How does bingo work?

Great question, mate!
Bingo is the name of the game. It’s a social game first and foremost.
Players are tasked with completing specific patterns on a bingo card, based
on the bingo numbers that are called. Depending on the bingo variant that
you play, different patterns will be required. For example,

75 ball bingo

plays out on a 5 x 5 bingo card with the centre square blanked. A coverall
would require players to match all 24 numbers on the card.

However, there are plenty of letters, shapes, and patterns that can be
formed. There are horizontal lines, vertical lines, and diagonal lines of
all sorts. The rules of the game will determine precisely what patterns
need to be completed for a winning bingo card. Bingo cannot be played
without a bingo caller and a bunch of players. The more the merrier.

Online bingo
features computerized ‘bingo callers’ where RNGs randomly
select numbers, based on the games being played. The first player to form a
winning bingo card usually wins. Sometimes, prizes are shared among
winners. Bingo traditionally has two variants: American bingo and UK bingo.
Of course, there are plenty of variations within these broad
classifications. 75 ball bingo is the preferred game in the US and Canada,
while 90 ball bingo is preferred in the UK and Europe.

Britannica defines Bingo as follows:

‘

Bingo, also called Lotto, is game of chance using cards in which there
is a grid of numbers, a row of which constitutes a win, when they have
been chosen at random. Bingo is one of the most popular forms of
low-priced gambling in the world.

’

A Brief History of Bingo

Over the years, bingo has been known by many different names. Back in the
early days, bingo was known as Tombola around 1880. By 1900, bingo was
played in the British Army and it was known as Housy-Housy, or House. In
the US, bingo made a big splash in the early 19th century. It was actually
known by different names such as Kino, Keno, or Po-Keno.
Across the Atlantic, on US shores, bingo quickly achieved cult status, and
became known as Radio, Beano, Fortune, or Lucky.

Bingo’s popularity was off the charts during the 1930s. During the
course of the Great Depression, a variant of bingo emerged – Screeno. This chance-based game was
played in movie theatres on
specific nights of the week. Players received free entry to the games with
complimentary bingo cards with their movie tickets. The prizes back in
those times were off the charts, valued at hundreds of dollars.

Further afield in Asia, bingo games have
gained traction in countries like Japan. Macau is widely regarded by gaming
aficionados as the ‘Gambling Capital of The World.’ As the
prime destination for high rollers from Malaysia, China, Singapore, Hong
Kong, and Japan, Macau reels in players by the truckload. In fact, this
territory generates at least 50% of its

revenue streams from 40 land-based casinos. Indeed, it is true – bingo
variants are a staple among scores of players frequenting Macau’s
resplendent resorts.

How are Bingo Games Played?

You’ve come to the right place! Bingo is a lottery-style game. To get
started, you’ll need to buy a bingo ticket. The numbers that appear on your
bingo ticket are randomly generated, and randomly dispensed. In other
words, nobody knows what numbers are going to appear on your online bingo
card. In 75 ball bingo, there are numbers between 1-75. In

80 ball bingo

, there are numbers between 1-80, and in

90 ball bingo

, there are numbers between 1-90. Great job, you guessed it.

Bingo cards are affordably priced to ensure that players across the
spectrum can enjoy this chance-based game. Once we get into the nuts and
bolts of bingo cards later on in this guide, you will see exactly how bingo
games play out. Different names are given to the bingo caller a.k.a. the bingo host, or the bingo
banker. Regardless, this person
is responsible for calling out the randomly selected bingo numbers.

When playing bingo at a traditional, land-based venue, a hopper (basket)
may be used, or a drum with a handle to randomly mix the bingo balls. One
by one, bingo balls will be removed from the drum until a lucky bingo
player wins a round of play.

To be clear, the betting component of bingo is simply the purchase of bingo
cards. You don’t need to wager additional money once a game is already in
play. It’s good practice to weigh up the costs of buying bingo cards with
the prizes on offer. You certainly don’t want over capitalize in a
low-stakes bingo game. Nowadays, you don’t really need to worry about
manually checking bingo cards online – everything is done
automatically.

Once you match the required number of bingo numbers with the numbers on
your card to form patterns, you’re on a winning wicket!

What Do Bingo Cards Look Like?

Bingo cards come in many different forms. Let’s take a look at 4 popular
variants of bingo, and examine their bingo cards.

