Five in a row gives you a Slingo, and the more lines you complete, the higher the prizes shown on the paytable. With so many versions now available, some stick closely to the original format while others add their own twists to the formula!
The beauty of Slingo is how easily it bends to different themes. It’s popped up on land-based machines, jumped onto social media, and now lives happily in online catalogues too. Not bad for a game that started with one little grid!
And the collaborations? They’re a story of their own!
Under Gaming Realms, Slingo Originals has tapped into major brand partnerships, producing tie-ins with some of the biggest TV shows around, including Deal or No Deal, Britain’s Got Talent, X Factor, and even Love Island!
Slingo Originals has won industry awards
With such a huge fanbase around the world, it comes as no surprise to discover that Slingo Originals has made waves throughout the gaming industry. In fact Slingo Originals won the award for Mobile Casino Product of the year at the EGR Operator Awards in 2016. They followed this up with an award for Innovation of the Year from Which Bingo in 2018, for the brand’s Slingo Rainbow Riches game, which applied the popular Slingo mechanic to an iconic slots game, to great acclaim.
How Does the Slingo Originals game work?
In a standard slot, there is really nothing you can do to change what appears on the reels. Every spin is handled by RNG, or random number generator technology, which makes sure the outcome is completely unpredictable each time. No shortcuts here!
Slingo, however, stirs in something extra! Many versions add interactive touches that let players make small choices as the game unfolds. Earlier Slingo titles leaned more heavily on these skill-like elements, while later releases explore different mechanics, so each version puts its own spin on things.
The layout is easy to spot. Most Slingo games use a 5x5 grid, which is actually your bingo card. Just below sits a single horizontal reel, and each part of that reel lines up with the column directly above it.
Land a number or symbol that matches, and that spot gets crossed off. The aim is to complete lines of five across, up, down, or even diagonally. Add them all together and you get 12 possible Slingos to play for!
Paying works a little differently too. Instead of paying for each spin as you would in a slot, you purchase an entire game. That comes with a fixed number of spins, sometimes called bingo balls, that drop from the hopper.
Once those are used, the option usually appears to continue by buying extra spins, with the price shown clearly on the Start button.
And here is where decision-making kicks in. In most Slingo games, you typically need at least four Slingos before you are in line to return more than your starting stake. That means players often weigh up whether paying for extra spins is worth the chance of filling the remaining spaces on the grid.
Special symbols keep things lively. Wilds can be used to mark off any number in a chosen column. Jokers work in the same way, while Super Jokers are even more flexible, as they can cross off any number anywhere on the grid.
Free Spin icons add another ball to the hopper, giving you one extra go at completing a line.
One thing you will not find in Slingo is Progressive Jackpots. That has never really been the focus. These games are built around grids, symbols, Wilds, and clear paytables, sticking to their unique blend of slot-style spins and bingo-style marking.
Slingo Slot FAQs
Does Slingo hold online gambling licenses?
Yes; Slingo holds two online gambling licenses. These are issued by the UK’s Gambling Commission and the Maltese Gaming Authority.
When were they established?
Slingo was founded in 2013; they were quick to see success, and are now a leading figurehead in the iGaming industry.
Have they won any awards?
Yes, a couple. They won an award at the “Which Bingo Awards” in 2018, and also won the “Innovation of the Year” award for their Slingo Rainbow Riches game.
What makes their games so unique?
Slingo games are built around a highly unique concept that allows you - the player - to have some control over the outcome of a game round. While the games still use a random number generator - and the RTP remains fixed - you’re able to make certain decisions during gameplay that can affect what happens next. It’s a really unique concept, and it’s one of the reasons why they’ve done so well as a company. It’s a bit like playing Candy Crush!
What are some of the top Slingo games to play?
Slingo has partnered up with some of the biggest game developers on the planet, and this has allowed them to use many hugely popular themes and brands within their games. Some of the best Slingo games include Slingo Berserk, Slingo Centurion Maximus Winnus, Slingo Rainbow Riches and Monopoly Slingo.
