Bingo (also called Beano) is a lottery-style game that has grown extremely popular in North American and other parts of the world. Due to the ever-increasing interest in the game, naturally, there are a lot of people who want to know how to play bingo.
When you ask most people about bingo, they’ll tell you that it is a game that makes you yell bingo when you have got a winning pattern. However, there really is a little bit more to it than knowing what to shout when a player wins. But not much if we’re being totally honest. That’s fine, though, as simplicity is what really makes playing bingo fun.
If you would like to find out all the ins and outs of how to play bingo, stick around because we have created the ultimate game guide. Not only do we teach you how to play the game, but we also tell you how the rules of a different version of bingo may differ.
We have also listed some tips and tricks for you to try out to improve your overall game (although there really isn’t much one can do). Finally, we also took the time to list some of our favorite bingo casinos so that you can start playing the game for real money as soon as you feel ready.
As mentioned above, learning how to play bingo for money is pretty easy. All games follow the same structure. It really is just the patterns that bingo players need to match on the cards and the card shape that changes.
Before the game begins, a pattern you need to match with your card will be determined.
At the top of each column is a letter spelling the word “BINGO”. Below this is a range of numbers. Letters and numbers are matched together.
The caller will randomly draw numbers from a pit filled with a predetermined number of balls with a number on them (which is dependent on the game variation).
Listen to the numbers as they are being called out. If an option matches one of the numbers on your card, mark it off.
Once your card matches the predetermined pattern, you need to yell “bingo”. The first player to do so wins the game.
Types of Bingo
It usually surprises people when they learn there are many versions of bingo. All of these games retain the same basic gameplay dynamics – you still match the number called to those on your card. However, there are a few slight differences, which will go through below:
75 Ball Bingo
75 ball bingo is the format of the game generally used throughout the United States and Canada. The card makes use of a 5×5 grid with 24 numbered spaces and one blank free space. As the variation name suggests, there are 75 numbers on the bingo balls.
Usually, in this version of the game, players win by matching one line as a vertical column, horizontal row, or as a diagonal line. So, all you need is one full line of numbers covered.
90 Ball Bingo
90 ball bingo is the format usually used in the United Kingdom and Australia. The card looks slightly different from that used in 75 ball bingo in that it is 9×3 with a variation of 10 number groupings appearing in each column.
Games using the UK method are usually played in three rounds:
In the first round, the first player to cover one horizontal line on their card wins.
The second round ups the antes by requiring you to match two horizontal lines.
The third and final round requires that you match the entire card.
Each round is separate from the last, giving you a total of three chances to win the jackpot in this variation of the game. Sometimes, announcers will hold a special game in which it is possible to win using other card patterns.
80 Ball Bingo
80 ball bingo is a relatively new form of the game. Players are made to match 16 numbers on a 4×4 grid. There are usually two ways in which you can win in this version of the game:
You can match a single horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line.
You match the predetermined pattern on your card before the game starts.
Top Bingo Tips and Tricks
There really isn’t all that much that you can do to increase your chance of winning a bingo game. Like the lottery and scratch cards, there are a handful of tricks you can use to marginally increase your chances, such as:
Look for a Bingo Session with Fewer Players
When you are playing bingo in a community hall, this may not really be possible. However, when you play bingo online, you can see how many players are in a bingo room. When looking at the numbers, we suggest joining the room with the fewest players.
Quite simply, you are more likely to win bingo games when fewer people are playing. The reason for this is that fewer people have cards, so finding the winning bingo pattern takes longer. There will be a greater number of balls called, thus more chances to match numbers on your cards.
Buy More Bingo Cards
Buying multiple cards provides you with more opportunities to win the game. The reason for this is that you have more chances of matching the numbers called with those on your card.
However, with this in mind, we urge you to remain a responsible gambler. Playing bingo is fun, but if you cannot afford to buy more than one bingo card, don’t. This is still a very hard game to win, and buying more cards will only increase your chances marginally. Especially if thousands of people are playing the game.
Keep an Eye Out for Promotions
We cannot stress this enough when we say that bingo is a very popular casino game. Thus, casinos often run promotions involving the game. More often than not, promotions see you receive bonuses that could give you extra opportunities to play.
However, promotions also sometimes come in the form of a tournament boating progressive jackpot prizes. Some of these tournaments even have consolation prizes for the first few runners-up, meaning more chances to win.
Online Bingo vs Bingo in Community Halls
The online bingo experience is pretty much the same as that of bingo halls. The only real difference is that there is a lot less “admin”. In saying this, we mean that it is easier to join in games and more convenient overall.
Firstly, online gameplay is automated. So, when a number is called out, you do not have to mark it on your sheet on the screen. The computer will do it for you. This means that you won’t miss numbers due to inattention.
Secondly, you can play online bingo wherever and whenever you like. There are no real-time stipulations online. A game begins when the minimum number of players join a lobby.
Finally, you don’t have to leave your house. This may not seem like much, but let’s not even lie; the only thing holding some players back from playing more bingo is the fact that it takes effort to go to a public place.