• 5 Line Bingo
  –
  
  5 Line Bingo
  
  is otherwise known as Swedish Bingo. This exciting game is played on a
  5 x 5 card, but there is no centre square blanked out. Their means,
  there are 25 squares and 25 numbers in play. The letters B-I-N-G-O
  correspond with packets of 15 ascending numbers in each column. For
  example, B (1-15), I (16-30), N (31-45), G (46-60), O (61-75). Winning
  rounds are determined in a unique way. There are single line wins,
  double line wins, three line wins, four line wins, and full house
  options.
• 75 Ball Bingo –
  The US and Canadian favourite is universally enjoyed at casinos and
  bingo rooms the world over. 75 Ball Bingo games are played on a 5 x 5
  grid with the centre square blanked out. In total, there are 24 numbers
  on the bingo card. The unique design and layout of 75 Ball Bingo is
  such that the first column features the letter B with numbers 1-15. The
  second column is I (16-30), followed by N (31-45), G (46 -60), and O
  (61 -75). Players form winning combinations by completing an X pattern,
  double lines, or Blackouts (Coveralls).
• 80 Ball Bingo –
  this hybrid version of bingo is played on a 4×4 card with 16 squares.
  There are 4 columns, each of which has a specific colour. Column #1
  features numbers 1-20, column #2 features numbers 21-40, column #3
  features numbers 41-60 comment column #4 features numbers 61-80. Each
  column corresponds with a specific colour. It begins with the Red,
  Yellow, Blue, and Silver. These bingo games require players to form
  specific patterns, or combinations. A full house requires all 16
  numbers to be filled, 4 Corners indicate the corner numbers on the
  bingo card, and then there are Vertical Lines, Horizontal Lines, and
  Diagonal Lines.
• 90 Ball Bingo
  – Talk about fun! 90 Ball Bingo is played on a 9 x 3 grid,
  comprising just 15 numbers. There are 5 numbers in each row, and 4
  blank spaces in each row. But here’s the kicker with 90 Ball Bingo
  cards. Each of the 9 columns corresponds with a combination of numbers.
  Take a look at the table below:

– Column #1 – numbers 1 – 9

– Column #2 – numbers 10-19

– Column #3 – numbers 20-29

– Column #4 – numbers 30-39

– Column #5 – numbers 40-49

– Column #6 – numbers 50-59

– Column #7 – numbers 60-69

– Column #8 – numbers 70-79

– Column #9 – numbers 80-90

To win, simply match 1 line, 2 lines, or a full house. The more lines you
match, the bigger your prizes!

What Bingo Extras are Required?

Bingo extras are simply bingo accoutrements used to make your games that
much easier to play. One of the most commonly used bingo extras is a
dabber, or dauber. In land-based bingo games, these are ink markers in
specific colours. They could be red, green, blue, yellow purple, or orange.
You usually purchase these for a nominal fee at a traditional bingo room,
and you can do with it what you please after your bingo sessions are over.

How to use a bingo dauber? Simple really! You simply press over the numbers
that have been called, after double-checking that you have a match. Once
your matched and marked numbers to form a winning pattern, or combination,
you’re in luck. Other bingo extras include the likes of

bingo chat

functionality, bingo cards, automatic daubing and bingo demo play options.
All these fancy tools and resources can be used to great effect with online
bingo games.

Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about marking the online bingo cards;
they are automatically daubed for you.

What is the Role of the Bingo Caller?

A bingo caller is responsible for calling the bingo numbers for the bingo
players. Otherwise known as a bingo announcer, a bingo boss, or a bingo
host, this individual takes charge of the action and calls out the numbers
for players. Bingo callers are like casino hosts, and cruise ship
entertainment hosts. They are fun-loving individuals, witty, and they’ve
got a passion for people. More importantly, they are experts of bingo. Once
you start playing online bingo or live bingo games, you’ll see just how
much fun a bingo caller’s job is. They get to interact with all the
players, in real time, in person, via text, or via live cam.

On a technical level, a bingo caller must be able to operate complex
equipment such as computerised screens, and random number generators. Bingo
callers are professional announcers, and they act as hosts to introduce
bingo games to players. Bingo callers typically have great memories, since
they are required to remember numbers that have been called during a round
of bingo. These folks are great with people, and they definitely don’t get
stage fright. They are tasked with keeping everything running smoothly, so
that players can stay entertained throughout. Next time you hear ‘2 Little Ducks’, you know it’s number 22,
or ‘ Almost There’ could be 89, 79, or 74. You get it!

