Loteria is a Mexican game of chance similar to bingo. Players have a 4x4 grid board with randomly assigned pictures and corresponding names/numbers. A caller draws cards from a deck of 54 images and announces them, and players mark their board if they have a match. The first player to mark off a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally wins. The game originated in Italy in the 15th century and was brought to Mexico in 1769, originally as a hobby for upper classes but becoming a tradition at fairs.

1. LOTERIA OR “LOTTERY”
TIA WRAY
4-7-15
FYS

2. WHAT IS IT?
MEXICAN GAME OF CHANCE, SIMILAR TO BINGO, BUT USES A DECK OF CARDS. EVERY
IMAGE HAS A NAME AND A NUMBER, BUT THE NUMBER IS USUALLY IGNORED DURING THE
GAME. EACH PLAYER HAS A BOARD, THAT THEY CHOOSE TO PLAY WITH, RANDOMLY
CREATED 4X4 GRID OF PICTURES WITH CORRESPONDING NAME AND NUMBER. EACH
PLAYER PRESENTS A CARD WITH DIFFERENT SELECTION OF IMAGES, THE DECK IS
COMPOSED OF 54 DIFFERENT IMAGES.

3. HOW TO PLAY:
TO START THE GAME, THE CALLER RANDOMLY SELECTS A CARD FROM THE DECK AND
ANNOUNCES IT TO THE PLAYERS BY ITS NAME, SOMETIMES USING A RIDDLE INSTEAD OF
READING THE CARD NAME. THE PLAYERS WITH A MATCHING PICTOGRAM ON THEIR BOARD
MARK IT OFF WITH A CHIP OR OTHER KIND OF MARKER, MANY USE SMALL ROCKS, CROWN
CORKS, OR PINTO BEANS AS MARKERS. THE FIRST PLAYER WITH FOUR CHIPS IN A
HORIZONTAL, VERTICAL, OR DIAGONAL ROW, SQUARED PATTERN, ANY OTHER PATTERN,
OR FILL THE BOARD WINS. OR MONEY CAN BE USED, EACH PLAYER PURCHASES THE PIECES
AND THE FIRST PLAYER TO COMPLETE THEIR BOARD TAKES ALL THE OTHER PLAYERS
MONEY.

4. WHERE DID IT ORIGINATED?
THE GAME ORIGINATED IN ITALY IN THE 15TH CENTURY AND WAS BROUGHT TO NEW SPAIN
IN 1769. IN THE BEGINNING LOTERIA WAS A HOBBY OF THE UPPER CLASSES, BUT
EVENTUALLY IT BECAME A TRADITION IN MEXICAN FAIRS.