While slots and table games are usually the biggest attention grabbers, online bingo has become one of the fastest-growing games. So you can get a handle on how it all works, we’ve created a guide to online bingo rules.
We’ll cover the basics, so you know what to expect, the different types of games you’ll come across, as well as some tips to help you get the most from your experience. We’ll even give you a checklist to help you find the best places to put those newly learned bingo rules to good use.
As this is an
online casino guide, of course we’ll be discussing online bingo here, although in essence, the rules are very similar to the same version you might see played all over in the real world, but it’s not always the older members of any community that are involved. In fact, online bingo is increasingly played by younger people of both sexes, which has become more popular and guides like this are so important to those playing for the first time.
In essence, bingo is a simple game. You have one or more cards with numbers displayed on them in a grid. Numbers are picked randomly, and each time one of your numbers is called out, it is crossed off your card. When either a line of numbers or the whole card is crossed out, you win a prize, the size of which is often dictated by the number of players involved in that game.
Online Bingo Variations
As with
blackjack rules, once you’ve grasped the basic online bingo game rules, you need to look at the different variations that make it so interesting and enjoyable. The most common variation is the number of balls used, and as you can imagine, having 90 balls can give you a longer game, whereas just using 30 can provide you with a more quickfire experience. The fact that bingo is online can mean an almost limitless number of variations, but here is a quick breakdown of the most common:
Game format
Popularity
Description
75 Balls
High
This is what most people would recognise as online bingo. You have a 5×5 card, with a blank space in the middle, so crossing out all your numbers makes you a winner, as will completing a horizontal or diagonal line
90 Balls
Medium
Catching on in the US as it’s a popular format in the UK. Here there’s a 9×3 card, and crossing out one, to or all lines of 5 numbers will get you a prize.
80 Balls
Medium
This time it’s a 4×4 card, and again, prizes are won for lines, or crossing all your numbers out
30 Ball
Rare
Seen as the quickfore version, with just a 3×3 grid and a very short game time with prizes typically won very quickly.
In addition to the different number of balls, there is also a hybrid bingo/slot game called Slingo which you will find in most regular online casinos and plenty of sweepstakes platforms as well. Here you spin reels like a slot to reveal numbers to cross off your card to complete lines or the whole card.
Online Bingo Strategies
While the outcome of each game is unpredictable but fair, there are certain strategies you can use to get the most out of your online bingo experience once you are completely familiar with the rules.
Increase the Number of Cards You Play
If you have more cards, on paper, you have a better chance of one of them being a winner. While this is far from guaranteed, it is a popular technique when practiced within reason. The downside here is that buying more cards comes with increased expense, and even winning a ‘blackout’ or ‘house’ might not cover your initial outlay.
Choose to Play at Off-peak Times
Some players pick off-peak times to play, or look for games about to start with very few people in the ‘room’. The logic here is that the fewer people there are, the greater the chance of winning, and plenty of players adopt this strategy. The only problem with this plan is that often the size of the prize is based on the number of cards bought for that game, so if only a few people are playing, the prize pot and any subsequent winnings will be very small.
Tips for Playing Online Bingo Responsibly
Whatever strategy you use, it should always be based on knowing
how to stay safe when gambling online. To help with that, here are a few tips to keep you safe when playing online bingo.
💰 Set Your Playing Budget
Set yourself a playing budget – set aside your funds for playing bingo and do not exceed that amount. Bingo, like many online playing options can be a lot of fun and you could end up spending more than you intended otherwise.
⏰ Take Regular Breaks
Take regular breaks – Bingo games can come thick and fast, and before you know it, you could end up playing for longer than you intended. Set an alarm to take regular breaks and never miss a ‘real life’ event to continue playing bingo.
🧠 Play Responsibly
Don’t play when emotional or under any sort of influence – If you have been drinking or anything similar, it’s much easier to get carried away, and play responsibly.
🚫 Don’t Chase Losses or Streaks
Don’t go chasing losses or a winning streak – sometimes it’s just not your day, and continuing to play after you should have walked away is never a good idea. The same goes if you feel like you can’t lose – looking to extend a winning streak after it’s finished rarely goes well.
Picking the Right Place to Play Online Bingo
Another useful tip, which would also double as an extra strategy, is to find the right place to play online bingo. You won’t have to look too far to see you’ve got no shortage of choice, so narrowing down the field is a good way to get started that much faster. Here are some rules you can use to come up with a shortlist, with, of course, the final decision coming down to a closer inspection just before signing up.
It’s legit in your state
– where you are looking for a dedicated bingo site or bingo options within a casino, you’ll need to find one that can operate where you are. For many states, that might well be a sweepstakes option, where you play using virtual currencies. There is still the possibility of real-world prizes, but make sure you read the T&Cs so you know exactly what to expect.
Check out the welcome bonus
– the welcome offer isn’t everything, but it can get you off to a great start. Again, read the small print so you know what’s involved, as a few playthrough or time limit clauses can turn what looks like a good bonus into a bang average one.
Range of games
– You won’t find all the options on every platform, so see if your preferred game type is there. You’ll almost definitely see 75 ball games, but if you prefer a more sedate 90 ball game or a quickfire 30 ball game, you may have to check out a few different platforms.
Conclusion – Learning Online Bingo Rules Is Just the Start of a Great Playing Experience
With online bingo increasing in popularity, knowing the bingo rules can open up a whole new experience for you. As with learning the blackjack, baccarat and
roulette rules, this guide has shown you the basics of the game and the variations you might find so you can pick the one that’s right for you. We’ve also included some tips to help you, so you can get the most from playing, even if you’ve just started. It’s not a complicated game, so you won’t need to put together any sort of bingo rules chart as you might with some other games; you can just get started as soon as you are ready by using the links to the top-rated bingo sites on this page.
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While you are probably familiar enough with the game that you won’t need the bingo rules explained to you, playing online does have some differences. You can play 75, 90 or even 30 ball games, and most platforms have games available 24/7, so you should have no problems getting started.
The answer to that will depend entirely on where you are and which options are available in your state. Once you have established that, you should look for a platform with a good variety of games and decent sized bonus to get you started.
Yes. Many platforms now have mobile optimized versions of games to play on phones, as they know that this is most peoples go-to device. You should find all the same elements of gameplay as you would on your laptop, making playing on the move an identical experience.
