Once associated with the elderly in smoke filled church basements and lodging halls, Bingo has evolved into a game enjoyed by people of every sex, creed and age. While there have been some changes connected with game play, Western rules have essentially stayed the same since Bingo became popular in the 1920s. With time, the equipment has also seen some change and in various opinions it has generally been an improvement.
The job of Bingo cages has been modernized in several ways. Electronic number generators, mechanical ball draws and mechanical ball blowers all perform the job of a Bingo cage without the hand crank and in some cases, the ball caller too. However, there are some Bingo halls and "purists" out there who still rely heavily on the traditional cage with wooden or plastic Bingo balls that are put into a large display board for all of the players to see.
The first kind of cage is best used in small venues with only ten to fifteen players. It is normally touted as an economy version and is priced anywhere from fifty to sixty dollars. It comes with a propped up ball display board big enough for the small amount of players it is appropriate for and playing balls. Bingo cages of this size are well suited for home use as well.
Medium Bingo cages can be used with a larger group of people running anywhere from twenty to fifty players. This type also comes with a display board that is big enough for all players to see and seventy five balls (the normal amount of Bingo balls for United States gaming). Medium cages usually come with a price tag of ninety to one hundred dollars.
In a price jump from the medium cage at one hundred dollars is the large ping pong Bingo ball cage listed at two hundred dollars. These are incredibly well suited to both the caller and player alike who have diminished eye sight as ping pong balls are dramatically bigger than traditional Bingo balls. In direct response to the larger game ball comes a larger display board as well.
For large groups ranging from one hundred to one hundred fifty players, professional Bingo cages are the best fit. These roll cages are easiest to turn with a quick ball release and come with a display board like the other cages. The cost for a professional Bingo cage set runs from three hundred forty to three hundred fifty dollars. For fifty dollars more, the Bingo cage equipped with what is known as "Speedmatic" offers automatic ball recovery after the game has been played out.
