Bingo Game Guide

When it comes to instant win games, there are rarely any variants that are as old and as popular as bingo. We all remember our elderly people visiting bingo rooms just so they can have fun and meet new people.

Bingo rooms these days might not be as popular as they used to be, but that doesn’t mean that you cannot play bingo. After all, its online variant made it possible for you to enjoy it at any time and place. In this article, we’ll take a closer look into this game. Not only will we explain how to play bingo, but we’ll also dig deeper and explain its terms, tips, strategies and more.

What is Bingo?

Of course, we cannot dive into the complexity of bingo rules and strategies without explaining the basics first.

Bingo is a game in which players mark certain numbers in hopes that their picks will be drawn by the caller. The person that wins this game is the first one to successfully make all of their numbers. This is a game of chance and after the winners claim their rewards, a new round starts.

Whenever this game is played in bingo rooms, the winner is supposed to shout “BINGO” whenever they win as a way to alert other participants that they’ve won the round.

The two most popular variants of bingo are the American and British versions. These two variants are also known as 75-ball bingo (US) and 90-ball bingo (UK). Although they share some similarities, they are not to be confused with.

Purchasing Bingo Tickets

Logically, if you want to play bingo, you need a bingo ticket. When playing this game at brick-and-mortar facilities, you can purchase tickets at the bingo room itself, kiosks or markets. These tickets are sold in numerous places and it is easy to get them.

In online bingo, you don’t need to purchase a ticket from a certain site. The bingo website will provide you with a ticket immediately when you access a certain bingo variant. The flexibility and simplicity of online bingo is the reason why players prefer to play this game on the Internet more than in person these days.

Game Randomness

Whenever you’re playing bingo or any other game of chance for that matter, you must be assured that every outcome is random. With in-person bingo, the most commonly used technique to ensure randomness and fair play is the blower. All of the balls are placed in a big bowl and the blower disperses them all over. Then, a random ball containing a number is sucked in and it is shown to the public.

With the rise of computer technology, online bingo became popular. These games had to use different technology. That’s what contributed to the use of Random Number Generators (RNGs). These are AI tools that create random outcomes for each round.

How to Play Bingo – General Rules

Okay so, now that we’ve discussed the general things about this game, let’s start explaining how to play bingo. Everything in bingo revolves around scratching off numbers that the host shows. To do that, you must first obtain a bingo card.

Numbers can only be scratched horizontally, diagonally or vertically. As the host keeps displaying numbers, you need to check whether the specific number is in any of these directions in your ticket. As soon as you scratch off 5 numbers in any of the 3 directions, you must yell “BINGO.” Once you do so, the host, which is sometimes known as the caller, will check your numbers.

If everything is good, then the caller will confirm that you are the winner and you will have the chance to claim your reward.

Playing Bingo on Online Gaming Sites

When it comes to learning how to play bingo in online rooms, the main concept remains the same. You are tasked with marking numbers horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Of course, since the whole action takes place online, the setup is a bit different.

The process begins with you registering at an online bingo site. Creating an account lasts just a second. You just need to provide the platform with basic information about yourself. Since licensed and regulated platforms utilize the latest SSL encryption software, you can rest assured knowing that your sensitive information is out of harm’s way.

After you fill in the fields, you can proceed to confirm that you are of legal age. Accept the terms of the page and finalize the process. If you’re playing bingo for real money, you will have to deposit funds into your account.

You can use any of the payment methods that the online bingo room accepts. Deposits are instant and they come without any fees. Then, access a bingo variant and start scratching off numbers electronically.

The beauty of online bingo is that there are plenty of variants at your disposal and you can play them at any time and place.

Bingo Terms to Know

Learning how to play bingo does not just include learning the basics of its gameplay. To be a master of the game, you must know its slang. That way, you will be more in tune with the game and have full control. With that being said, we’ve listed some of the must-know bingo terms below. Let’s check them out.

A Common Strategy for Bingo

One of the most common strategies for bingo is Tippett’s Method. It was created by a British statistician, Tippet, who assumed that the longer a 75-ball bingo game takes place, the more probable is for the drawn balls to be near the number 38. Additionally, shorter games are more likely to feature numbers closer to 1 and 75.

The Granville Method is also commonly used. According to this method, you should always choose cards that have an equal amount of high and low numbers, as well as odd and even numbers. The ratio should also be equal for numbers ending in 1 through 9.

Bingo Rule Variations

The general rule in bingo is the same, regardless of whether you’re playing the 75-ball or 90-ball variant. However, not everything is the same. There are certain exceptions in the rules, depending on the type of bingo and the bingo hall or online site that you’re playing at.

For example when playing at online sites, if you want to enjoy bingo for real money, you have to deposit funds into your account. The minimum allowed deposit varies from one online bingo site to another.

The same goes for bingo halls. Some of these facilities may have a minimum buy-in. The amount that you must stake varies, depending on the hall.

When it comes to 75 and 90-ball bingo, the tickets are different. The 75-ball ticket has a 5×5 grid and the 90-ball bingo ticket has a 9×3 grid. Apart from these two variants, there’s also the 80-ball bingo, whose ticket has a 4×3 grid.

In 75-ball bingo, the center spot in the ticket has the letters “FREE.” Additionally, there are additional patterns such as L, 8 and diamond. In 80-ball bingo, the numbers 1-80 are used in the ticket and each group of numbers has a certain color. That makes it easier for players to spot the numbers that the wheel unveils.

The final rule that concerns bingo games is the minimum and maximum bet limits. In some cases, the minimum bet in bingo can go as low as $0.01 and as high as $100. These caps vary from one hall to another and from one online gaming site to another.

Bingo Side Bets

Many games of chance come with a few main bets and a few side bets. However, that’s not the case with bingo. This variant only has main bets. After all, the full focus of the game is to scratch off numbers and be the fastest one to have a combination of 5 numbers horizontally, diagonally or vertically.

Some types of patterns vary, depending on what type of bingo you’re playing, though. We’ll take a look at these below.

Full House Pattern

A full house is a winning combination in 75-ball bingo. This occurs if you’re the first player to scratch off an entire bingo card. This win is also known as the blackout.

X Form on a Ticket

This win also occurs in 75-ball bingo. You need to form two diagonal patterns which form the letter X.

One, Two or Three Lines

These are patterns that are featured in 90-ball bingo. They are used to explain how many lines of 5 numbers you have on your ticket. Since the 90-ball bingo ticket has 3 lines, if you happen to scratch off 3 lines, you win a full house.

Tips and Tricks

Because bingo is a simple and straightforward game, there aren’t a lot of tips that can increase your chances of winning. However, it is worth listing a few and they are:

Conclusion

Instant-win games are always fun as they are extremely straightforward. Additionally, the rules in these games are as simple as ABCs. That’s exactly what bingo offers and thanks to that fact, you can always rest assured knowing that your gaming experience will be unique.

If you’re wondering whether you should play bingo at bingo halls or online, the answer lies in your personal preferences. Both types of play have their advantages. The one thing they have in common is the entertainment that they will provide you with.