Online Bingo has been steadily growing in popularity since the early days of the internet. Allowing players to enjoy the fun of the Bingo hall from the comfort of their own homes, more and more of us are logging on to hopefully match the numbers on our cards with those called out. But what is Bingo and how is it played? Join us in today’s Bingo for Beginners article, where we teach you how to play Bingo at the best online Bingo site in the UK.
How does Bingo work?
Played on websites or smartphone apps, online Bingo is a digital version of the numbers game played for decades in Bingo halls.
To play online Bingo, players buy Bingo cards—which display on the screen. Players may purchase one card or play simultaneously using several. RNG (Random Number Generation) technology is used by the online Bingo game to guarantee totally fair and random results.
The game starts when the first number is announced, and no more cards can be bought. While waiting for a round to begin, players can enjoy the social element, which is a staple of real-world Bingo, by using the live chat feature. If a number from a player's card matches one on theirs, they can tick it off. In real-world Bingo, players use coloured pens known as ‘daubers’ to mark off numbers.
A similar system is used in online Bingo but players click on matched numbers to mark them instead. For ease of play, most online Bingo games will have an ‘auto dauber’ feature which will mark off numbers automatically when matches are made; helpful if your reaction times aren’t the best or when playing with multiple cards.
Unless the variant states otherwise, (as some games also include the formation of a pattern such as a ‘H’ or ‘Z’) there are two prizes up for grabs. The first is awarded to the first player to match a line of symbols on their hard (in any direction), and a larger prize awarded to the player who is the first to match all the numbers on their card (known as a full house). Traditionally players call out 'Bingo' when they have achieved either goal, and lucky online players will have Bingo declared automatically by the game if they have won.
When a full house has been achieved, players can opt to play the next round by purchasing new cards.
Getting Started: How to Play Bingo Online
Playing online Bingo is a breeze, and best of all, as you don’t have to leave the house, you don’t need to worry about putting on your glad rags!
Pick a trusted online casino with online Bingo
Firstly, you’ll need to find your perfect place to play. Not all online casinos will offer Bingo, so double check the venue you have in mind before depositing funds. You’ll also want to check that your chosen site is licensed and regulated and has positive player reviews.
For UK players Slingo is on hand to offer a broad selection of the best online Bingo games. Our trusted site is home to a bustling community of players and we’re licensed and regulated by the UKGC.
Pick a Bingo room
One of the best aspects about playing Bingo online is the variety of games available. You may find 90-ball or 75-ball Bingo games in most real-world Bingo halls, however, you're unlikely to find other variants such as 30-ball and 90-ball Bingo, not to mention Bingo games at various price points to suit various budgets. Therefore, once you’ve picked your online casino, take some time to explore the options available to you.
Decide how many tickets to play in each game
Just like in real-world Bingo, you can play with more than one card. However, with online Bingo instead of a maximum of around 10 (usually only braved by serious and experienced players), players can play 10 or more cards at once with ease; thanks to auto-dauber technology.
Just remember that though you can buy as many cards as you like, this does not guarantee favourable outcomes; Bingo is a game of chance and you can win with just one card, while never winning with 10. Be sure to never wager more than you can afford to lose or undertake excessive risks.
Watch the Numbers Being Called
When the game starts, if you have ‘auto daubers’ enabled you can sit back and watch the numbers be called. If you’ve chosen to play manually whenever a number is called that matches those on your card, click to mark it off. The previous numbers will be displayed as a list on screen, so if you miss a match, you can check the previous numbers.
You’ll notice the numbers are called a variety of names. This is down to Bingo's fascinating history. Traditional Bingo required one caller to hold a noisy Bingo hall's attention. 42 and 52 may sound the same to someone at the rear of an echoing room or near a chatty Bingo group. Catchy and humorous Bingo phrases such as ‘one little duck’ to the number ‘2’, or the iconic ‘clickety-click, 66’ helped avoid confusion between numbers.
Win by Completing a Bingo Pattern
Bingo games have multiple winners. In traditional Bingo, there are two winners; the first to make a line, and the first to match all numbers. However, online variants tend to have a few extra prizes, sometimes for two lines and three lines, while others will add in a pattern such as an ‘X’, ‘L’ or ‘Z’. You can find out if the game you’ve chosen includes any of these by checking out the gameplay information provided.
