Beginner's Guide To Bingo
Start With These Amazing Bonuses

In This Bingo Guide, You'll Learn:

  1. What is Online Bingo
  2. How To Play Bingo Online
  3. Most Popular Online Bingo Games
  4. Bingo Lingo
  5. Online Bingo Bonuses
  6. History of Bingo
  7. Best Bingo Sites UK
 

Bingo is one of the most popular games in the UK. It is a social game, and that’s one of the key reasons for its popularity. With a long tradition and history, bingo is a very entertaining game that brings people together to have fun and potentially win some prizes.

 

Today, people are enjoying online bingo as it’s simpler and easier to play, and they can play from anywhere they want. As the popularity of online bingo has grown, more and more people have been asking us how to play it and what types of online bingo games are there.

This simple Beginner’s Guide to Bingo has been created to give you an insight into the rules and specifics of the bingo game. Once you’re done reading our guide, feel free to check our featured bingo providers, claim your bonus and start playing online bingo.

 

 

history of bingo

 

What Is Online Bingo?

We believe that there is no person who hasn’t played bingo at some point in their life. The joy of yelling “Bingo!” when having a winning pattern is priceless. As mentioned above, bingo was played in land-based bingo halls when it was invented. However, as time passed by, everything went online, and so did bingo.

In the past few years, bingo saw a new birth and now we have online bingo, played at bingo sites. The old-fashioned land-based bingo is still alive, but online bingo is taking over the popularity. Today, all types of bingo players prefer playing bingo games online. That’s because online bingo allows you to play anytime you want, from anywhere.

Online Bingo is a super cool and fun game to play. That being said, you need to know the online bingo rules to get the most out of it. Since online bingo allows room for more creativity, bingo providers have come up with different variations of bingo games that we’ll share below. However, there are certain online bingo rules that apply to all of them.

When you understand the basic principles of online bingo, you’ll be ready to play any bingo game. In fact, the rules of playing online bingo are the same as the ones for playing bingo in land-based halls. You need to find a bingo site where you’ll register and purchase virtual bingo tickets. The site will tell you the exact time when the game will start.

The game starts when the first ball is drawn. Then, the winning number will appear on your screen, and if you have it on your ticket, you need to mark the square off. You can also choose to let the game automatically mark off your winning numbers. The numbers will continue to be called until one or more players have completed the winning bingo patterns.

 

How to Play Bingo Online?

Bingo sites work just like all other online gaming sites. You need to register first in order to be able to play real money bingo games. Another one of the advantages of online bingo is the fact that online operators aren’t limited in terms of space and they can open additional bingo rooms without any problems.

 

how to play bingo online

 

Many online bingo sites offer not only bingo games, but also plenty of online slots. So, if you’re waiting for a game to begin, or you are simply a fan of slots games, you can also give your favourite slot game a few spins.

Another reason why players choose to play bingo online is the fact that online bingo sites offer a range of promotions and bonuses, starting from new player bonuses which are awarded to players who have just registered and made their first deposit on a bingo site, as well as reload and redeposit bonuses.

Bonuses are also offered to players who have referred their friends to a specific online bingo site and there are also loyalty bonuses that reward loyal customers and their activities.

 

Where to play online bingo?

To play online bingo, you will need to join one of the many UK bingo websites. As there are many bingo halls, there are also many online bingo sites where you can play different bingo variants, including 90-Ball Bingo, 75-Ball Bingo and many more. 

First, you will have to register, and fortunately, we have some of the best online bingo sites featured on our website. So just select one, fill in the provided online form and create your account. 

Once you’re registered, you can claim your welcome bonus. After that you’re free to go, just pick a bingo room, or play in the one for which you got free tickets if you got some. You will find that many sites offer free bingo rooms, i.e. rooms where you can compete for real prizes without having to pay a single penny for a ticket. 

Unlike land-based bingo where you need to pay a bit more attention, online you can select the system to mark your drawn numbers automatically, instead of having to mark them manually each time. 

 

What Are The Most Popular Online Bingo Games?

