Bingo

The game of Bingo has you match the randomly drawn numbers with spaces on your cards to complete patterns and win prizes. People have been blotting cards and shouting “BINGO!” in halls for decades, and today you can even play from home on the internet.

Our complete guide to bingo explains the rules, how to play, and which online variations have the best odds. We’ll also recommend some top casino sites where you can play online.

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Bingo Rules

Once you learn the basic rules of bingo, you can easily play any variation of the game. It started as a basic carnival game called beano in the 1920s and has since spread into bingo halls and casinos nationwide, and is now even online.

Objective

The main objective in all versions of bingo is to complete a winning pattern on one of your cards. You do this by matching up spaces on the cards to balls drawn by the caller.

In brick-and-mortar bingo halls, you keep track of your progress by marking off spaces with a blotter as numbers get called out. To win the round, you need to be the first person to complete the pattern and shout “BINGO!” Finally, an official will check your card for accuracy before declaring you the winner of the round.

When you play casino bingo online, a random number generator automatically draws the balls and marks off all your cards. To win, you need to hit patterns on the paytable in a certain number of balls drawn. Your prizes get paid out to your bankroll at the end of each round.

Bingo Cards Explained

The standard bingo card is a 5×5 grid of 25 spaces. Each column is under one of the letters in the name of the game, B – I – N – G and O.

Most 5×5 cards have the center space marked as free. In bingo halls, all drawable numbers in a round have a corresponding letter, making it easier to find the squares and blot them. Some examples include B7, N33, and G56.

Many online bingo variations use cards with different layouts. The 3×5 configuration is quite common, but you may even see a 3×3 or 4×4 game. These digital versions don’t always have the columns under letters at the top since the game automatically marks all your spaces.

Bingo Tournaments

There are various competitions at land-based casinos and bingo halls that offer the most avid players a chance at even bigger prizes than regular games. These casino tournaments are based on points players accrue over a series of games or rounds. Some last for days.

They usually involve entry fees, but there are a few freerolls that have no fees, though the prizes are smaller.

How to Play Bingo

Bingo is a fun and exciting game that anyone can pick up with a bit of know-how. You can play multiple cards simultaneously in many halls and online games, so the most challenging part is keeping track of all the action. Follow these steps, and you’ll be playing like a pro in no time.

Playing Bingo At Online Casinos

Online bingo is the same classic game that you can enjoy from the comfort of your home. Automatic draws make it easy to play up to 100 cards at a time. A paytable denotes the winning patterns.

1. Visit the Online Casino

   Choose a casino site that has online bingo games.

2. Fund Your Account

   Go to the cashier page and make a deposit so you can play.

3. Get Your Cards Ready

   Players choose a wager per card and the number of cards to play per game. Online casino software lets you wager on anywhere from 1 to 100 cards at once.

4. Play the Round

   The game calls the numbers and marks the cards automatically.

5. Get a BINGO and Win!

   Each card with a winning combination earns a prize based on the paytable and wager. When playing online, many of your cards could be winners at the end of the round!

Playing Bingo at a Bingo Hall

At bingo halls, players sit at rows of tables and chairs with a centrally located caller. Each round has a unique target winning pattern. The players compete against one another to get the first bingo and win.

1. Visit Your Favorite Bingo Hall

   Search for a bingo hall in your area.

2. Purchase Your Bingo Cards

   Purchase your cards and find a seat in the hall. Many players lay out their cards to prepare for the game and get out their good luck charms and blotters.

3. Listen to the Caller and Blot Your Cards

   At the start of the round, the caller will declare the winning combination needed to call bingo. The caller then starts drawing numbered balls and calling them out. Players blot cards manually with colorful ink to mark the called spaces they match on their cards throughout the round.

4. Get a BINGO and Win!

   The first person to get the target pattern calls out “BINGO!” and the caller stops the draw. An official then validates the win by checking the draw vs. the blotted card.

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Bingo Patterns To Look Out For

Depending on the type of bingo you’re playing, there are different bingo patterns you need to make to win. From a single line in any direction to the letter Z, bingo patterns can go from easy to complex.

Some cards will have the bingo winning combinations predetermined before playing, but most will begin with a blank card. The spaces you need to mark off depend on the round or the game’s paytable.

Are you wondering what the common bingo winning patterns are? The OUSC team rounded up the most popular combinations in the infographics below. Look out for them in the next game round!

Download these bingo patterns to print them off and take them to the casino or hall.

