Online gaming is a massive, multi-million-dollar industry enjoyed by millions of people across the world. Whether it be first-person shooter games, puzzle games, or casino games for your gambling fix, everyone’s needs are catered for on the world wide web.

There are countless advantages to gaming online. It’s convenient for one, with the rise of tablets and smartphones allowing users to play anywhere in the world.

Some games can be great for people of all ages to learn new skills and develop too. Then again, you can always just use it solely for leisure purposes, as many people choose to do.

Another key advantage of online gaming is the social aspect. This may not seem like an obvious upside, but many online games are great at bringing people together

The history of gaming

The history of gaming is too long and complicated to address in its entirety here. However, one thing is for certain, throughout human history it has had two key objectives.

The first is competition. Humans as a species are inherently competitive, and gaming allows us to scratch this itch, so it does not express itself in negative ways in day-to-day life.

The second key aim of gaming is bringing people together. Just as humans love to compete, we also love to socialise.

Gaming provides ample opportunities to do exactly this. Whether it be the teamwork involved in some games or even simply spectating the action with friends or family, sociability is at the heart of gaming.

Nowhere is this more evident than in board games. Throughout the 20th century, these were the dominant type of game.

Used to bring people together in the evenings, board games were - and to some extent remain - big business. However, the arrival of the internet added an exciting new element into the mix for gaming fans.

Board games are well-known for their social aspect and bringing friends and family together.

Moving online

As the internet became more widely available, the amount of online games drastically increased. Some of these were original concepts but the majority were simply ‘analogue’ titles that had been given the digital treatment.

Pinball, solitaire and poker are just three examples that went online and although many people welcomed the changes, there were fears from elsewhere. The most common grip was that the online equivalents did not have the same level of sociability as the originals.

However, these fears have largely been addressed over the years. To demonstrate what we mean, we will be using the example of online bingo. This has, perhaps more so than any online game, been able to replicate the sociability that made it so popular in the first place.

Online bingo

When you think of bingo images of hundreds of people crammed into a hall straining to hear the caller’s next number will immediately come to mind. The game became massively popular in the 20th century for several reasons, one of the main ones being, players had great and easy access to top bingo sites that offered various types of bingo games. There are also other reasons:

Simplicity - In bingo, all you need to do is cross off the numbers as they are read out. First timers are able to pick this up easily, meaning they are not intimidated and are likely to return.

Variability - Another great advantage of bingo was that, due to its popularity, there were plenty of different games available on any night of the week. This suited high rollers and more conservative players.

Lots of chances to win - Bingo games are quick - with a shedload being played over the course of the evening. Therefore, even if you do not win the first three cards of the night, there’s always a chance you can still leave with a prize.

Sociability - Unlike at a casino, for instance, bingo halls are generally casual affairs. There is plenty of chatter in between games and lots of time to get refreshments when you are not playing too.

Bingo is a game that has remained sociable despite the move online.

How online bingo remains sociable

In the online era, the first three advantages of bingo are easy to replicate. However, you may be wondering how it remains a social experience.

As offline bingo was well-known as a sociable game, the pressure was on for online bingo providers to succeed and allow the game to remain sociable on the internet.

Vital in this regard is the online chat room that accompanies most online bingo games. Here, players can engage in playful banter, catch up with each other and perhaps discuss strategy if they are that way inclined.

To encourage players to get involved in the chat rooms, online bingo providers include min-games with the chance for players to win extra bonuses and promotions to use whilst playing their bingo games.

Some online bingo games even allow for video chats. This is even better than a text-only chat room as it can allow people to connect with body language as well as words.

Typically, players create social communities in the online bingo chat rooms, making new friends and supporting each other as well as cheering others on when winning games. Players also build communities using social media platforms, making time to catch-up with one another away from the bingo site.

Large bingo providers tend to have their own social media presence and spark conversations between players by publishing community posts and encouraging players to engage with the post by liking, commenting and sharing.

Therefore, although online bingo may not seem as sociable as the ‘real thing’ at first, it certainly can be.

Even though many may think that online gaming is isolating, it shows quite frankly how sociable online video gaming can be, with many players being able to connect from all around the world and share the same desire and interests for their favourite games.