Basic Rules of Bingo

Bingo is often described as the “Community Lotto”. This is a good description as it truly is a community game where players get to know each other and friendships begin.

Playing bingo is a lot of fun and a player can earn some nice cash prizes. There are a some basic rules that a player needs in order to enjoy the game and hopefully, win!

・ Players must buy cards prior to beginning the game. Each of these cards are unique, in that no duplicates are handed out in one game. But the game can have multiple winners.

・ The numbers are aligned with columns that are marked B-I-N-G-O and with five numbers each ranging from one through thirty. Each letter has their own unique five numbers. For example, B will have five numbers that are between one through fifteen and I will have numbers ranging from sixteen through thirty. In the UK and Australia, the numbers called can as high as 90.

・ In some variations of the game, the middle number in the card may already be marked off.

・ The object of the game being quite simple, and that is to be the first person to mark all the numbers on a single ticket with a total of 15 numbers. Known as a Full House or Bingo.

Some variants of the game have two secondary objectives that head toward the Full House objective.

For example:

・ First Secondary objective. To be the first person to mark five numbers in a single row, which is known as Any One Line.

・ And Second Secondary objective. To be the first person to mark two rows of five numbers on the same ticket. Also known as Any Two Lines.

Once you have these basic rules for playing Bingo, nothing can stop you from winning great prizes, either at a live bingo hall or online.

As with any game, whether online or at a live bingo hall, there are some additional bingo game rules that are needed to be understood by the player. This will help them to play more effectively and not worry about how to play the game.

Often, if the game is simply for fun and no money is involved, certain rules could be bent. But when playing online or at a casino bingo hall, the rules are rock solid and are needed to be understood in order to claim any prizes won. This avoids any disappointments or misunderstandings.

・ Before playing, always make sure that you are playing with the correct set of cards. The bingo caller will always announce what cards are to be used and what patterns are being played with. Some cards are coloured. For example, a game is always played with one colour only. So if the game is with a green colour, and the player is using a yellow card, that yellow card will be voided.

・ When the number is announced, carefully check all the cards played. Often at times, players purchase a book of cards and may have them all spread out on their table. The numbers in the squares need to be marked off very quickly as the number caller will not stop to call the next set of numbers.

・ Bingo must be shouted out loud if all the numbers are marked off, before the next game commences. If a player fails to do so, they forfeit their prize and given to the next player at the next game.

・ Rarely, but it does happen, when two or more players yell “BINGO” at the same time. In this instance, the prizes will be shared equally between all winning players.

・ If playing in bingo hall, it is critical that all the numbers marked off remain legible so they can be verified as the winning numbers by the announcer.