Is Bingo Recession Proof?

The Great American Depression during the 1920s was a time of food lines and massive unemployment. It was a time when many people needed something to cheer them up and take their minds off of their economic problems. This is one of the things that the game of bingo did.

In America, bingo was redesigned and became very popular during the Depression. Toy salesman Edwin Lowe redesigned the game, making it based on seventy-five numbers and played on a square grid of five numbers by five numbers.

The game became a very popular form of fundraising for the Catholic Church during the 1920s. Churches needed a way to raise money to relieve their own economic woes and bingo provided the means as well as allowing for a community element. It was an easy game to organize, not requiring a large investment in equipment or supplies. It was easy for players to learn and play it requires no strategy or skill. New players can easily and quickly learn to play. The game is not expensive for players, even during the depression.

It is a game of gambling but it raised money for the church parishes, offered some enjoyment for the players and gave the players a chance to win some money. Bingo's popularity grew and the bingo game flourished during the Depression as  players sought relief. Lowe's restructuring of the game gave it its own distinct American flavor.