Bingo is one of the simplest games to understand, but everybody has to learn how to play it, and also what some of the famous bingo lingo means!
So, in this post, we will look at how to play bingo in the UK. We will focus on British bingo rules for the predominant game in the country (90-ball bingo), as well as briefly covering some of the other games you may encounter playing online or in a bingo hall.
We’ll finish with a list of FAQs covering some of the major questions you may need answering on the topic of bingo in the UK.
Sound good? Then let’s get our ‘eyes down’ and start to learn about this simple yet appealing and hugely popular game!
So let’s begin with a quick description on how to play any type of bingo, before we focus in on the game most people associate with bingo in the UK!
Bingo is a game of chance in which numbers are drawn randomly and announced to players, who then mark that number off their bingo card.
Players can have just one card or buy many cards to play in a single game. Most online bingo sites have a limit on how many cards can be purchased per game.
The range of numbers in a game of bingo, and the shape of the card and numbers on it, can vary depending on which variant of bingo is being played.
Regardless of the type of bingo played, the game's aim is ultimately to be the first person playing to mark all the numbers off one of their bingo cards. This is called ‘getting a full house’.
Additionally, depending on the variant of bingo in the UK, you can also win other prizes before somebody wins a full house. In some games of bingo prizes are awarded to the player or players that complete the first and second horizontal lines on their bingo card (‘winning a line’).
If players complete a line or a full house simultaneously, the prize is usually split equally between them.
In other bingo variants, such as those that use a 5×5 square layout for the numbers, prizes can be awarded for marking off the four corners or vertical and diagonal lines on the board. Sometimes, a certain shape that can be made by marking off numbers on a 5×5 board will be the overall aim of the game, such as marking off an X.
Whatever the aim of the game of bingo, the process by which you achieve a win is the same. Your numbers are called randomly, and you mark them off your card. However, in online bingo games, marking numbers off the card is completed automatically for you.
Several different types of bingo in the UK are available, all based on the number of balls in play at the start of each game. Familiar bingo games in the UK include:- 75-ball and 80-ball. However, by far, the most popular game of bingo in the UK is 90-ball bingo, which we will now focus on.
90-ball bingo is the game most commonly played in the UK, both online and in bingo halls. Between 3 and 5 million play bingo in the UK regularly (twice per week), and 90-ball bingo is certainly the most common form of bingo in the UK.
There are several different factors to note for how 90-ball bingo is set up and for the specific British bingo rules:
The main mistakes players make when playing bingo in the UK are all to do with marking numbers from their cards whilst the game is in progress. Fortunately, if you play online, then all these issues are not a factor, as all player's cards are marked automatically by the software, so they will be 100% accurate.
However, if you play 90-ball bingo in a bingo hall, pub or club or similar, then some of the errors commonly made by players include:
Bingo is such a simple game that you only need a few basics in order to be able to play.
In online bingo, everything is provided for you by the site. You can purchase your cards in a bingo room of your choice and your cards are marked automatically. All wins are claimed automatically, too, and the cash is added immediately to your account.
If you play online, you can chat with other players or even play a range of other gaming attractions, such as slot games or other casino games, while your game is in progress.
All you need to play online is a computer, tablet or smartphone (or similar) and access to a bingo app or site.
Playing in a bingo hall requires a little more preparation, but only a little. The items you will need to play are:
Your venue will have all the other requirements, such as a caller and ball-drawing machine or similar in order to run the game. You can also play slots, purchase food and drinks and elect to play in specially networked games too.
As mentioned previously, alongside the popular 90-ball bingo game, there are a number of other types of games of bingo in the UK that customers can try for themselves.
Most online bingo providers will have games available in these different formats.
80-ball Bingo – This game is played on a card comprising of 16 numbers with the four sets of numbers, 1-20, 21-40, 41-60 and 61-80 all designated a colour. Prizes in this version of the game can be awarded for a line (which can be horizontal or vertical), two lines, a full house, or the four corners. Some games also award a prize if you mark off the four numbers in the middle of the card that make up a small square.
75-ball Bingo – A game played on a card comprising of 25 spaces arranged in a 5×5 grid. The middle space in the grid is marked with a star and is regarded as having already been completed. The card, therefore, has 24 numbers to be marked off. The make-up of the grid means that prizes can be awarded for landing options such as a designated line (first, second, third, fourth or fifth), landing a column of numbers (a column of five vertical numbers), the four corners of your game card and diagonal lines, alongside the full house. In some games, a player must mark off a particular shape from their card (such as an X shape using the two largest diagonals or a + shape using the middle horizontal row and vertical column of numbers). Some people know this version of the game as the “American” version of bingo.
Some sites, such as bet365 bingo, offer other versions of the game which can include the less common versions of 30-ball bingo and 60-ball bingo.
Part of the process of becoming proficient at bingo in the UK is to learn some of the key terms used in the game. There are some regional differences regarding terms used in the game. If relevant, this will be made apparent in the explanation of the term.
Want to try online bingo in the UK, or at a local bingo hall? Outlined below are some of the top options to consider for playing online, or in person!
Other options include a dwindling number of local, independent bingo halls, plus many local community centres and pubs will also offer bingo evenings to draw in customers.
For a night out, Bongo’s Bingo in Liverpool offers a lively, rave-inspired bingo night, complete with crazy prizes, a fully stocked bar, dancing, games and more. The hugely popular attraction has proven to be a smash-hit success, especially with younger players. Similar games have been rolled out at other venues across the UK.
If you enjoyed this article about playing bingo in the UK, then check our our open and honest look at bingo strategy. This outlines what you can and can’t do to improve your chances of winning when playing bingo in the UK online, or in the real world!
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