What is Slingo? And more questions, answered
Part bingo, part slot, here’s what Slingo is and how to play.
Slingo is a bingo card with a slot reel underneath it. You spin, matching numbers get crossed off your 5×5 grid, and completed lines pay out. It’s been around since 1994 and now turns up across online casino lobbies.
Here’s how to play Slingo, where it came from, and where to find it in Ontario.
Bingo grid on top, slot reel below
You spin the reel, it turns up five numbers, and any that match your grid get marked off automatically.
Complete a line, across, down or diagonal, and that’s a Slingo. Stack up Slingos and you climb a prize ladder.
The reels follow standard 75-ball bingo numbering. Reel one covers 1–15, reel two covers 16–30, and so on up to 61–75 on reel five. Each reel fills its own column. That’s the basic format, and games have their own unique features to vary the gameplay.
Where it came from
Sal Falciglia Sr., a New Jersey real estate developer, invented Slingo in 1994 and founded Slingo, Inc. to build it out. It launched publicly on AOL in 1996 as a free, ad-supported game and became one of the platform’s most-played titles.
From there it went everywhere. Hasbro Interactive put out a CD-ROM version in 1998. Tiger Electronics made an LCD handheld the same year. Slingo Deluxe landed in 2002, a Nintendo DS release in 2008, and a long run of Slingo Quest games through 2011.
Deals with IGT, AC Coin & Slot and Spielo put Slingo cabinets on casino floors and its name on scratch tickets.
Who owns Slingo?
RealNetworks bought Slingo in July 2013 for $15.6 million. Two years later, in July 2015, it sold the business to London-based Gaming Realms for $18 million.
Gaming Realms still owns Slingo today and develops the games through its Slingo Originals studio, which now runs to a portfolio of more than 100 titles. A big chunk of those are licensed crossovers.
How to play Slingo
- Set your stake. One bet covers the full game, not each spin. Decide what the whole round is worth to you before you start.
- Spin. Most online Slingo games give you around 10 base spins. Some vary, for example Slingo Ante Up lets you pick between 9 and 16 up front.
- Watch the grid fill. Matching numbers mark themselves. You don’t have to spot anything.
- Complete lines. Every Slingo moves you a rung up the prize ladder shown beside the grid. The ladder tells you exactly what each line is worth.
- Use the symbols. Check a specific game’s info to learn what symbols are available, but most offer a wild or superwild. A wild marks any number in the column above it. A super wild marks any number anywhere on the grid.
- Decide at the end. When your base spins run out, most games offer extra spins for a price that climbs each time. Take them or collect what you’ve got.
How these slots differ from regular slots
Three main things separate online Slingo slots from the rest of the lobby.
A slot bet is typically settled in a single spin. A Slingo bet plays out across multiple spins, typically somewhere around 10 depending on the game. That’s why rounds take longer and why Slingo feels different.
Your spins build on each other. On a standard slot, every spin is settled and forgotten. In Slingo, every number you mark stays marked. Spin nine is worth more than spin one because of everything that came before it.
You get a choice. Buying extra spins is a real decision with a real cost, and depending on the game you can choose where wilds get placed on the grid. In some Slingo games, you can choose between bonus features.
Where can I play Slingo online?
If you’re in Ontario, you can play Slingo online at Betty. We’re licensed by the AGCO and operate under an agreement with iGaming Ontario, so your money, your data and your game outcomes are covered by provincial regulation. You need to be 19+ and physically in Ontario to play.
Our Slingo collection is a good place to start. A few we’d point you toward:
- Slingo Super Spin
- Slingo Da Vinci Diamonds
- Slingo Lucky Larry’s Lobstermania
- Slingo Cash Eruption
- Slingo Space Invaders
New to the format? Play a few rounds at your smallest stake first to get a feel, and be sure to read the game information. There may be unique features and symbols to watch for.
FAQ
What is Slingo in simple terms? A 5×5 bingo card with a slot reel underneath. You spin, matching numbers get marked off, and completed lines pay out.
Is Slingo bingo or a slot? Both, technically, but at online casinos it’s classified and played as a slot. One bet buys you a fixed number of spins, and the outcome is determined by a random number generator.
How many spins do you get in Slingo? Usually around 10, though it varies by title. When those run out, most games let you buy extra spins at a price that increases each time.
Who invented Slingo and who owns it now? Sal Falciglia Sr. invented it in 1994. RealNetworks bought it in 2013, and London-based Gaming Realms has owned it since 2015.
Is Slingo legal in Ontario? Yes. Slingo games are available at AGCO-licensed operators registered with iGaming Ontario. You must be 19+ and in the province.
Can I play Slingo in Alberta? No. Slingo titles are not currently available on Betty Alberta.
Where can I play Slingo online in Canada? At a regulated operator in your province. In Ontario, that includes us: see the full list of Slingo games on Betty.
19+. Play within your limits. If gambling stops being fun, free support is available anytime through ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600.
