Modern bingo has a history that stretches back further than may be realised. It has its origins in lottery type games played hundreds of years ago (and perhaps earlier). Lotteries are still played of course and it is interesting to see how bingo developed from these games, splitting off to have its own distinct identity and become recognizable as modern bingo. This article looks into the lottery games that existed before bingo, and tracks how they ended up becoming the modern game of bingo. It is the first in a small series of articles that goes on to track the development of the different forms of bingo that are now played in different parts of the world. Read more about the history of lottery type games before the advent of modern bingo below.