Is it correct to label bingo as an addiction? If so, should it be regarded as an addiction only in certain cases, or would it be more correct to come up with an all-encompassing rule that does or does not define bingo as an addiction? Opinions vary greatly regarding this topic, so a definitive answer is unlikely. Still, this article attempts to analyze the accuracy of labeling bingo as an addiction using basic arguments.

Entertainment has existed since the beginning of the human race, in various shapes and forms. As society evolved, entertainment evolved as well, but its purpose remained unchanged i.e. to offer individuals ways to pass time doing things that they enjoy. Since a majority of (if not all) people require some form of entertainment in their lives, others began to exploit this need by charging something for the "rendered" entertainment. This led to the formation of several branches of entertainment such as sports, music, movies, gaming, gambling, etc.

Bingo is a form of gambling in that it is a game of chance played for money or other stakes. It is also a form of entertainment in that at least some people who play bingo enjoy doing it, whether due to monetary expectations, socialization or simple love of the game. The main difference between an individual playing bingo and, say, a record label signing a new, unknown artist on a multi-million dollar contract is that in the first case the individual risks his or her own money, while in the second case the risk is shifted on a company. However, both cases are a form of gambling; in the case of the record company, it assumes present risk in order to generate future profit. Furthermore, it is possible that the individual who plays bingo does so solely for entertainment purposes, not for financial gains as in the case of the record company.

The flipside is that there are several well-documented cases in which gambling (bingo included) had severe repercussions on individuals' lives, ranging from depression to bankruptcy to suicide, whereas the same cannot be said of signing new artists to record companies. But even in such cases, it is important to distinguish between pathological gambling and an individual's reliance of gambling as a profession (i.e. professional poker players) or means to obtain significant amounts of money - in which case gambling does not represent a form of addiction, but a form of self-employment.

Considering the information above, the conclusion is that gambling in general and bingo in particular may be labeled as addiction in some cases and entertainment in other cases. It falls to the individual to decide whether the reason for playing bingo is pleasure, money or unsatiated need.