Over 3 decades of experience in casino operations management, with a focus on Table Games and Slots;
Senior executive positions in both Native American and traditional casino markets for companies like Harrah’s New Orleans and Minnesota-based Grand Casinos;
Hands-on experience as trainer and dealer of multiple casino games including: Blackjack, Roulette, Craps, and more;
Author's Note: The Importance of Understanding the Rules
When you're playing Bingo for money, it's essential to know the rules before you start playing because if you don't, you may miss out on winning a game.
Each player has at least one card which contains a 5 x 5 square. The word 'Bingo' is printed across the top, and semi-random numbers are printed in all the squares, except the center square, which is a Free Space.
The number of unique Bingo cards that can be produced is enormous and runs into the billions.
The number of cards that can be made does not affect your chances of winning.
Here is a typical Bingo card:
As you can see, each column has one of the letters of the word 'Bingo' above it and has several numbers in it.
Here is the list of numbers that may show up randomly in each of the lettered columns:
A number may only be listed on the card once.
The 'B' column randomly contains the numbers from 1 – 15
The 'I' column randomly contains the numbers from 16 – 30
The 'N' column randomly contains the numbers from 31 – 45
The 'G' column randomly contains the numbers from 46 – 60
The 'O' column randomly contains the numbers from 61 - 75
There are several different variants of Bingo, the most common being the 90-ball and 75-ball games.
In Bingo, there is always a ¨caller¨ that randomly selects a number from 1 to 75 and announces that number. It may be that the equipment in use randomly selects the number.
To keep track, you must mark that number on your cards each time.
In a land-based bingo hall, bingo balls will be randomly drawn out of a container by the caller or by equipment specifically designed for the purpose.
In an online bingo app, it is done automatically by the RNG software.
Each game ends when a number completes a recognized bingo pattern on someone's card, and they yell "BINGO!".
Their win is verified by checking their marked numbers on the card made a bingo. Of course, nowadays, you can get a similar gambling experience by playing Bingo online.
The most usual bingo patterns are either a straight line or the four-corner.
More on that later.
Numerous games are usually played during a bingo session, with some specialty games thrown into the mix at certain intervals.
Some examples include the letter "X" through the "free spot," a small frame made up of the numbers around the free spot, or a "block of 9" (3 rows of 3 numbers together).
For home games or smaller charity games, you can purchase bingo cards at your local hobby store or online. When playing with these reusable boards, you will need some bingo chips to cover the numbers as they hit.
Once the game has been won, the chips are removed from the board, and the boards are reused to play the game again, with a new set of numbers drawn from the bag or hand-cranked cage.
It is possible to seek out boards that may give you an advantage in this game.
How Do You Play Bingo Live
When you enter the bingo hall, go to the guest service counter to purchase paper cards and electronic bingo machines for the upcoming session.
The bingo floor staff can help you with purchases at your seat, but the best discounts and deals are available at the guest service counter.
The scorecards come with various card types, values, and patterns.
Here are a few examples:
This is what's called a 3on pack.
Each sheet consists of three Bingo cards, color-coded so each subsequent game has a different color.
This pack has four sheets, with the fourth one under the red one on the right.
This is called a 4on pack.
You can see that it has four game cards listed on the same piece of card.
This one has subsequent games underneath the blue game you can see, and once the blue game is completed, you simply tear off the top sheet to reveal the next game's four cards. Each sheet will be a different color.
Each game card has two security codes printed on them:
On this card, 220237 represents the serial number of this 3on pack. 3160 represents the specific game card where it appears.
My limit to manage manual daubed cards is about 9. It's not unusual to see experienced players playing 12 or more.
Pro tip #1
Mark all the 'Free Space' squares with the daub before starting the game(s).
It means you don't have to think about that open space as the daub becomes a part of the pattern recognition part of your brain and you can just accept that the pattern is complete.
Pro tip #2
As all the numbers in one of the letter columns are called and marked, draw a straight line down the column to indicate that all the numbers have been marked. This saves you from having to check the column.
Pro tip #3 (for experienced players)
Only daub the numbers that are in the winning pattern for that game.
This is difficult to manage when you are a beginner, but as you get more experience, you will see it makes sense.
Start by only doing the easy patterns, such as the four corners or the cactus; as you get better at it, you will see the more complex patterns.
