What Is Bingo? Your Complete Guide To Bingo

Fri, May 14, 2021 07:00 CET

Interested in online bingo but not sure what the rules are? Want to win BIG on bingo sites but don’t want to risk losing all your money?

Online bingo is one of the most fun games in the world. The gameplay is exciting, the jackpots are huge and there are hundreds of bingo sites to choose from.

Before you begin, though, it’s really important that you know exactly what you’re doing. In this article, we’re going to take a look at what bingo is, how to play bingo - and the potential ways you can win at it.

Balls at the ready? Let’s gooooo.

What Is Bingo?

Bingo is a game of probability where players are given cards that contain numbers. Each time a bingo caller calls out their number, they must mark it off. Whoever marks all their numbers off first, wins.

It’s a game of probability that’s a whole lot of fun. These days, it can also be played online. The online version works just the same except the caller is obviously a virtual caller, while the numbers are generated via a random number generator.

Why Is It Called Bingo? What Does Bingo Mean?

The reason bingo is called bingo is pure luck. There is no such thing as a 'bingo meaning.'

Back in the 1920s when bingo was being introduced in various American states, the game - which was based on an old Italian lottery - was known as Beano.

The only reason it isn’t still known as Beano is because a winner at a carnival happened to cry out “Bingo!” by mistake. An influential toy salesman overheard this call and decided to change the name of the game!

Talk about a funny history of bingo!

What Are Bingo Numbers?

Whenever you play a game of bingo, you’re given a card filled with numbers. These are your numbers for the game. Each time the caller draws one of your numbers out, you mark it off.

Your bingo numbers will change from game to game. Sometimes you might have the number 88, for example, and other times you won’t.

With online bingo, you can mark the numbers yourself, or you can let the site mark them automatically for you.

What Is The Highest Number That Can Be Called?

The highest bingo number is 90.

Is Bingo Considered Gambling?

We’ve all heard about gambling addicts. But is there such a thing as a bingo addict? And is bingo even considered to be a form of gambling?

Bingo is 100% considered gambling. In fact, it’s one of the oldest and most traditional forms of gambling.

The reason? Because you’re staking X amount of money each time you play a game. If you win, you take home a profit. If you lose, your money is gone.

Because bingo is such a social game, and because it’s predominantly played by women, it’s not seen as a serious form of gambling in the way that poker or horse betting is. But it’s still very much classed as a legal form of gambling.

How Many Ways Can You Win With Bingo Games?

There are usually five ways to win a game a of bingo:

Single Line Win - If you mark off a full line of numbers first, you win

Double Line Win - If you mark off two full lines of numbers first, you win

Three Line Win - If you mark off three full lines of numbers first, you win

Four Line Win - If you mark off four full lines of numbers first, you win

Full House - If you mark off all five lines of numbers first, you win BIG

What Are The Odds Of Winning At Bingo? (Can You Improve Them?)

The odds depend on how many players are competing at the same game of bingo as you.

For example, if there are 20 players competing, and if each player has a single book each, the odds of you winning are 5%.

You can’t really improve your odds, but you can improve your chances of winning by developing a bingo strategy. However, this only works in real life bingo. For example, you need to get to the bingo hall early, you need to make sure that you are fully listening to each bingo number that’s drawn out, and you need to avoid all distractions.

The last thing you want is to miss your numbers being called out!

Is Online Bingo Fixed?

No.

All licensed gambling sites are heavily regulated by Gambling Commissions and they are not allowed to cheat.

However, you will often see bingo players commenting on forums that a site is fixed or that the games are rigged. This is all down to RTP, which stands for Return to Player. RTP refers to the percentage of money that is paid out as winnings.

For example, if a bingo game has an RTP of 70%, the house will always keep 30% of total winnings, but bingo goers like yourself have a chance of winning 70%. When they’ll win that 70% is another story, and you’ll often find bingo goers playing again and again just to make sure they eventually get lucky.

And that’s the thing: Bingo is simply a game of luck.

What Are The Best Online Bingo Sites?

There are lots of top bingo sites in the UK, and we have plenty of articles and reviews that will help you choose the one that’s right for you.

Some of the best online bingo sites include:

What Does Wagering Mean In Bingo?

Whenever you sign up to a bingo site and make your first deposit, you usually qualify for a welcome bonus. This welcome bonus typically comes with X amount of free bingo tickets and free spins.

To claim any winnings made from these bonuses, you need to first of all meet specific wagering requirements. While some bingo sites have zero wagering requirements, many have wagering requirements that typically range between 1x and 4x the bonus amount.

What does this mean?

It means you need to stake X amount of your own money on bingo games in order to release any winnings made from your bonuses.

Why?

Because without wagering requirements, people could sign up to lots of different bingo sites, grab the welcome bonuses - and then move onto another site.

How Much Does It Cost To Play Bingo?

It costs however much as you like. Once you’ve signed up to a bingo site, you’ll need to make an initial deposit. Most bingo sites have a minimum deposit, which ranges between £5 and £10.

However, you don’t need to stake this amount. Instead, you need to pop into a bingo room, select some bingo tickets - and then select the amount you wish to stake. It can be as little as a penny for the penny games or as much as a couple of quid.

How Is Payout Calculated In Bingo?

Payout is usually calculated by the number of players and the cost per card.

The more players there are, and the higher the price of a game, the bigger the jackpot will be.

Conclusion

Bingo is a super fun, social game that anyone can play. Hopefully after reading this article you’re in a position where you understand what bingo is and you’re excited to play it!

The next step is to either head to a bingo hall near you and buy some tickets, or join an online bingo site and register an account.

Related Articles:

Ultimate Rundown of UK Boku Bingo Sites

Best Bingo Sites With Fluffy Favourites

If you suffer from a gambling problem or suspect somebody you know does, then we strongly suggest that you call the National Problem Gambling Hotline at 1-800-522-4700 to talk with an advisor for help and to make gambling safer for you or your loved ones.

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Remember gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. Visit these organizations for free gambling addiction resources: