Shadowy underground origins of Italian 'tombola' bingo still alive in Naples
The tombola played by most Italians is a much beloved, squeaky clean Yuletide tradition. But the Naples version is a reflection of the ancient history of the city where the game sprang up in the early 18th century as a way for impoverished people to win small stakes in a game of luck.
![Shadowy underground origins of Italian 'tombola' bingo still alive in Naples](https://i.cbc.ca/1.7066633.1703181457!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/tombola-numbers-jpg.jpg)
![The images associated with tombola numbers are called smorfie, which is derived from the Greek word sphinx, reflecting the divination powers Neapolitans attribute to the numbers. Round game pieces with numbers on them on a table.](https://i.cbc.ca/1.7066633.1703181457!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/tombola-numbers-jpg.jpg)
The tombola played by most Italians is a much beloved, squeaky clean Yuletide tradition. But the Naples version is a reflection of the ancient history of the city where the game sprang up in the early 18th century as a way for impoverished people to win small stakes in a game of luck.