As previously mentioned, there are many types of online bingo games that you can find at the best bingo sites UK. In our Beginner’s Guide to Bingo, we share the most popular bingo games that you can play online:

90-Ball Bingo

 

90-ball bingo

 

The 90-ball bingo is also known as British bingo as it’s the most popular type of bingo game in the UK. The ticket features 3 rows and 9 columns, with a total of 27 spots. The 15 of these spots are filled with numbers, while the rest are blank. The numbers 1 to 90 are used in this game and are called one at a time until the winning cards are identified.

To play 90-ball bingo, you need to purchase at least one bingo ticket. However, to increase the chances of winning, players usually purchase six bingo tickets. This allows them to cover every single number from 1 to 90 to appear on the squares. Still, this doesn’t guarantee you a win, as each ticket contains a random combination of numbers.

Each 90-ball bingo game has 3 levels of winning - one line, two lines, and three lines. A three-line win on the same ticket is called Full House. It’s possible for more than one player to share the winning numbers, so the prize will be divided.

 

80-Ball Bingo

 

80-ball bingo

 

The 80-ball bingo is not as popular as the 90-ball bingo, but it still can be found at many bingo sites and is available to play on a regular basis. 80-ball bingo cards have a 4x4 grid with 16 numbers in total. As its title suggests, all numbers from 1 to 80 can appear on the cards. 

What makes the 80-ball bingo interesting is that each row has a different colour with a special set of numbers. Therefore, the red column contains numbers 1-20, the yellow column is for 21-40, the blue column is for 41-59, while the white column includes 60-80.

You can win in 80-ball bingo by forming a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal winning pattern. How much you’ll win depends on the number of players, ticket prices, and similar factors.

 

75-Ball Bingo

75-ball bingo

 

The 75-ball bingo is also known as the US Bingo as it’s more popular in the United States. However, it is featured in the best online bingo sites UK too. In this bingo game, you get 25 squares across 5 rows and 5 columns. A total of 24 numbers appear on each ticket, with the exception of the middle spot which is free and is marked with a star.

The most interesting thing in this game is that tickets contain the word BINGO at the top of the card and each column is placed under a letter. It’s being said that 75-ball bingo is a more dynamic game than 90-ball bingo as there are hundreds of ways to win.

In theory, there are more than 300 winning patterns that can be formed. But, not all of them are included in every 75-ball bingo game. Most of the games require you to form horizontal, vertical, or diagonal winning patterns. Some of the most popular patterns include the double line, blackout, and X.

 

40-Ball Bingo

 

40-ball bingo

 

The 40-ball bingo is a faster game compared to the above-mentioned bingo types. That’s because, as its title suggests, it’s played with 40 balls only. That makes the 40-ball bingo ideal for players who prefer fast-paced bingo.

In 40-ball bingo, each ticket contains two lines with four spaces each, so there are 8 spaces in total. All spaces have numbers in them, arranged in 4 vertical columns. The first column includes numbers 1-10, the second column is for 11-20, the third column includes 21-30, and the fourth column contains numbers 31-40.

You can win in playing 40-ball bingo by completing 1 Line, 4 squares left/right, or Full House (2 Lines). Probably the most popular version of 40-ball bingo is Rainbow Riches which is based on the mega-popular Rainbow Riches slot.

 

36-Ball Bingo

 

36-ball bingo

 

The 36-ball bingo is yet another game for those who enjoy fast-paced bingo. If you’ve won, you can play the next game in a minute or less! The 36-ball bingo game first appeared in the shape of Cash Cubes. It requires players to match 12 numbers. 

Playing 36-ball bingo is the same as playing any other bingo game. Numbers are called and players that match the called numbers will win. Some of the most popular 36-ball bingo games include Fluffy Favourites and Bouncy Balls. Each game is unique and can offer different features, as well as progressive jackpots.

 

What Are Bingo Calls & Bingo Lingo?

If you’ve ever played bingo in a UK bingo hall, you must have heard the caller saying some unusual phrases for the winning numbers. You’ve probably heard references to Dancing Queen or Two Fat Ladies and wondered where they come from. Well, these phrases are called Bingo Calls or Bingo Lingo.

Bingo Calls are slang phrases that relate to particular numbers used in bingo games. Bingo Lingo is also present in online bingo games, where players hang out in the bingo chat rooms and share these phrases. There is a bingo call for each number from 1 to 90, and they are used to make the atmosphere more interesting and enjoyable.

