Go back five years and you wouldn’t want to be seen dead in a bingo hall if you’re under the age of 66 - unless you’re on an all inclusive to Butlins or the Balearics.
However, the game of balls is back with a modern makeover, or futuristic if you’re trying your luck at Hijingo.
To understand this renaissance of bingo, that is reportedly due to ‘younger Brits combining nostalgia with modern social experiences’, Senior Features Writer Layla Nicholson headed on down to the venue in Shoreditch, London, to try her hand at the ‘AI-powered’ game.
I ashamedly walk in 10 minutes late (thank you trains) and straight into the thick of the game.
There’s not a crusty patterned carpet in sight, nor a buttoned shirt bingo caller twisting the caged numbers with disdain.
Bingo once being associated with a bore fest is no more, it’s almost the opposite.
The room is dark and only lit by atmospheric red strobe lights, something closer to a rave than a light game of chance.
Tension immediately builds with AI host ‘AVA’ (Artificial Virtual Architect) calling the numbers in her demanding robotic tone, which only adds to the pressure of finding them to dab off on the card.
Numbers pop up on digital screens around the room so there’s no hope in pestering the robot host to check - you have to be really in it to win it. Full immersion.
Is this what overstimulation feels like? Just when I thought I caught up with my numbers, another player stands up and waves their card with joy.
Now, here’s where things get really interesting.
The card is quickly checked as the ominous sound effects leave all in suspense before AI host AVA announces whether they’re a winner or a loser.
Not good for the self-esteem if you’ve got the wrong numbers, unless you’re into mass degradation.
But, with the futuristic Hijingo, it’s not as simple as winning a row or a full house to pocket a prize.
If you’ve managed to win a round out of the six, then you’ll be invited on stage - something I was never lucky enough to do.
I then watched something I could only describe as Deal Or No Deal but on Mars.
Instead of Stephen Mulhern for emotional support while opening boxes leading to doom or dreams, it’s two dancers in black morph suits with red wigs - who entertained with moves and cheeky gestures at times.
Hijingo not only has an AI twist, but has an extra ‘game of chance’ as winners get to choose what box to open to claim their prize.
And, most certainly unlike bog standard bingo, you can win a holiday for two to a fancy abroad destination. Italy was up for grabs over the six rounds, with games fuelled with waiters serving a variation of booze to the table via a QR code.
While winners throughout the games celebrated bagging the likes of £50 and a light-up jacket, it was the very last round which made me want to come back to Hijingo.
Someone from my table managed to dab off a full house to the calls of the AI host.
But what stood in his way from winning as big as £500 to £25 - which will either buy you one round of drinks in central London or a knees up in Spoons - was 10 boxes.
The prizes didn't reach the same heights, but it’s like daytime Deal or No Deal had been injected with a Saturday night prime time game show.
It was tense. We were all shouting numbers like you’d do while sitting on your sofa in aim of the TV.
All very immersive and nostalgic.
That was it. Number seven was locked in and there was no turning back. The room went quiet like everyone’s life depended on it.
And just like we were watching England net their next-round qualifying penalty, we all went wild as the £500 was revealed.
Absolute scenes! You wouldn’t get that down your local village bingo hall, right? (Well, maybe, I’ve never been).
To calm nerves that I shouldn’t even have, it was off for a post-game tipple in the Lucky Cat bar.
Bingo is back, baby, and instead of 'big fat ladies' this time it’s got AI, bottomless booze, big wins and the equivalent of two female Stephen Mulherns in red wigs.
What more could you want? Well, perhaps another round.
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