What Types of Bingo Games are Available?

There are plenty of bingo games to play at 888ladies. These include Swedish
Bingo, 52-5 Ball, 75 Ball Bingo, and 90 Ball Bingo games. But that’s not
all! There are scores of free bingo games, bingo chat games, and

no deposit bingo

games too. Simply scroll through our list of ‘Bingo Games’ and make your
play today. It’s easy to buy into bingo games. Many are free, and others
are low cost options. You can play and enjoy 1p games, 5p games, and 10p
games.

What is the House Edge in Games of Bingo?

Bingo is a lottery-style game. Since you don’t know what numbers are going
to come up any given time, you’re basically taking your chances with the
RNGs. That being said, there are ways to increase your winning chances in
bingo games. Curious to know how? Well, try to play bingo games when there
are fewer players participating. As the number of players increases, so
your chances of winning decrease. It’s easy to gauge activity levels at an
online bingo room – just check out the chat rooms.

When there’s plenty of chitchat going on with lots of players, you may want
to tap off and wait for things to quieten down. Consider your odds of
winning with 1000 players versus your odds of winning with 100 players.
There is something to be said about the games in play too. If you are
playing 90 Ball Bingo games, you have lower chances of individual numbers
being called (1/90). If you play 75 Ball Bingo games, there is a higher
chance of your number coming up (1/75). Naturally, there’s more to bingo
odds than meets the eye. You’ve also got to consider the total number of
bingo numbers needed to form winning combinations.

– 90 Ball Bingo – there are 5 numbers per line and 3 lines
for a full house.

– 80 Ball Bingo – there are 16 numbers on the 4 x 4 grid.

– 75 Ball Bingo – there are 24 numbers on the 5×5 grid.

– 5 Line Bingo – there are 25 numbers on the 5×5 grid.

The house edge in bingo games is generally around 10%. There are of course
many other online casino games with a lower house edge, but they just
wouldn’t be bingo!

What Bingo Games Should You Start Playing First?

What do you prefer? 75 Ball Bingo is the favourite bingo game in the US and
Canada. Luckily, this 5X5 variant is available all over the world. It’s
much faster and pretty lively too. For players who prefer the UK favourite,
there’s 90 Ball Bingo. This game features prominently with players and is
widely considered the traditional favourite. If you’re into quick-fun, then
there’s always 5 Line Bingo, otherwise known as Swedish Bingo to enjoy.
It’s similar to 75 Ball Bingo, but there are many more ways to win prizes.
Whatever you decide, be sure to manage your bingo bankroll well. You can
also enjoy free bingo games at your leisure!

Can You Trust the Outcomes of Online Bingo Games?

Absolutely! Bingo games are governed by RNGs. These random number
generators ensure that all bingo calls are randomly generated. Thanks to
top-tier software, you’re assured of completely random calls on every ball.
The top online bingo rooms routinely test their game outcomes by using the
services of iTech Labs, TST (Technical Systems Testing), and eCOGRA Safe
& Fair to validate the credibility and authenticity of outcomes.
Licensed and regulated online bingo rooms are naturally trustworthy,
especially UKGC (United Kingdom Gambling Commission) sites.

Are there Bingo Tips, Tricks, or Strategies to Implement?

• Get in the chat
• Play free bingo games
• Set a bingo budget and stick to it
• Use
  
  bingo promotions
  
  to boost your stash
• Find BOGOF bingo games and special deals
• Play when there are fewer players in the bingo rooms
• Use auto-daubing to automatically mark off your bingo cards
• Never play more cards than you can manage or than you can afford

In Summary

• 
  Bingo comes in many different variants, including 5 line bingo, 75
  ball bingo, 80 ball bingo, and 90 ball bingo.
  
• 
  There are many ways to minimize bingo game costs, such as
  
  
  free bingo
  
  
  , penny bingo, 5 p bingo, and 10 p bingo games. Use bingo bonuses
  and promotional offers to reduce costs.
  
• 
  Understand the differences between bingo variants, and the patterns
  required to form winning combinations.
  
• 
  The bingo callers are the hosts of bingo games. They take care of
  the action, as it happens in real time.
  
• 
  Online bingo games are governed by RNGs. These random number
  generators ensure random outcomes of games.