• What is Bingo?
    • Bingo is a game of chance which was first played in the 16th century. Since then, it continues to be popular and is also played at home among friends and at churches nights once a week. It is called variously in different parts fo the world such as Housy, Housey or Housie. Typically, this game is played in a large hall or such venue with a large number of people. Each person playing Bingo is either given or buys a Bingo ticket.

    • A Bingo ticket:
      Each ticket has 27 spaces, arranged in nine columns of three rows. Each row contains five numbers and four blank spaces, randomly placed. Each column contains single digit or double digit numbers. The arrangement of numbers is as follows:

      °Column 1 contains numbers ranging from 1 to 9
      °Column 2 contains numbers ranging from 10 to 19
      °Column 3 contains numbers ranging from 20 to 29



    • This continues till the last column which contains numbers ranging from 80 to 90.

    • The game is presented and controlled by a caller who calls out each number selected from a bag of numbers or by an electronic Random Number Generator (RNG). At the start of the game, he calls out "Eyes Down" and the game begins. As the numbers are called, participants are supposed to score them off on their tickets.

    • Calling out of numbers is unique to this game. It could be simple repetition such "Five and Five Fifty-five" or "Two fat ladies Eighty-Eight." Clearly, numbering is visual in nature, however other numbers could have some other significance such as, "House of the bamboo door-54," a throwback from the song of the same name.

    • Winning combinations: To win, you need to score off all the numbers as below:

      Line: You score off all the numbers in a horizontal line comprising five numbers
      Two Lines: You score off all the numbers spanning two horizontal lines
      Full House: You score off all 15 numbers on the ticket.



    • Each number called is marked or cancelled with a special marker or dauber.

    • As players complete the above three categories, they must call out and declare that they have 5 or 10 numbers. Usually, they shout, "Yes" or "Bingo" or "Line" or "House." If they don't and the game progresses, the player's winning claim becomes invalid. Players can buy a book of tickets or buy loose tickets. The assistant to the caller will then check the player's claim. When one or more players call out "House" the game comes to an end with the prize money won by a single player or shared among many players.

      After this, the game ends and another one can begin.

    • Online Bingo: These days, this game is also played online. There are a number of Internet gambling sites that host Bingo too. These sites have automated features which help score off numbers that are displayed onscreen. In the West, with computerized bingo systems, there exists an Auto-Validate system whereby a security code of one to eight digits is read out by a staff member and checked against the entry for that ticket online. This saves them the time to read out numbers on the ticket.

    • Bingo now has several variations too, such as multiple bingo and linked bingo. Multiple bingo refers to several clubs playing this game across the country. Linked bingo refers to two or more clubs getting together to play a combined game of bingo.

Bingo History

    • The History of Bingo


    • The history of Bingo dates all the way back to the early 16th century when it began as a simple game of chance called Lo Giucco del Lotto D'Italia in Italy, which was played every Saturday. This is the earliest recorded game of Bingo as we know it.

    • Slowly, it spread all over Europe, but it took its first step out of Italy to France in 1770 when it was a game played exclusively by the rich. Here, they had 90 numbers that could be selected and the game cards were entirely different from what we know today. A caller would pick a numbered tile from a bag and players would cancel that number if it was on their tickets. Here, the first person to get all numbers in a horizontal line would win.

    • Next, it spread to Germany in 1880 where it was used not as a game but to teach children Maths. In 1929, it moved to the United States where players were given simple number cards and they responded to the caller's shout of numbers. However, here they didn't score off the numbers on their tickets but placed a dried bean on it. A line of beans and you could shout, "Beano."

    • In 1930, it moved to the United States where it was conventionally played at country fairs with a bean to cover the number called out on the card only so that the card could be reused several times. At one such game, a toy salesman, Edwin Lowe, was playing the game with his friends, when someone was so excited during the game that he accidentally yelled, "Bingo."

    • With this, the name stuck. He wanted to propagate the game as much as possible, so he hired a Maths professor to come up with a series of 6000 cards with different numbers and the game soared in popularity. Later, the game was produced slickly and became a sure shot church fundraiser.

    • Finally, in 1968, bingo came to the UK. It was played at private clubs which expected members to be dressed up for the dances. So, when bingo was introduced in these clubs, members were still expected to dress up to play the game since the game was always held in the dance halls.

    • And since the idea of having bingo was to entertain members in the evening, the game took a turn and numbers called were injected with a little fun, such as "Daddy long legs Number 11," or "Two fat ladies Number Eighty Eight." In this year, this game was regulated under the Gaming Act 1968 but is restricted to being played only in clubs by their members.

    • In the 1980s, large Random Number Generators were set up to ensure that the balls to make sure the balls were distributed fairly and big bingo balls became popular at a time when the country was under the spell of something new-television. In 1986, UK came up with National Bingo Game which is played only in bingo halls for a prize. In 2003, UK launched an all-females online bingo site and since then, the game has moved from strength to strength.