 

popular bingo lingo

 

Bingo Calls were invented in the 20th century in East London, where people used rhymes as hidden messages for communication. These rhymes have quickly moved to the bingo halls and players started coming up with funny phrases for each number.

 

Here are some of the most popular Bingo Calls & Bingo Lingo:

  • 3 - Cup of Tea - British people are particularly fond of tea and the number 3 rhymes with ‘cup of tea’.
  • 7 - Lucky Seven - seven is considered a lucky number, so that’s why the bingo number 7 is called lucky seven;
  • 9 - Doctor's Orders - this phrase refers to the number nine pill, a potent laxative that doctors gave to British soldiers during World War II;
  • 11 - Legs Eleven - this phrase is called “Legs Eleven” because the number 11 looks like a pair of long legs;
  • 17 - Dancing Queen - this phrase is based on the hit by Abba called “Dancing Queen”, where Abba sings “You are the Dancing Queen, young and sweet, only 17.”;
  • 88 - Two Fat Ladies - this phrase is inspired by the number eight that has a rounded shape, and in this case, the number 88 refers to ‘two fat ladies’.
 

What Are Online Bingo Bonuses?

One of the main reasons why online bingo is more popular than land-based bingo is because of the bingo bonuses and promotions it offers. Bingo bonuses are offerings that bingo sites run to attract more players and keep the existing ones. 

There are different types of bingo bonuses that players can claim on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Moreover, there are bingo bonuses that run for special occasions like Christmas and Easter. And on top of that, the best bingo sites run unique bingo bonuses for the most loyal players.

 

bingo bonuses

 

When you play at online bingo sites, you will notice that there are different types of bingo bonuses available to claim. You will also find that there are bonus offers for both new and regular players. 

When it comes to the new players, the most popular bingo bonus is the welcome bonus. It usually requires you to create an account, make a small deposit, and receive more for less. The welcome bonus can be in the form of free bingo tickets, free spins, bonus cash, and more.

Other popular forms of bingo bonuses include deposit bonuses, no deposit bonuses, cashback bonuses, match bonuses, as well as VIP and Loyalty Rewards. Each bingo site is coming up with innovative bonuses and promotions to attract more players.

However, every bingo bonus comes with rules you need to follow. That’s why it’s important to always read the terms and conditions that come with a bonus before you claim it.

 

History of Bingo

Bingo is quite an old phenomenon. Even if bingo is always related to the UK, its roots date back to Italy. Namely, the history of bingo starts in 1530 in Italy, where this game appeared in the form of a national lottery. The lottery was called “Lo Giuoco Lotto Italia” and it was very similar to the 90-ball bingo game we play today.

By the late 1770s, bingo has become so popular that it crossed borders and spread to France. Then, the bingo cards were modified to include the rows we have today. In the 1800s, bingo became popular in Germany where it was used as a child’s game.

It was the 1990s when bingo came to the USA where it was called “Beano”. The story of how Beano became Bingo is very interesting. Namely, in 1929, toymaker Edwin S. Lowe gathered his friends to play beano. When one of his friends got its final number called, he called out “Bingo!”. Everyone loved the name and as you can see, it stuck!

So, you might be wondering, how bingo became so popular in the UK? According to the stories, bingo came to the UK in the 18th century and was widely played around British towns and cities. People started opening bingo halls everywhere across the UK. There, drinks were served and people were able to meet, play, and have fun.

Best Bingo Sites UK

And now we’ve come to the end of our in-depth Beginner’s Guide to Bingo. Have you learned everything you need to know about this incredible game? If your answer is yes, then you’re ready to start playing online bingo!

Even if we mainly are a slots site, we made sure to include the best bingo sites UK where you’ll find the above-mentioned bingo games. All of the sites that we recommend are 100% safe, secure, and licenced by the UK Gambling Commission. Therefore, you can be sure that you’re playing at reliable sites.

Feel free to go through our recommended bingo sites UK, make your pick, and claim your welcome bonus offer. Then, your real journey begins! Make sure to use your favourite bingo calls and hang out with the other players. 

Remember, bingo is a social game that has a lot of benefits. So enjoy and have fun!

Start With These Amazing Bonuses