The crossover between bingo and traditional casino games is complete. Now, most online bingo houses and casino halls offer games which would have once been considered the sole bastion of either, and certainly not both.

Costa Bingo, now one of the most popular online bingo houses, has used its free bingo concept to bring the whole spectrum of online gaming to its players – epitomised through its comprehensive catalogue of instant games..

While free games of 75-ball and 90-ball bingo may have been the sites primary fare, Costa Bingo was one of the first sites to recognise the potential offered by online casinos. The sites administrators – renowned for their relationship with their fans, another key reason for Costas rapid rise to the top – listened to the clamour in Costas buzzing chat rooms for something extra. They wanted something different, something new. That something was instant games, aside from the many games of bingo.

Today, Costa offers 13 different instant games, which are as popular amongst regular players as any of the other games on the site. The beauty of instant games is the very fact that they are exactly that, while even bingo game takes longer to complete. Instant games give players the opportunity for instant gratification – a quick gaming fix with some great prizes. Costas Winners Board regularly shows instant winners netting cool sums up to £1,000 – an enticing draw for any player.

For bingo players the allure is plain, and the same is true for those coming from a casino background. Amongst all the casino games, only roulette offers anywhere near the same time-played-to-winnings-made ratio. Any poker player will testify to the need for a large bankroll for any online game, whether it is for a friendly round or tournament buy-in. Instant games are a useful way in which gamblers can raise a bankroll from a short outlay, extending potential table-time.

Away from instants, Costa has forged a reputation as one of the freshest bingo providers online. This is an ethos that they have carried forward to their instant games, offering a huge variety in their instant portfolio. Titles like Scratchcards and Quickfire Lotto appeal to the more traditional gambler, while Hi-Lo, Hi-Lo Shuffle and Video Poker are nods to those casino-goers looking for a reminder of home. Male players will be drawn to titles like How The West Was Won and Arcade Horses, while Love Lines and Hollywood Stars appeal to lady players.

Variety, it seems, is truly the spice of life. It was this variety and fresh approach built on the solid mass appeal of free bingo. New players, buoyed by winnings from free bingo games, quickly realised that there was more to online bingo than bingo.

For many, instant games are a unique opportunity to get maximum gratification for minimum effort, with all the fun and playability of their favourite bingo or casino games in a bite size format. Today they are as much a part of the online bingo landscape as games of 75-ball and 90-ball bingo, and now prove some of the most popular online. As online gaming becomes increasingly widespread the future looks bright for instants, and for Costa Bingo.