How to Play Bingo: A Guide for Beginners

Learn How to Play Bingo in 5 Minutes

Bingo has become one of the most popular chance-based games in the world since its creation in the XVI century. Simple, yet thrilling, playing bingo is easy and rewards can be quite lucrative - especially when it’s being played by multiple people at the same time.

Although it’s considered a popular game to play in land-based casinos, players get to enjoy online bingo games from almost anywhere in the world. Here, we’ll take a look at how to play bingo and closely break down its rules.

Basic Rules of Bingo

For practicality’s sake, we’ll explain the rules of 75-ball bingo, which is the most played version of the game in the world. However, we’ll take a look at other variants, like 90-ball and even 30-ball bingo, further in this article. All games follow the same principles, anyway - learn to play 75-ball bingo and you’ll know how to play them all. 

Bingo is a chance-based game that only requires one skill: being able to keep track of called numbers and quickly mark them (or daub them) in your bingo cards.

To play, you’ll have one or more bingo cards in your control. Each card usually has 24 numbers and one free space, distributed in five columns. Each column has a “BINGO” letter assigned, and each one can contain different numbers.

• B may have any five numbers from 1 to 15
• I may have any five numbers from 16 to 30
• N may have any five numbers from 31 to 45
• G may have any five numbers from 46 to 60
• O may have any five numbers from 61 to 75

Balls with different numbers are drawn from a machine or bag. When a number is called, players should mark it on their cards if they have it. The objective of the game is to complete a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal row of five numbers, or simply complete the entire board to win. 

To declare your victory in a game of land-based bingo, when any of these scenarios occur, you should call “bingo” out loud.

Bingo Cards

Bingo cards are the core tool required to play a game of bingo. Offline bingo usually allows players to purchase as many cards as they like, which is why you sometimes see people with dozens of cards when playing bingo in offline casinos. Beware: having more cards mean it’s more difficult to keep track of called numbers.

In online bingo, players have the option to purchase a set number of cards, usually up to four in video bingo (bingo against the house) and over 10 when playing bingo against other players.

Numbers

The numbers that are called in a game of bingo widely vary depending on the type of bingo game being played. The more balls with numbers there are, the likelier it is for games to last longer, as there are more numbers in play. 

The classic version of the game is played with 75 balls and the number distribution per letter is as shown above, but games with 90 balls have larger ranges of numbers per letter/column. 

Daubing

Daubing is the art of keeping track of the bingo numbers that have been called. This is the most challenging aspect of the game, and it can be quite a tricky one when you’re playing with multiple bingo cards at the same time.

Your ability to keep track of called numbers usually defines how good of a bingo player you are. Beginners usually prefer playing online bingo because daubing is done automatically by the game, which removes the only skill-related aspect of the game.

Calling Bingo

Once one of your cards has a winning combination, you’re supposed to call “bingo” out loud. In the online version of bingo, this is usually done automatically by the game. Most bingo games require you to either fill the entire board or form a line of numbers in a diagonal, vertical or horizontal way. 

If you call bingo, the game stops and the host checks whether all numbers were really called. If your “bingo” is confirmed, you win the game. 

Bingo Side Bets

Some versions of bingo have side bets. These bets have a higher house edge, meaning that they are riskier for the players, but usually yield large payouts, and they’re independent of the overall bingo win. That means that you could, in theory, win both your side bet and a bingo jackpot with a single card.

Side bets are sometimes used to let players participate in a bigger, substantial jackpot that has a very slim chance of being won. Not all versions of the game offer them, though. 

Types of Bingo Games

There are many ways to play bingo, be it online or in land-based casinos. We’ll take a look at the main versions of the game, which are categorized into two separate types: 

Offline and Online Bingo Rooms

Whether you’re looking to play bingo from the comfort of your own home or visit a land-based casino to enjoy a session with other players, you’ll have access to different versions of the game. In traditional bingo rooms, be it land-based or online, you’ll have access to one or more of the following versions of the game:

• 30-Ball: Also called “speed bingo”, the 30-ball version of the game is designed for quick play. Players get cards with just three columns and three rows, which adds to nine numbers in total. To win, you must fill the entire bingo card.
• 75-Ball: The classic version of bingo with 75 balls and a bingo card that has 25 spaces: 24 numbers and a free space in the middle. 
• 80-Ball: The objective of 80-ball bingo is to fill a board of 16 numbers, spread across four columns and four rows. You can either win by completing a horizontal, vertical or diagonal line, depending on the rules of the game, or by filling the entire board. This version is commonly found in online and land-based casinos.
• 90-Ball: 90-ball bingo cards usually have 15 numbers. Players win by achieving the combination requested by the house before the game begins. 

Keep in mind that local variants of bingo may also be found in different countries. You may find versions of the game with different numbers of balls or bingo cards.

Classic video bingo with multiple ball variants

As mentioned, playing video bingo combines the best of two worlds: online slots and online bingo. You’ll be playing a game that resembles a slot machine, where the size of your bets determines the payout of the game.

Usually, these games let players choose from 1 to 4 bingo cards. You play against the house - never against other players.

All of the aforementioned ball variants of bingo are also available in online video bingo. There are even some versions of the game with special card patterns, including Christmas editions where the card is shaped like a Christmas tree. 

Bonus-feature video bingo games

Since video bingo and slots are quite similar, you’ll encounter some versions of the game that have special bonus features that are activated when achieving certain combinations in the game. These features could include bonus rounds or even prize multipliers.

These sorts of games are ideal for players that find regular bingo to be a bit tedious or monotonous. Bonus rounds add a new layer to the game, which is usually accompanied by larger payouts. 

Slingo

Slingo takes video bingo to a new level by adding slot gameplay to the game of bingo. All Slingo games come with a different theme, which is usually inspired by that of an online slot game, and allow players to make winning combinations on a board that is filled with different numbers. Unlike traditional bingo or video bingo, players don’t buy bingo cards, but rather play the game as if it were a slot.

Different versions of Slingo come with different RTP rates and bonus features. You’ll find Slingo original themes or even some inspired by iconic games, like Slingo Starburst.

Tips from The Casino Wizard

As you can see, playing bingo is actually quite easy and requires nothing more than getting your hands on a bingo card, or many of them, and keep track of called numbers until there’s a winner. Although luck definitely plays a bigger part than skill, additional advice could come a long way in helping you maximize your bingo-playing experience. 

Here are some tips from our team that should help you play any version of bingo that you like the most, whether that is physical or online:

• Forget about patterns and other “spotting” behaviors.
• Don’t buy too many cards if you find it difficult to keep track of calls.
• More cards mean more chances to win.