Online Bingo rules
Bingo rules are the same online as offline. So if you know Bingo rules in one situation, you'll understand them in another. These simple rules dictate that it is the first player to call out (and have their card checked) that wins. If multiple players win at the same time, some Bingo Halls will declare only the first player to call out as winner, but most online versions will split the prize money if multiple players win after a called number. Similarly, in online Bingo there may be special Bingo winning patterns used alongside the traditional ones, so check the game rules before playing.
The biggest difference is automated functions in online Bingo. If you don't want to, you don't have to track the numbers and instead all you need to do is decide the game you want to play and how many cards to buy. Other than this there are usually a few rules specific to the version being played; which we will explore in the next section.
When talking of Bingo rules, however, it is worth noting the role that etiquette has to play. While most social expectations seen in Bingo halls are omitted online (you can play on the loo if so inclined!), there is still a chat function you can use to interact with other players, and it is encouraged you do so, as this is a vital part of the whole Bingo experience. Just remember to remain polite and positive and respectful to your fellow players.
Different types of Bingo
90 Ball Bingo
90-ball Bingo is the most commonly played Bingo variant that you will have come across if you’ve ever played at a real world Bingo hall or on a good old fashioned caravan park holiday. It uses a 3x9 game card that shows five numbers between 1 and 90. Every column can have 10 possible numbers presented in it. For example, column 1 can feature numbers 1-9, column 2 10-19, and so on. This makes keeping track of the numbers on your card much easier. There are five numbers per row, with four blank spaces included.
90-ball Bingo games have three winners:
-
- The first to complete a line
- The first to complete two lines
- Full House
80 Ball Bingo
Your 4x4 game card in 80-ball Bingo will show 16 numbers between 1 and 80. This version is predominantly played online and is liked by players for its faster pace when compared to its 90-ball counterpart, while still featuring enough numbers to capture the spirit and excitement of the original game.
Online 80-ball Bingo has four win conditions:
-
- Any Line Wins: Complete any line—horizontal, vertical, diagonal, all four corners, or all four middle squares—to win.
- Any Line, House: To win, players must complete a line and then a full house.
- Any Line, Column, House: To win, players must complete a line, two columns, three columns, and a full house.
- Pattern or Full House: The winner is the player who first achieves a full house or pre-set pattern.
75 Ball Bingo
Right behind 90-ball Bingo, 75-ball Bingo variants are the second most played type of Bingo games, predominantly enjoyed by UK players online. However, for US players this is the version of Bingo seen in their Bingo halls; surprising as the US tends to have a 'bigger is better' mentality when it comes to entertainment.
Played on 5x 5 game cards with the letters B-I-N-G-O across the top, 75-ball Bingo Numbers span 1 to 75 and are denoted as follows:
-
- B column comprises random integers between 1 and 15.
- I column comprises random numbers between 16 and 30.
- N column has one black space in the middle and random numbers between 31 and 45.
- G column comprises random numbers between 46 and 60.
- O column comprises random numbers between 61 and 75.
While many 75-ball Bingo online Bingo games operating in the UK will still use some of the iconic call outs, typically, as this version originates from the USA, there aren't the same call outs, (for example a ‘full house’ is known as a ‘blackout’) if any; and some providers will opt to operate their online games this way to add to the authenticity.
The overall aim of the game is to mark off all your numbers, but there are also prizes awarded for achieving certain bingo patterns. Some patterns are simple, such as a letter of the alphabet, while others like the aeroplane and wine glass are more complex. There are more than 300 established 75-ball Bingo patterns that a game may use; so always check the gameplay information!
30 Ball Bingo
Being able to squeeze a cheeky game or two in around a busy schedule is one of the reasons why online casinos appeal to players. 30-ball Bingo was created to match this ethos, as with only 9 numbers on your grid (3x3), 30 balls in the hopper, and the sole goal being the first to achieve a full house, games move pretty quick! The popularity of 30-Ball Bingo has inspired other online variants such as 50-Ball Bingo.
Conclusion
Bingo is a straightforward game that players of any age (18+ for online casino sites), gender, native tongue, or experience level can enjoy. Simple mark off the numbers on your card when called and aim to be first to complete a line, pattern, or full house. Enjoy traditional 90-ball Bingo complete with a live chat feature, or game on the go with 30-ball Bingo optimised for mobile devices; the choice is yours.
Sign up and play top online Bingo games today with Slingo.
