Bingo is played all over the world, and rules can change slightly from country to country. It’s easy to assume that everyone plays bingo in exactly the same way as we do in the UK, but you’ll find some fun and creative spins on the classic style out there.
One fantastic example is Irish bingo. Playing the Irish version of bingo is a more physical game than standard bingo, at least if you’re in a brick-and-mortar venue.
How does it work? How are the rules different? And what different types of Irish bingo can you expect to find?
Keep reading — we’ll tackle all this and more below!
What is Irish Bingo?
The aim in Irish bingo is basically the same as in standard bingo: anyone who wants to take part gets a ticket with a set of random numbers, and a bingo caller announces numbers as they’re drawn.
Just like in the UK and beyond, you can expect to find pubs, churches, and other sociable places hosting bingo games in Ireland. People even play it at home for a bit of fun with friends and family.
The socialisation part is so important to Irish bingo, just as it is in standard bingo (especially in the UK). But unlike traditional bingo, Irish bingo isn’t traditionally played sitting at a table like you would almost anywhere else — you might spend most of a game on your feet instead!
Irish bingo is more energetic and like a party game, ideal for playing with a small group of people or hundreds. But if you play it at online casinos, it’s more like the traditional bingo game instead.
Irish Bingo Gameplay and Rules
The rules of Irish bingo are mostly the same as in standard bingo, but it can seem much different the first time you try it in a communal setting.
Understanding how the Irish version of bingo works will help you get into the game faster when you start playing, especially in an Irish bingo hall or other land-based venue. You won’t need to look around to see what everyone else is doing!
Knowing how to play Irish bingo is also a great start even if you’re at an online casino. Below, we’ll explain how the gameplay works and the rules you need to keep in mind.
Irish Bingo Gameplay
Here’s how to play Irish bingo:
- Buy one or more bingo tickets. You can purchase as many as you like in most cases, but it depends on where you play. Remember to be responsible and stick to a limit!
- Everyone with one or more bingo tickets starts each game standing up (if you can).
- The bingo caller starts to pick shuffled numbers from a box or tombola, depending on the venue.
- The bingo caller announces numbers one by one.
- Any player with a number on their ticket sits down.
- The game carries on like this until only one player is left standing — they’re the last one to have an uncalled number on their ticket, and they win!
- Unlike standard bingo, you want to be the last person to get a matching number instead of the first.
If you’re playing at an online casino, the game obviously doesn’t work like this. You can still start standing and sit down if one of your numbers is called, but that’s up to you! The gameplay is the same as in other online bingo games: mark numbers off your card and try to get winning lines.
Irish Bingo Rules
For the traditional standing game, Irish bingo rules are simple: sit down whenever the bingo caller announces a number on your ticket. If you stay standing, others may see your card and the venue might ask you to leave (or at least play honestly next time!).
But if you play it online instead, the rules will be the same as in classic bingo. You need to mark off numbers on a card when they’re revealed until you complete lines or a particular pattern. If you’re the first to do that, you’ll win a specific prize based on the site you choose and the type of bingo.
In online bingo, there are no bingo callers: games use Random Number Generator (RNG) technology to create randomised and fair results instead. Numbers are marked off automatically, so you can just sit back and see if you get any matches!
Irish Bingo Variations
As with traditional bingo, Irish bingo has a few variations that you can play online. You might decide that you want to stick with something a bit more straightforward (e.g. the 75-ball game) or go for jackpot bingo for the chance to win potentially massive prizes.
If you understand the different variations available when you start playing Irish bingo at online casinos, you’ll be able to make the best choice for your gaming tastes and budget. To help you get off to a good start, let’s look at the four variations you can expect to find online.
75-Ball Bingo
As you can probably guess from the name, 75-ball Irish bingo is played with (that’s right!) 75 balls! That means the numbers 1 - 75 are active during the game, and any of them could be announced at any time.
You need to mark off any matching numbers on your 5x5 card as soon as they’re called. If you can create a specific pattern (whether that’s vertical, horizontal, or diagonal) before anyone else, you’ll win.
The 75-ball bingo variation usually moves quickly, so it’s great if you want to get the fun of bingo in short bursts.
80-Ball Bingo
In 80-ball Irish bingo, the pace slows down a little bit but games still move faster than variations that use more balls. This can be a great option if you’ve tried 75-ball games and want to branch out into bingo that’s a bit more advanced.
The gameplay uses 80 numbered bingo balls and cards with a 4x4 grid. You need to mark off enough numbers to create winning lines or fill the whole card to achieve a full house.
90-Ball Bingo
The 90-ball variation of bingo is a hugely popular game and easily available at online casinos. It uses 90 numbered balls, and players mark off numbers on a 9x3 card. Each row on the card holds five numbers with four blank spaces.
As it’s so popular, 90-ball bingo can attract a lot of players. This means that games can become lively and sociable online just as they would in a real Irish bingo hall or community centre. Expect to see plenty of chat as players interact and have fun!
Jackpot Bingo
Jackpot Irish bingo games include special prizes that may or may not be given away. A jackpot is the biggest payout available in a game, so it could be a huge amount of money or just a bit more than the highest fixed prize.
Jackpot bingo games might entice many players eager for a chance to walk away with a substantial payout, but it’s important to remember that the jackpot may only be awarded if a player meets certain conditions.
Fun and Quirky Irish Bingo Calls
As in standard bingo games, fun calls are a big part of Irish bingo. Whenever a number is drawn, the bingo caller will announce it with a specific phrase that either rhymes or is related to it in another way.
These fun Irish bingo calls help to make games more humorous and get players involved as they shout them out along with the caller. When you play bingo online, fun calls are often used to announce numbers to recreate the experience of being in a real bingo hall with dozens of other people. Feel free to call them out as they appear on screen for that authentic touch!
Here are 20 of the Irish bingo calls you can expect to see and hear in games:
- 1 — Kelly’s eye
- 4 — Knock at the door
- 5 — Man alive
- 7 — Lucky seven
- 11 — Legs eleven
- 13 — Unlucky for some
- 17 — Dancing queen
- 22 — Two little ducks
- 29 — Rise and shine
- 39 — 39 steps
- 40 — Life begins
- 44 — Halfway there
- 50 — Half a century
- 55 — Snakes alive
- 57 — Heinz varieties
- 64 — Red raw
- 67 — Stairway to heaven
- 73 — Queen bee
- 88 — Two fat ladies
- 90 — Top of the shop
Ready to Play Irish Bingo Now?
If you want to play bingo online, Slingo has a huge range of games to try! We have everything from 75-ball bingo to 90-ball bingo and fantastic themed rooms to explore. At Slingo.com, you can play bingo in a safe, fun environment with a customer support team ready to answer your questions if you need help.
Whether you want to see what Zoom Room Bingo has to offer or you prefer something a bit spookier with Trick or Treat Bingo, Slingo.com has the bingo game for you. Ready, set, Slingo!
