Enter the World of Bingo
December 4th, 2009 | Published in Inrodution
Bingo is no longer restricted to the hall on Saturday nights, as the game is widely played online. If you are not familiar with the game, this article will serve as the guide that reveals all the basics, along with the differences between playing on and offline.
Basic Bingo Rules
Bingo is a simple game and relatively easy to play. Random numbers are drawn and called while players match the numbers on the cards they selected. The first player to form the predetermined pattern from the numbers on their card calls out “bingo” and wins the game.
The Bingo game can be played by dozens or even hundreds of people. Each card is unique to ensure that players have different numbers. The typical card has 24 numbered spaces in addition to a “free” space that can be checked off right away. While the winning patterns can vary significantly, the most common are as follows:
One line/Two lines – One or two lines on the card marked when the player’s numbers are called.
Cover all (Blackout) – This occurs when all numbers on the card are covered.
Bingo organizers have been known to get very creative when it comes to winning patterns. For example, some implement patterns that form the shape of a certain letter or particular design. Players can also play with a number of different cards, which makes them eligible for prizes that range from material objects to large cash jackpots.
Playing Bingo Online
Online bingo is quite similar to its counterpart played in the brick-and-mortar hall setting. In fact, it is basically the same game with the exception of some new and improved rules you typically will not find in your local hall. However, there are some notable differences between playing on and offline. In many instances, these games can actually make the internet versions even more exciting.
Unlike the mechanisms that spin the balls and randomly select numbers in land-based halls, bingo games in online casinos use random number generators, which are also used for craps, poker and other web-based casino games. So what’s the big difference? Well, when playing at a reputable site, online bingo pretty much guarantees that the numbers will be randomly drawn. This gives you the assurance of fair play and an equal opportunity to win.
Another notable difference is the “auto-daub” feature available in online games, which allows players to have their numbers marked automatically without manually having to do so themselves. It’s an on-demand world and while this feature seems to cater to the lazy player, it can actually speed of the game and ensure that you don’t sleep on bingo.
Bingo Variants
There are mainly two types of bingo you can choose from: 75-ball and 90-ball games. 75-ball games are common in North America while the 90-ball variant is popular in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world.
Rules aside, the primary goal of a 75-ball game is always to mark off the numbers according to the predetermined patterns. In 90-ball games, each bingo card has nine vertical lines and three horizontal lines. Each line contains five numbers, making a total of 15 for each card. The average 90-ball bingo game is played in three stages: one line, two lines and Full House, which is simply a different name for cover-all or blackout.
In a one line game, you are required to mark off numbers in a full horizontal line across the card. A two card game is the same, with the exception that you must have two full horizontal lines. In a full house game, you must mark all 15 numbers on the card, which is the same objective of a cover all 75-ball game. Because the prizes increase with each phase, full house tends to offer the biggest reward.
Conclusion
People from all over the world are hopping online to play bingo right from their computer. While it can be just as exciting as playing in your local hall, the sheer convenience alone makes the internet version worthwhile for the true fan. Online bingo still has a long way to go before it reaches the popularity of poker, but right now, this game seems to be drawing tremendous crowds who return regularly to play.
