Slot machines and bingo derivatives come and go, but the innovative hybrid Slingo has managed to remain popular for more than two decades. With numerous titles demonstrating a variety of fun themes and twists, Slingo games are favorites for many who play at New Jersey online casinos. Here’s an overview of what Slingo is and what Slingo games you can play right now at NJ online casinos.
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How to play Slingo
As noted, Slingo is a mix of bingo and the iconic slots, combining favorite features from from both games. When the game begins, the player receives a card containing a 5×5 grid with numbers on it. The card resembles a traditional bingo card, with five columns with numbers chosen from 15-number ranges (1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-75). Only rather than “columns” we can call them “reels” as in slots.
The player is given a certain number of spins (often 11 spins), and with each spin the player hopes to match the numbers of the reel with those on the card. Numbers appear at the bottom of each reel, and when there is a match, the number is replaced with a star or some other marker. In addition to numbers, spins might produce bonus characters including the following:
- Jokers — Like wild cards that let you choose a number to mark off a given reel.
- Super Jokers — Let you mark off any number on the board (not just in the reel where it appears)
- Devils — Immediately reduces your current winnings (e.g., by half)
- Cherubs — Increases your winnings (e.g., by double)
- Gold Coins — Award you additional free spins
The object is to mark five spots in a row on your card either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally to make a “Slingo.” That adds up to 12 winning “lines” (to use a slot term) — the five horizontal ones, five vertical ones, and two diagonal ones. There is a paytable (usually over on the left) showing how much you win according to how many Slingos you make, including a top prize for making a “Full House” and marking off every number on the card.
Once you’ve exhausted your original spins, you’ll be given an option to buy additional spins. The first couple of extra spins might only cost a penny each, but the price goes up considerably from there, making it more expensive the further you go. You don’t have to buy any spins, though, and can choose to end the game (if you haven’t won anything) or collect whatever winnings you’ve accumulated.
Slingo is mostly a chance-based game, but you do have to make decisions sometimes. When you get a Joker or Super Joker, you have to choose which spot to mark off, and there’s a little bit of strategy involved with making the most optimal choice. There’s also that decision whether or not to buy extra spins after the original ones run out, which also involves calculating risk-versus-reward.
There are tons of Slingo variations, including some that introduce additional characters and other twists to the game such as bonus games. (Some of these Slingo variants are discussed below.) You can see at a glance, though, how the game brings together the fun of both bingo and slots.
Slingo at NJ online casinos
You’ll find Slingo games at most New Jersey online casinos, and in some cases dozens of different Slingo titles. Here is a list of some top NJ online casinos that feature Slingo:
- Bally Casino — 8 Slingo games
- BetMGM Casino — 45 Slingo games
- BetRivers Casino — 50+ Slingo games
- Caesars Palace Online Casino — 15+ Slingo games
- DraftKings Casino — 50+ Slingo games
- Fanatics Casino — 15+ Slingo games
- FanDuel Casino — 20 Slingo games
- Hard Rock Bet Casino — 50+ Slingo games
It is through all of these different New Jersey online casinos that players can play some or multiple deviations of Slingo. Some of these are themed, while some stick close to the original game. Either way, these casinos promise their Slingo is there to show players a good time. If you encounter issues or problems playing Slingo, the online casino customer service is there to assist with whatever you need.
Different Slingo games at NJ casinos
As you can see, Slingo is the kind of online casino game that can potentially be adapted in a number of different ways. It also can host a variety of different themes, just like traditional online slots.
Slingo games featuring popular slots
An example of the adaptability of Slingo are the many varieties based on popular online slots. These games adopt the color schemes, characters and/or storylines, and other features of their namesakes to the Slingo format. Here are a few popular examples as well as the NJ online sites where you can find them:
- Slingo Starburst — Bally, BetMGM, BetRivers, DraftKings, FanDuel, Hard Rock Bet, PlayStar
- Lucky Larry’s Lobstermania Slingo — BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars Palace, DraftKings, Hard Rock Bet, PlayStar
- Slingo Da Vinci Diamonds — BetRivers, Caesars Palace, DraftKings, Hard Rock Bet, PlayStar
- Slingo Cleopatra — BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars Palace, DraftKings, FanDuel, Hard Rock Bet
Sometimes these slot-themed Slingo games will feature a bonus game that actually lets you play the original slot. For example, in Slingo Starburst you can win your way into the bonus game that is actually the classic Starbust slot where you can use some free spins.
Site-specific Slingo variants
Many NJ online casinos have their own specially-branded Slingo games. These include titles like BetMGM Slingo XXXtreme, Caesars Palace Slingo, and Hard Rock Slingo.
As with most other Slingo variants, these games play very similarly to the “classic” Slingo game.
Other popular Slingo variants
You’ll find many sites offer other popular Slingo variants that take the basic premise of Slingo and add various twists and additional features. These variants also in some cases incorporate other games, including video games, into their themes. Examples include:
- Slingo XXXtreme — adds a “fiery” theme, a large jackpot worth 1,000x your stake, and a couple of instant-win mechanics
- Slingo Riches — also includes instant-win prizes, including free spins
- Slingo Space Invaders — incorporates the classic arcade title with bonus games involving shooting UFOs and invaders
- Slingo Sweet Bonanza — features a theme filled with sweet treats with a bonus picking game in which you choose candy bombs that reveal multipliers
New Jersey Slingo variants
When playing Slingo at NJ online casinos, you’ll occasionally run into some fun locally-themed variants such as ones using local sports teams to create unique Slingo themes. Our favorite among these is the New York Jets Slingo game at BetMGM Casino.
BetMGM also has a Slingo Phillies game at both their New Jersey and Pennsylvania online casinos.
A history of Slingo
Sal Falcigilia was a real estate developer, who was semi-retired in 1996. Yet, his hobby kept him busy; he was a high roller. He enjoyed the thrill of the casino, as well as bingo. Yet, at the time, trying his luck at such games was the only experience Falcigilia had in casino games. Nevertheless, he decided that the world of gambling needed a change of pace. So, he worked to combine his two loves, bingo and slot machines, into one prolific game.
Originally, though, Falcigilia’s vision for his game, Slingo, involved a television show. Using an old slot machine and making a few adjustments, he tried to create a prototype of a physical game. His idea, he thought, would be great, if only he could get the ratios to add up appropriately. Eventually the prototype turned digital as part of the pitch for a television show. This, apparently, was all Falcigilia needed to find success.
Almost immediately, the working prototype was picked up by online casinos and computer games alike. It was a near-instant success. Once the original game was started, Falcigilia created Slingo INC to capitalize on the original game’s success. Afterward, Slingo was adapted multiple times, both as a game for fun and an online casino favorite. By 2013, Falcigilia had amassed an enterprise, which he sold to RealNetworks for $15.6 million. Now, with the advancements of mobile games and online casinos, Slingo has created a notable legacy.