Understanding the Letter-number Combinations
The caller will announce the next number drawn and may add a jokey description to make it more fun for the players.
Let's say the number drawn is 22.
He might say something like: "I 22, Two Little Ducks".
This is a well-known and standard reference to the number 22, so it helps identify the number for the players.
The I (pronounced eye) identifies that the number drawn is in the second column.
Each country has different nicknames.
In the UK, for example, if the number is G 59, the caller might say "G 59, The Brighton Line," which refers to the London train station platform 59, where the trains leave London to go to Brighton.
After playing a few games, I discovered I was already familiar with which numbers were in which column and didn't need to hear the letter, just the number.
Choosing a Caller
These days, most people who don't play online play Bingo in commercial bingo businesses.
The callers are professionals and employed by the bingo hall.
In a smaller venue, or perhaps a group of friends, they may elect to have one of their group call the numbers.
To choose the caller, it's best to have someone who is outgoing and with a good sense of humor to talk up the game and make it more appealing to the players.
Placing a Chip on the Center Square
The center square in all bingo cards is a Free Space.
It's best to place a chip or daub on the center square before the game starts so that you don't miss a bingo because you don't recognize the Free Space during the game.
Providing the caller with the letter-number combinations
Many websites have lists of the nicknames of the Letter/Number combinations, or you can make up your own.
A quick review of the nicknames will reveal that they are age appropriate for the typical bingo player in your group.
You may hear references from WW II all the way to Snoop Dogg and Tinder.
Now that you have a better understanding of how the game works, it's time to check the step-by-step process of playing bingo:
Step 1. The Caller Reads Out a Letter-number Combination
The letter and number on the ball drawn by the caller are called out and then placed into the console or board to mark it as 'called.'
Step 2. Players Place a Chip or Daub On Their Scorecard If They Have That Number
All those playing review their card(s) and either place a chip on the number called or daub it with a colored pen to mark it as called.
Step 3. Continue Playing Until Someone Wins
The caller continues to draw balls and call them out.
The players continue to mark those called numbers when they appear on their cards.
Once they have completed the line or combination of spaces selected for that game, that is a winner.
Step 4. The Winner Shouts, "Bingo"
The winner shouts out 'Bingo,' indicating to all the players that they have a winning card.
The game stops, and the card is checked to verify that all the numbers marked on the card have been called, and once verified, the prize is given to the winner.
Pro Tip
Don't stop marking the numbers on your cards just because someone calls out 'Bingo'.
Often, people make mistakes, and they haven't won.
Once it's discovered that they haven't won, the game continues.
Step 5. Clearing the scorecards for the next game
Once the game is won and declared over, the new game will be started immediately.
Examining a bingo card closely reveals that the four corner numbers are the most powerful because you can get Bingo in four different ways from each of those four corner squares:
Horizontally;
Vertically;
Diagonally;
Plus, a 4 corners bingo.
Those corner numbers are the only squares on the card that offer that advantage. All others squares can only Bingo two different ways, vertically or horizontally.
That "free space" in the middle of the card makes it easier for you to get a win on the two diagonal lines that pass through it. The same logic applies to the vertical "N" column and the middle row of the card.
That makes it possible to get a straight-line bingo in only four numbers, plus the "free spot," instead of needing five numbers to Bingo.
Pro tip
If you want to learn more about the different patterns available, check out our complete guide to bingo patterns. It contains more than 21 different ways you can play Bingo, ranging from simple to special ones.
I believe that most Bingo games are on the up and up, but let me tell you a story:
Over half a century ago, when I was in high school, I was walking the midway of our annual county fair when I spied a breathtakingly beautiful young girl who had stopped momentarily to watch a bingo game in action under a tent.
A young guy working inside the bingo tent was captivated by her, too.
When he saw she was about to leave, he quickly grabbed a few bingo cards in a pile under the table and handed them to her, whispering:
"Here, play these. You'll win!" He didn't even make her pay for them. He just didn't want her to leave. And, sure enough, shewon on and on! I'll never forget witnessing that first-hand as a youngster.
Another true story
At the local Senior Citizens Center where we play Bingo, one lady got the person running the Bingo there to let her go online and buy her bingo cards to play.
She has some kind of disability and used that as her reason for wanting to do that.
Though I don't know what that had to do with it, I know this because she told me so.
When I view the bingo cards she bought online, I see that they have a coat of paint on their backs that the Senior Center's bingo cards don't have.
