The Rules of Bingo

Bingo is played in rooms normally called Bingo Halls. Bingo Rules, payouts and games vary from place to place. Bingo brochures detailing particular games, rules and payouts are usually available at each respective location.

Basically, players buy cards with numbers on them in a 5 x 5 grid corresponding to the five letters in the word B-I-N-G-O. Numbers such as N43 are then drawn at random (out of a possible 75 in American Bingo, and 90 in European Bingo ( which is called Tombola ) until one player completes a 'Bingo' pattern, which is usually a line with five numbers in a vertical, horizontal or diagonal row on one of their cards, a whole filled card (called a "blackout") or any special patterns, and then the player wins the prize.

A bingo card contains 24 numbered spaces and one free space (blank), with which you play Bingo. The numbers are assigned at random on each card and are arranged in five columns of five numbers each by five rows (5 x 5 = 25 in total including the blank square).

The numbers in the B column are between 1 and 15, in the I column between 16 and 30, in the N column (containing four numbers and the free space) between 31 and 45, in the G column between 46 and 60, and in the O column between 61 and 75.

Players have thousands of unique cards to choose from. Some manufacturers print unduplicated series of 6,000 cards. There are also series of 9,000 cards available. Hard cards and Flimsy cards have a series number printed on them. For example, card number 1252 will always have the same numbers in the same spaces.

The numbers are announced quickly by the caller, so you must pay careful attention to the numbers that are called and mark them quickly and accurately on your card(s).

The caller keeps calling numbers until one or more players claim 'Bingo'. Then the game stops and the numbers are verified. If there is a winner, the prize is awarded and a new bingo game begins with new cards. If there is more than one winner, the prize is split among all the winners.

In Las Vegas many variations including Letter X, Six Pack and Coverall Bingo are offered. Additionally, some places offer special progressive payouts as high as $10,000.

When playing online internet bingo, your bingo cards are randomly selected for you. Most online games give you 3 or 4 cards. Other games let you take more.

Every online bingo game has a caller or a display board for the bingo numbers. The game pattern is also displayed. Some games automatically mark the numbers on your card for you - this way there is no chance that you can miss the Bingo as the online Bingo will automatically register you as a winner.

And remember, most Bingo Halls also offer other casino games (poker, roulette, slots, etc.). So, for example, you can be playing bingo and Texas Holdem Poker at the same time!