Video Guide to Online Bingo

This short video explains the basics of online bingo and how it works. It’s just like playing in person, but you don’t have to mark your cards, and you’ll never miss a win. However, unlike a bingo hall, you get special features, bonus balls, and the opportunity to hit huge jackpots.

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Popular Bingo Games

Bingo comes in all shapes and sizes. You’ll find varying styles, draw quantity, and the number of cards you can play simultaneously. Below we talk about some of the most popular versions of the game you can find in casinos and halls.

If you prefer to play online, check out our reader’s favorite virtual bingo games.

30 Ball Speed Bingo

The fast-paced draws of 30 ball bingo are perfect for no-nonsense players. It’s easy to mark off spots on a 3×3 card and get more games in during the same period of time.

75 Ball Pattern Bingo

Also sometimes called American Bingo, 75 ball games are popular in the USA and Canada. You usually rotate through patterns on a 5×5 card to create winning combos.

80 Ball Bingo

This 4×4 game has a color-coded card that adds a bit of flair. The smaller board allows for only a few winning patterns, but the callers get creative in this fun game variant.

90 Ball UK Bingo

90 ball bingo is the most popular version in the United Kingdom. You play with a 3×5 or 3×9 card and each round could have multiple winners as more people complete patterns.

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Bingo Odds & Probabilities

It can be pretty tricky to calculate the odds or probabilities of a round of bingo. That’s because there are different-sized cards, and all winning patterns don’t require the same number of spaces to win. Some games even start with more or fewer balls in the hopper.

Is It Better to Play More Cards?

In a bingo hall, more cards mean a better chance to win. Every card holds an equal chance of winning, but every player may have a different amount of cards. To calculate your odds, you would divide your cards by the total cards in play.

Most online bingo games don’t pit you against other players. You’re merely trying to hit as many winning combinations as possible. Here, playing more cards online doesn’t increase your odds since each card is essentially its own game.

Number of Balls vs. Number of Calls

Every bingo game online has a set number of balls in the hopper. No matter the number of balls or the paytable, getting a bingo is tough early in the game, with your odds increasing with each call. That means everyone has a better chance of winning later in the round as the number of calls goes up.

This table shows the probability of hitting a single line bingo in a 75 ball game as the number of calls increases.

Bingo Hall Strategy

Bingo drawings are entirely random, so there is no specific strategy that guarantees a win. Your best bet is to use money management tactics. That means you play more cards over time and increase your chances of winning since you can enter more games.

Money Management

Spread your money out over a lot of rounds. If you run out of cash early, then you can’t buy more cards for later rounds.

Pick a Good Seat

Pick a seat close to the caller and the board. This way, you can hear clearly and regularly check for missed balls.

Common Terms

Know the game inside and out. Learning bingo’s glossary of terms will help you feel confident when playing the rounds.

Who Invented Bingo? History of the Game

Hugh J. Ward standardized American Bingo in the early 1920s, but Edwin S. Lowe gets credit for popularizing the game in 1929.

They used beans to mark spaces at first. Most people assume the name “Bingo” evolved from the game’s original name, “Beano.”

The history of bingo spans back quite a few years. There was a similar game in Italy dating back to 1530. The French had a version with 27 squares that started in 1778.

New variations on original bingo are created every year, giving players something to look forward to when heading to the bingo hall. 

Online Bingo Sites That Accept US Players

You can play online bingo at many of our recommended casino sites. We recommended the sites below for players in the USA. They all have valuable bonuses, extensive game libraries, and secure, reliable banking methods.

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1	Wild Casino	BINGO GAMES 4	BONUS 100% up to $5,000	Play Now
2	DuckyLuck	BINGO GAMES 7	BONUS 500% up to $7,500	Play Now
3	BetUS	BINGO GAMES 1	BONUS 150% up to $3,000	Play Now
4	SportsandCasino	BINGO GAMES 8	BONUS Up To $1,500	Play Now
5	Super Slots	BINGO GAMES 4	BONUS 250% up to $6,000	Play Now

Use This Bingo Guide to Start Playing

Visit the local bingo hall and join the action. The community tends to be a friendly bunch ready to accept new players and show you the ropes. After only a couple of rounds, you’ll have this easy and exciting game down pat.

You can also have hours of fun playing online bingo for real money. Manage your bankroll, and you might hit a full card payout or even a progressive jackpot!

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Bingo FAQ

Below are some common questions players ask us about online bingo. Visit our internet bingo FAQ page if you don’t see your answer here.