How to Play Bingo Online
Everyone playing the game will first need to purchase a bingo card. This is either done by physically buying them at the venue or virtually doing so when playing online. And don’t forget that you can always buy more than one card to increase your overall chances of winning.
The most common form of the game (especially in America) is the 75-ball version. In this case, then, each card will contain a random selection of numbers taken from a possible 75 placed in a five-by-five grid. A free space (which is already considered filled by all players) is left in the middle square.
A bingo round goes like this:
- Balls are drawn.
- Players mark them on their cards.
- The first player to score a winning pattern wins an appropriate prize.
To dive deeper into the secrets of playing this game, you can check out our guide on how to play bingo.
75-ball Bingo
As we mentioned above, this is the most played version of the game. It uses a total of 75 balls in each round, with each player using a five-by-five grid of numbers covering a random selection of the 75 available numbers, plus the free space in the middle.
From there, the game is played exactly as stated above, with winning combinations being formed horizontally, vertically, and diagonally. The first players to complete the predetermined lines will win corresponding prizes.
90-ball Bingo
90-ball bingo is the big brother of the 75-ball version. The grid on each ticket is comprised of three rows and nine columns, with each of the rows containing five randomly chosen numbers and four blank spaces (the equivalent of the free space mentioned above).
Wins are calculated slightly differently. Prizes are given for five numbers in a row (known as a one-line win), 10 in a row (a two-line win), or 15 in a row (known as getting a ‘full house’ with the top prize).
Other Bingo Versions
There are two main versions that differ from the above. The first of these is a kind of hybrid of the two called 80-ball bingo. Here, each ticket consists of a random selection of the 80 possible numbers on a four-by-four grid giving you 16 numbers in total for that round.
The speed version is 30-ball bingo, where, as you’ve no doubt already guessed, there are just 30 possible numbers being called out each round. Each card or ticket contains just a single three-by-three grid with nine possible numbers and there are no blanks. Only a full house will win here, so it’s a race to see who will mark off all nine numbers the fastest.
Finally, the latest craze we have to mention is Slingo. This game is basically a marriage between online video slots and more often than not 75-ball bingo. The aim of the game is to create winning combinations or get a full house for even bigger prizes. In addition to this, there are more than just 75 numbers that can be revealed, as there are also jokers, coins, and free spins that pop up for even more prizes!
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Progressive Jackpots
These are the jackpot bingo games, too. Of these, there are two main types you’ll see when playing online bingo for real money. The first one is a fixed jackpot, which is added to the pot at the start of each day.
Moving up another level again, we have the progressive jackpot bingo games. Here, a certain amount of each ticket is added to the jackpot prize fund each day, thus taking it to considerable amounts.
Bingo Strategies & Helpful Tricks
Even though it’s a game of luck, there is more than one bingo strategy that can help players. We are not saying that you can master the game of bingo and win every time, but you can increase your chances of winning by following certain strategies and tips.
GoodLuckMate’s best tips for playing bingo are:
- Play with more than one card
- Play when the jackpots are high
- Play online to get a chance to get big bonuses
House Edge – What Are Your Chances of Winning?
Let us say that the chances of winning will be higher if you buy more cards. This rule is applied to all types of bingo games. That’s pure math. If you have one card and there are 999 other players with one card each, the chances of winning are 1 in 1000. However, if you buy 11 cards, the odds will increase – 11 in 1000.
Since there is a wide array of bingo games, we can’t talk about exact percentages and odds. On average, a bingo game like this comes with a house edge of 30%. In other words, the so-called return to player percentage (RTP) is 70%. It’s the number of tickets and the price of these tickets that affect the house edge and your chances of winning.
If you want to get a better picture of these things, look for a game that displays the number of bought tickets. Regardless of these odds and numbers, you should keep in mind that in its essence, this is a game of luck.
Play Bingo at Online Casinos
A growing number of bingo casino games are available to players across the world. This is quite natural because traditional players are moving to online platforms and it seems that there’s more than one reason for that.
