How To Play Bingo: Rules, Odds, And Secrets
Sometimes you just need a little break. A few minutes to take your mind off of things and simply have fun. If you’re looking for a way to switch off while still engaging your mind, have you considered gaming? Nothing crazy, just a simple, social game that never gets old.
How about a game that you likely know a little about already? A game that has been around for literally hundreds of years but that can now be played anywhere, anytime, on your phone? How about Bingo?
In this article, you’ll see why Bingo has become even more fun, addictive, and rewarding than ever before.
How to play Bingo
The premise of Bingo, whether online or offline, is simple: match the random numbers presented to you with those on your Bingo card and the first person with a complete line of matches wins! Of course, it’s everything that happened around this simple premise that makes it interesting. Let’s compare traditional bingo with online bingo to get a better idea.
How traditional Bingo works | How online Bingo works |
You will play in a Bingo hall or room with a number of other players | You can play Bingo on your phone whenever you want, either one-on-one or in tournaments with multiple players |
You will play in a room or hall with a large number of other players | You will play against other opponents and race to match as many Bingos as possible in the time given |
A human caller announces the numbers to be matched on your Bingo card | The game will automatically provide numbers for you to match on your digital game card |
The first person to get match an entire line gets Bingo and wins the game | A player can match multiple Bingos in a single game and the person with the highest points at the end of the game wins |
What are your odds of winning Bingo?
In traditional Bingo, your chance of winning is all about probability. Realistically, you have just as much chance of winning as the person next to you, provided your opponents don’t make the silly mistake of forgetting to record a match.
To get a little geeky about it, the chances of you winning in traditional Bingo are impacted by the number of players in a given round and the number of cards in play. So, the fewer players in the game or the more cards you can play with, the better your chances of winning.
On the other hand, some online Bingo games are more skill-based. Although all players start with the same basic card, they need to think strategically about which numbers to match in sequence to maximize their points. In online Bingo, you have a set amount of time (usually three minutes) to match as many numbers as you can to create as many vertical, horizontal, or diagonal Bingo lines. Unlike traditional Bingo, you may not want to match a Bingo line straight away and instead choose to wait until you can match multiple Bingos at the same time to win BIG points.
Online Bingo also introduces special power-ups like points multipliers or ‘Diamonds’ that help you to earn points and win. So, your ability to think fast and play strategically, puts you in control of your winning streak.
Little-known Bingo secrets
Because Bingo has been around for centuries it has a colorful and interesting past!
Bingo is said to have originated in Italy but became popular in the US during World Wars I and II.
Toy manufacturer Edwin S Lowe employed math professor, Carl Leffler, to come up with ways to increase the number of number combinations in the game.
Bingo was originally called “beano” but was changed when someone shouted out “Bingo” by mistake after he made his last match.
Bingo cards are also called ‘Housie’ in the UK
There are many different types of Bingo games based on the number of balls called in the game (30 ball, 75 ball, 90 ball, etc.).
Bingo has more than one way to play. For example speed Bingo allows you to mark off any number on your card when it is called, while chain Bingo means that you must mark off numbers in sequence.
Which Bingo game should I play?
The best way to find local games of traditional Bingo is to look at community forums, public game halls, or existing Bingo groups. If you do a little bit of digging, you’re bound to find a game near you. If not, you could set up your own game and invite friends and family to play. The benefit of Bingo is that it’s super easy to set up, all you need are some balls with numbers on them, some printed Bingo cards, and pens.
If you’re in the market for something a little more convenient and fast-paced, you should try Bingo Clash by AviaGames. Bingo Clash is a skill-based game that enables you to play and earn real money. To get started on Bingo Clash, all you have to do is follow these simple steps:
Download the game app for Android or Apple iOS
Select whether to play free games or real money-making games
Play against one or more opponents
Withdraw your winnings at any time via PayPal
Use game codes to get special benefits
Armed with all this juicy Bingo information, you’re ready to start playing. Remember, the aim of the game is to have fun with like-minded gamers that are just like you, whether in Bingo hall or virtually. Increase your chances of winning by getting your mind focused before the game starts, and memorizing your game cards so that you can focus on the numbers being called out.
Go get ‘em!