I'm convinced that by buying those cards and having them to herself at home, she could have easily split the cards open, rearranged the numbers on all the cards to her liking, then glued them back together again, then painted the backs.
She bingos quite frequently with them.
My Opinion on Cheating and Winning at Bingo
I believe that more different people would win at Bingo if they would eliminate that "free spot" in the middle of the card and replace it with one more number added to the game.
I've also wondered about those big-money bingos held occasionally in our area that offer a $10,000 bingo game.
I ask myself, "Why couldn't they make it so that a shill would win that big prize so they don't have to pay it out to a stranger?"
Those big-money bingo games make you buy sealed packets of bingo cards you have to play.
Why couldn't they give a shill a packet of cards made to give that shill an advantage? It makes you wonder, doesn't it? Fortunately, this doesn't happen in online casinos.
Playing Bingo at bingo halls creates a good outing and a chance to socialize with like-minded people.
It's good entertainment that doesn't have to be expensive to enjoy.
Cheating at Bingo: An Insider's Perspective
Now, we have discussed with Peter Nairn, a casino insider to tell us how bingo works from the other side:
The short version is the same as any other game humans are involved in.
And that is 'Yes, of course, you can!'
The real question is, 'Does it make any sense to cheat at Bingo?' and that answer is: 'Almost certainly not!".
And here's why:
First of all, most bingo halls, particularly in large urban areas, are now vast private enterprises in their own right or part of a larger enterprise such as a local casino.
As such, they are likely to prosecute anyone attempting to cheat them.
And I've seen several folks in court (and a couple in jail) for attempting to cheat a casino or business like Bingo.
Secondly, it may be that in a smaller, 'mom and pop’-type operation, your local church or charity may attempt to cheat the players, but again, it's doubtful.
I'm sure it may happen, but very rarely. It's simply too easy to be caught.
And a larger, highly regulated operation like your local casino bingo hall is making good money from their legitimate games, so why would they risk losing their license to cheat you out of a few dollars?
Legitimate online bingo sites, again, are making good money running their legitimate games.
Why would they try to cheat you out of a few euros or dollars and risk their entire business for a small amount?
It doesn't make much sense, does it?
Here are a 3 ways I've heard that people have tried to cheat at Bingo, but it's not very likely:
1. Be in Cahoots with The Caller
In a small operation such as a fairground or a 'seat of the pants' operation where there is no oversight of the caller and they draw the balls out of a bag, the cheater makes a deal with the caller to split the winnings.
By a series of subtle signals, the cheat indicates the numbers he needs to win.
The caller draws the balls out of the bag but calls a number the cheat needs, not the number drawn.
2. Use Previously Purchased 'Fake' Cards
There are several manufacturers of bingo cards in each country, and they have their preferred paper and inks for their cards.
You can even buy them online.
Once you have decided to go this route and can reproduce the identifying marks on the cards (hey – I never said it was going to be easy!), take a few cards with you to the bingo hall.
And buy some legitimate cards and start playing with them.
Once you have a few numbers out, you identify which of your 'fake' cards have the most numbers covered and surreptitiously mix that card into your other cards in the game.
This will give you a significant advantage over the regular players.
3. Alter The Balls in The Machine
If the security of the equipment is lax, it may be possible to alter the weight of some of the balls, change the size (so the bigger balls don't fit into the selection tube), or even change the letter/number on some of the balls.
But the short answer for manual cards is 'Not very likely', and online I would say 'it's impossible'!
Bingo is open to all and can be a lot of fun if you've never been to a bingo hall before. There are only a few straightforward etiquette rules to follow:
Do socialize. You can enjoy meeting some new people while having a fun night out.
Once the game starts, stop talking. People go to Bingo to play the game, and there's money involved (sometimes a lot of money), so let's respect the other players.
Do you have a lucky charm? Many folks do, so you'll see some that other players have brought with them. Bring yours, too, it's likely to be a good conversation starter.
Some people, particularly Bingo regulars, often have their lucky seat or table to sit at. If someone requests you move to allow them into their lucky seat, move ahead. It's best if everyone enjoys their night out playing Bingo.
Always remember that Bingo is for fun. It's a simple game with very few rules, so enjoy yourself!
Don't be bashful about asking for help. The experienced regulars will help you with questions – just be sure to ask them in between games when they aren't marking their cards.
