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The world is awash with portmanteau, a rather grandiose term that basically refers to when two words are smushed together to create a new one. Heck, even the word ‘internet’ is technically a portmanteau of interconnected and network.
Online casino gaming has a couple of these doubled-up words too, and one that causes the most confusion amongst players is ‘slingo’.
So what on earth is a slingo?
Definition of Slingo
Slingo is a portmanteau of slots and bingo – they could have used blots or bints, perhaps, but those aren’t as eye-catching or as fun to say.
A slingo game combines elements of slots and bingo, and while there’s different types the general idea is that you spin a set of slot reels and the numbers that appear, when matched with those on your bingo card, could yield lines, patterns and even the full house so desired by bingo players.
Many online casinos offer slingo games, which have grown in popularity since first being launched way back in the 1990s. In fact, you have to give plenty of credit to Sal Falciglia, who was an estate agent by trade before coming up with the idea. He even registered the company name Slingo, Inc, which he would sell in 2013 for a handsome payday of nearly £12 million!
What’s the Difference Between Slingo and Bingo?
As far as the basic game mechanics are concerned, there’s not a great deal of difference between slingo and bingo – the object, to complete winning lines, patterns and the full house, remains the same.
It’s just that the manner in which the gameplay is delivered is different. Rather than a caller reading out the numbers as they are fired out of their machine, in slingo it’s the slot reels that present the numbers that determine whether you win or lose.
Slingo is effectively an online bingo game accompanied by slot reels, so fans of either of those casino game categories will no doubt be enthralled by the action.
How to Play Slingo
One of the reasons that slingo games are so beloved is that they bring simplicity and speed to the table. You don’t need to know complex rules or take the time to learn strategies, with the action unfolding before your eyes with little to no intervention on your part.
You can play slingo in free-play mode or for real money. Simply decide what level (i.e. how much your game ticket will cost) you want to play at, hit spin and watch the reels turn. Your slingo ticket will have numbers printed on it like a standard bingo card, and these are automatically daubed off when they appear on your reels.
The number of spins you get per game varies – 20 is typically somewhere around the average, and unfortunately if you don’t complete the specified lines and patterns in that timeframe then the game is over.
But if you do score a slingo line, which can often be horizontal, vertical or even diagonal, you will win a prize accordingly – consult the paytable to see exactly what’s up for grabs.
Some slingo games have a prize ladder rather than static payouts, so in theory you can enhance your winnings if you are able to combine a series of slingo lines. Climbing the ladder will bring other prizes and perhaps a bonus feature or two into the bargain.
Other slingo games also feature special symbols on their reels, such as a star or diamond. These can pay out instant prizes, automatically lift you up the ladder to the next rung or even add free spins to your allocation. Joker symbols, meanwhile, are generally wild – these can usually be used to cross off any number on your ticket.
Slingo Tips and Strategy
The guide written above refers to the most traditional slingo games – others have introduced all manner of weird and wonderful rules and ideas to keep slingo moving forward into a new age of gaming.
From Slingo Extreme and Slingo Riches to games based on popular slots like Starburst or even TV shows such as Deal or No Deal, the rules for each title are unique but often very simple to learn.
Some games offer ‘power ups’ like free spins and added time to boost your play, and it’s usually worth saving these for the end of the game when you are running low on spins – they may just turn a losing situation into a winning one.
Slingo games that are offer multipliers will maximise your payout for winning lines – again, these are worth saving for later spins, when it’s more likely that you will be completing lines than at the start when there’s more numbers unchecked on your ticket.
If you are able to select where you want to use your special symbol, clearly you will want to complete a line if possible or, at least, get closer to accomplishing that. But don’t neglect other numbers, especially those in the centre of your ticket – these can be vital for completing lines in all directions.
Otherwise, there’s not a great deal of strategy implied in slingo.
Who knows: maybe slingo is your new favourite online casino game in waiting?