You may be surprised to know that the quintessential Mexican game called La Lotera has its origins in Europe and came to Mexico by way of Spain. The traditional Loteria originated in Italy, moved to Spain, and finally came to Mexico in 1769.

Lotera (Spanish word meaning "lottery") is a traditional game of chance, similar to bingo, and is played on a deck of cards instead of numbered ping pong balls.

Come early, come caffeinated, and listen closely. Maximize your chances of winning by playing games with fewer competitors and playing multiple cards at once. Choose cards that are more likely to win. For instance, look for a bingo card with many median numbers and very few repeated numbers.

The winner is the first person to cover five spaces in a row  vertical, horizontal or diagonal  in basic Bingo. Shout BINGO  when you get five marks in a row.