How to Play the Game
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 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!
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.
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 else found at 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.