Strategies to Increase Your Odds of Winning
Here are 7 simple strategies for increasing your chances of winning:
Play during off-peak times. The fewer people playing, the better your chance of winning.
Manage your bankroll carefully. You know how much you can afford to lose. Don't go beyond that amount.
Play more cards. If you have 20 cards out of 50 in the game, your odds of winning are much better than 2 cards out of 50.
Know the rules and prizes before the game starts. Some games have a weird rule, such as 'this game has all the even numbers already marked, and we're only calling the odd numbers .'You have no chance of winning if you don't have all the even numbers marked on your card as the game starts.
Granville and Tippet are famous names for Bingo strategy. To use their strategies, you need to be able to pick the numbers on the cards or in the machine.
Choose where you sit carefully. Ensure you can hear the caller clearly and have a good view of a flashboard. Check where the closest heat or air conditioning vent is, too. When playing, you don't need to be freezing or sweating directly under one of the vents.
Practice playing online for free. You can get a feel for the game and how it works before you put any money into action. Check out our free bingo games collection to try out.
There are two theories that claim to give you an advantage over the other players in Bingo.
One is by an American financial analyst, Joseph Granville, and the other by a British statistician, Leonard Tippett.
You can only use them if you get to pick the cards you're going to play.
Both theories won't be much use to you in a bingo hall or casino setting where preprinted cards are purchased without an opportunity to select which cards you may use.
Granville's Theory
Granville states that each number has precisely the same probability of being chosen.
His theory suggests that players should pick cards that have as many different numbers as possible – so a potent mix of even and odd, high and low, and also with as many last numbers as possible. So if you have, say, 28, try to find cards without 18, 38, 48, and 58.
This is because once you have selected 28, the pool of numbers with 8 as the second digit is reduced, making them less likely to be picked. The same applies to even, odd, and high and low numbers, which seems to make sense.
To increase your odds of winning, your card(s) should have equal numbers of high, low, odd, and even numbers, and numbers with the last digits having an equal mix of 0 through 9.
Tippett's Theory
This theory speaks to the 'perfect average' of all the balls in the game before any have been drawn out.
As the balls are drawn, they will get closer to the median.
Tippett created this theory based on the concept of number randomness. He says it doesn't apply for short games, but the longer the game continues, the more it becomes true. In the US, where the 75-ball game is the standard, the longer the game goes on, the greater the chance that the balls being drawn will be closer to the median number of 38.
According to Tippett, you can increase your odds of winning by getting cards with numbers closer to 38. In the UK, where the 90-ball game is usually played, the median number is 45, so the player should try to get cards with numbers closer to 45.
Will you win more if you play using these theories?
Some swear by Granville's theory. Others swear by Tippett's theory
There are many different variations on the game of Bingo. Here are a few of them:
U Pick Em
Players get to choose the numbers they will be monitoring for a win. You may be able to use the Granville and/or Tippett theory on this game.
Bonanza Bingo
40+ numbers are pre-drawn, and the game is played as part of the session.
Players mark the numbers that are pre-drawn before the game starts.
The tickets are sold separately.
The top' Bonanza Bingo' ticket in the picture is sealed, and the second is the game's result.
Once you have marked the pre-drawn numbers, if you don't like the numbers, you can exchange the ticket for two more that you purchase before the game starts.
Emoji Bingo
Instead of using cards with numbers, this electronic game uses emojis instead. You play the game like regular Bingo, crossing off the emojis that are called, and if you complete the pattern first, you win.
30-ball Bingo
Often referred to as Speed Bingo, this variation uses 30 balls instead of the usual 75 or 90. As you can imagine, it is a swift game.
Slingo Bingo
Combining Bingo and Slots, this game gives you the best of both worlds. Usually formatted with a 5 x5 Bingo card, the players play a slot machine to select the numbers to be marked off.
Slingo is a fun game that you can learn more about from our dedicated guide.
Electronic Bingo Machine
The electronic Bingo machine is wireless and blue-toothed into the Bingo system.
It updates automatically and immediately. It's about 18" (45 cm) across. It can play multiple cards at once.
As you can see, this one is playing 180 cards simultaneously,
It displays the six cards closest to hitting the 'Bingo', but you can scroll through all the cards it is playing, so check them.
In the bottom left is the pattern that is the winner for this particular game.
It's the 'Seven' pattern.
The last ball picked was I 26.