    • Variations of Bingo
    • The popular game of chance, Bingo, is played all over the world. Since then, it has evolved to have several variations such as:

      U-Pick'Em bingo: This is a commonly played form of bingo in which players select those numbers they want to mark and watch out for in order to win. This game is a blend of keno and bingo. It begins when the players decide which numbers they want to play with. This is the only deviation from standard bingo, with players striking off all called numbers.

    • Quick shot bingo: In this variation, numbers are drawn before the game begins and players buy sealed cards to match against the already-drawn numbers. If a player achieves a pattern already set by the caller, he or she wins a prize according to the prize table. Other versions of this game are also played until a player wins the top prize after which new numbers are drawn and a new game starts. This variation of bingo can be played for days, weeks or months, until the top prize is won.

    • Bonanza bingo: This game starts with the caller drawing 43 numbers. Next, players buy sealed cards which are matched against these already chosen numbers. At a particular point in the game, the caller asks if anyone has called "Bingo." If no one has, the caller continues with the game and draws one more ball. This game continues while the jackpot grows and more cards are sold.

    • If nobody calls "Bingo" after one ball has been drawn, players can continue to use the same cards for the next game whenever it is held. In each ensuing session, a ball is drawn and players continue to buy extra sealed cards until one person wins. This version of bingo gives players prizes, particularly to players who have not drawn a single number from the initially 42 drawn.

    • Horse racing bingo: In this game, a maximum of 15 players are randomly given one number from one to 15 that correspond with the top row of the bingo flashboard. Then, the caller calls numbers and the first person to have all five numbers in his column wins.

    • Table bingo: Ever since Tribal gaming grew popular in the US, innumerable versions of bingo have sprung up on the lines of casino games where players play along the rules of bingo but at tables where they score off numbers with chips. Bingo has drawn from casino games such as Roulette, Money Wheel and Acey Duecy and are very popular. Electronic bingo: Ever since computer technology was applied to bingo and other games, the fine dividing line between slot machines and bingo slot machines has further narrowed.

    • Christmas bingo: This variation of bingo asks players to bring along a gift to the game, which is usually a pre-fixed amount of money. All the gifts are placed in the center of the hall or play area and the game begins as usual. As each player scores off one number on his or her card, he or she picks up a gift and places it near them. When all the gifts are taken and no one has called "Bingo," the game continues and players begin to take each others' gifts for themselves when they score off numbers. After a full house has been called, each player keeps the gifts he has won.

How to Play Online Bingo?

    • How to Play Online Bingo?


    • Traditional bingo, when played on the Internet, is called Online Bingo. Now, you can play your favorite game in the comfort of your own home using any number of gaming sites. It is easy to use, convenient and you can win really big prize money, which is not possible in its offline counterpart.

    • In online bingo, the traditionally used balls are replaced by a Random Number Generator (RNG). Here, as in online poker or other casino games, everything is virtual. Online bingo gives you the facility of chatting with other players online and so brings about a community feeling and better interaction between players.

    • How to play: To play online bingo, first register on an online bingo site which will then give you a random card. Then, download free software to play bingo. You can choose to play up to 50 cards at a time. Specific computer software helps call out numbers between one and 75. Now, compare these numbers with those on your card and make a particular pre-set number pattern.

    • You must pay close attention to the numbers called which you can also see on a display screen. Whoever achieves the pre-set pattern calls out "Bingo" and is declared the winner. The site then checks this pattern and compares it with all the numbers called. If the pattern is correct, he is the winner. If more than one person gets the pre-set pattern, they share the prize.

    • In order to win the biggest prizes, you need to add money to an account. Of course, you could also play free bingo games where you stand to win smaller amounts of money. Some online sites do not offer a deposit bingo along with sandbox play.

    • You can pay by any of these online options-Firepay, Neteller, Toggle Card, Citadel, and PrePaidATM. Often, these sites provide players with a host of incentives to deposit, including bonuses which the site rewards its players who deposit funds. These bonuses are a percentage of their deposit.

    • There are a number of optional features that players can use, such as auto-daub. With this feature, the numbers called by the caller are automatically scored off each player's card.

    • Design of an online bingo card: It comprises a grid made up of five rows and five columns. The central square is usually left blank while every row and column has a number printed on it. You can choose to play several cards at a time to improve your chances of winning, but is advisable to play not more than three or four cards simultaneously.

    • You can also maximize your chances of winning by choosing a game site with few players and play at off-peak hours, i.e. early mornings or afternoons. It is also good to fix the amount that you are willing to play each time you log in to a site. When you reach this limit, stop playing.

    • Advantages of online bingo: You have several advantages playing online bingo, such as: You can play whenever you want from any part of the world You can stop playing at any particular gaming room and move on to another without wasting time or money. It is not a lonely game. You can make friends online and chat with them during play. You can play a fast game because these sites have software for fast play. With their superior AV effects, they can simulate an offline bingo hall.

    • These factors make online bingo a wonderful playing experience.