For starters, many internet-based casinos are offering free bingo online opportunities. This means that you can test these games before actually using real money. Don’t forget that playing for free means that you can’t win real money. Also, you can choose from a wide range of bingo games, something that you can’t expect to find in any bingo hall.
Convenience, that’s another reason why more and more people are playing bingo at online casinos. These games are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can play whenever and wherever you want because most of them are mobile-friendly.
Another thing that makes playing bingo games at online casinos a good idea, is the fact that you can get bonuses. First of all, the vast majority of online casinos are offering bonuses to new players, but also their existing players. On top of that, you can find specially designed bingo bonuses at many of these casinos. These are just some of the reasons why you should play them online.
Live dealer games vs. RNG games
The advancement of technology has allowed players to play their favorite games of chance in a variety of forms and bingo game is not different. When playing in online casinos, you might get a chance to choose from live dealer games and RNG games. That’s why it’s a good idea to learn more about both of them.
You can tell by the name (live dealer games), that there’s a real person involved in the process. With bingo live dealer games, you can get as close as possible to the “real deal” (traditional bingo games). You will see a real dealer that draws balls in real time. Many players find this form of online bingo more exciting.
However, bingo RNG games can be quite entertaining (and rewarding) too. RNG stands for Random Number Generator, so we are talking about software solutions with algorithms that create random numbers. Everything in these bingo games is automated. The best thing about them is that you can choose from more bingo games with interesting themes and that you can play them at any time.
Live Bingo Apps
A growing number of bingo apps for Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android for smartphone and tablet users. These can either be downloaded from the respective app stores or found on the websites of many reliable online casinos.
The advantage of these apps, besides being able to play on the go from anywhere at any time, is that you can play against other players from all over the world in real-time.
Why Play Online Bingo for Real Money?
Did you know that the biggest online win was a massive £5.9 million (€6.85 million) and was achieved with a £0.30 (€0.35) ticket? Now, the odds of that happening are incredibly unlikely. Yet, it goes to show that it really is possible to win life-changing amounts when playing bingo online.
The amount of choice you have online is also something that you won’t be able to find anywhere else. A single site can run numerous bingo games concurrently without any stress. The same can’t be said for most bingo halls.
Many online bingo sites also provide no-deposit tickets that you can win real prizes with. Yes, most of these prizes will have wagering requirements attached to them. However, it still offers up the possibility of winning without having to make a stake.
There are of course also jackpots and other promotions that you can participate in with real money, providing a great source of value and excitement.
Top Online Bingo Sites of November 2024
As there is no concrete return to player percentage associated with bingo a larger emphasis is put on finding the best sites to play at. There are a lot of choices out there and some of the newest bingo sites are more suited to particular players than others. Below, we have listed a few of our picks for the best online bingo sites we recommend you check out.
888 Ladies
This site is great for pretty much all types of bingo players. The amount of variety you can find at 888 Ladies is one of its major selling points. 75-ball and 90-ball bingo are the mainstays here, but you can also find other variants like Bingo Roulette. All of these games are virtual and the site is part of the 888 group, which also offers online casino games and sports betting. You can also expect promotions and bonuses to appear regularly, including extra tickets to use in their bingo games. There is also a great mobile app that lets you take your gaming on the go with ease. This is definitely one to check out if you haven’t already.
PlayOJO Bingo
Offering 90 ball, 75-ball, and 80-ball bingo, PlayJO Bingo provides a great selection of bingo games to choose from. It also has a lot of promotional material dedicated to bingo games. The site also offers casino games, giving you a site that has a big game variety without losing focus on bingo players. This is one of those top bingo sites with great mobile optimization. Meaning, you can play on your desktop or mobile device without issue.
Paddy Power Bingo
Paddy Power is best known for its online casino and sportsbook. It does however also have an excellent section dedicated purely to bingo games. Their collection is large with differing ticket prices and prize offerings. You can see all of this, as well as the number of participants from the game selection screen. This is again supported by a great mobile app that provides a seamless experience.