Notice how the machine doesn't include all the numbers that have been called, only the ones that are part of the winning pattern.
PRO TIP #1 for electronic machines
Always play the electronic devices!
Electronic machines are the easiest to play, even putting up a full-screen 'YELL BINGO" when you have a winning combination on the screen.
The machines can play up to 180 cards simultaneously (that I've seen, and probably a lot more!), which was way beyond the ability of a human to monitor successfully.
You get the best deals and offers on the machines vs. paper cards, and the devices never miss a number. Never!
PRO TIP #2
The electronic machines only mark the numbers in the pattern for that game, so it is easy to recognize the pattern as it develops because no marked numbers aren't in the pattern.
Once you need only one number, the machine flashes the number required so you can be on top of calling 'Bingo' when you win!
Interesting side story
A conversation I once had with a lady who told me she would be 90 years old on her next birthday.
She played four paper cards every game with a daub pen and told me she deliberately chose paper cards even though she knew the machine could play way beyond her capabilities.
It was a deliberate choice she was making to keep her brain sharp.
It seemed to work well for her as she was a delightful conversationalist and was definitely 'all there'.
It was called Lo Giuoco Lotto Italia and was eagerly embraced by the players, who enjoyed the weekly sessions.It was similar to the modern 90-ball game on almost all online bingo websites.
Players would mark their numbers on cards and sometimes win considerable amounts. The balls were hand-drawn out of a sack.
It was a popular game and spread to France, where it was called Le Lotto. The French modified it, changing the cards to feature three rows with nine vertical columns.
If this sounds familiar to you, it should. It's pretty much identical to how the 90-ball bingo cards of today look.
Today, the game is played worldwide, with the USA and the UK being two significant markets.
I remember my parents playing a version of the game called 'Tombola' when we lived in Cyprus.
It came to the USA in the 1920s; it was called 'Beano' as beans were used to mark the numbers.
Toy manufacturer Edwin Lowe saw the game being played in Florida. When an excited winner called 'Bingo' instead of 'Beano' by mistake, Lowe changed the name to Bingo and ran with the game, marketing it and creating cards and stamps for marking the numbers.
At first, too many people were winning, so Lowe engaged a math professor from the University of Columbia in New York to restructure the game to make it profitable.
Final Thoughts
There you have it - the complete guide on how to play Bingo.
We hope this knowledge will help you hear "Bingo!" more often.
Bingo in the UK and much of Europe is played using 90 balls. The card is formatted as a 9 x 3 grid.
In the USA, it's played using 75 balls with a 5 x 5 grid.
Players buy prenumbered cards, and the center square is a Free Space.
Patterns are chosen before the game starts, and the players mark off the drawn numbers as they are called by the host/announcer (called 'The Caller').
Players match the numbers drawn from the sealed container to the numbers listed on their cards, and the first player to complete the pattern for the current game wins the prize.
Numbers are randomly drawn and announced to the players by the caller. The games can use different patterns such as lines, triangles, the four corners, the kite, stamps, and arrows.
In an online Bingo game, the numbers are selected by a random number generator, and the computer automatically completes the players' cards.
How to Play Bingo FAQs
Is there a strategy to Bingo?
The short answer is no. The Granville and Tippett strategies are two strategies that have been said to be effective, although neither has ever been proven to work.
Is there any skill involved in Bingo?
No. Bingo is a game of pure luck.
Which Bingo numbers win most often?
There are no numbers which win more or less often than any other numbers.
Was Russell Crowe really a bingo caller before he became a movie star?
Yes, one of Russell Crowe’s jobs as a youngster was bingo caller. He wasn’t very good at it.
Most people who play bingo are over the age of 50, aren’t they?
No. Most people seem to think that, but according to a survey in the USA, most bingo players are Millennials, which is between the ages of 28 and 42.
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Bill Collins
Professional Craps Player
About Bill Collins
Author of the craps novel, "Vegas Fever";
20+ years of successful craps experience, consistently winning since 2003;
Professional writer of Craps guides, with numerous articles published;
Over 3 decades of experience in casino operations management, with a focus on Table Games and Slots;
Senior executive positions in both Native American and traditional casino markets for companies like Harrah’s New Orleans and Minnesota-based Grand Casinos;
Hands-on experience as trainer and dealer of multiple casino games including: Blackjack, Roulette, Craps, and more;
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