Online Bingo Guide
Bingo has been enjoyed by people for centuries, with its roots dating back to the mid-1500s. As part of the Italian National Lottery, or Lo Giuoco del Lotto d’Italia, participants would receive pieces of paper with numbered squares written on them. They would win if the numbers on their paper matched up with the numbers drawn from the caller’s cloth sack. Although it wouldn’t officially be called bingo until the early 1900s, this is where the game originated.
It’s safe to say that bingo has drastically evolved over the years. Pieces of paper have been traded in for computer screens, and cloth sacks have been traded in for random number generators. When bingo made its grand entrance into the online gambling world in 1996, we weren’t surprised by how quickly this game grew in popularity. Today, thousands of people enjoy playing bingo over the internet on a daily basis.
Are you interesting in learning more about online bingo? Please consider reading our thorough online bingo guide. We start by providing everything you need to know to get started, and then move on to compare online bingo to land-based bingo. We finish up with our helpful glossary and FAQ section! So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!
Getting Started
Just because online bingo is one of the simplest forms of gambling out there, that doesn’t mean there aren’t things you need to know before you’re ready to play. We have outlined 5 topics that are worth reading through.
1. Picking a Site
Before you can start playing bingo online, you have to decide which bingo site you are going to play at. This is one of the most important decisions you are going to have to make, as it will have the biggest impact on your overall gaming experience.
There’s a lot to consider when it comes to finding the right site. For starters, you’ll want to make sure the site you pick is both safe and trustworthy. Then, you are going to want to look into the site’s game variety, promotions, prize pools, social features, and withdrawal and deposit methods. Last but not least, it doesn’t hurt to check into the site’s customer service options. Once you have gathered all of this information, it will be easier to know whether or not a site is worth your time.
Learn more about choosing the best Bingo sites here.
2. Deciding Which Type of Bingo to Play
Once you have picked a quality bingo site to open an account with, you will have to decide which type of bingo you want to play. You have more options today than ever before. Your standard options include games like 30-ball bingo, 75-ball bingo, 80-ball bingo, or 90-ball bingo. You also have more obscure games to choose from like Death Bingo, Horse Racing Bingo, and Joker Jackpot Bingo.
See a type of bingo mentioned above that you want to learn more about? Read all about the different online bingo games here.
3. Taking Advantage of Bonuses
One of the biggest draws to playing bingo online is the wide range of bonuses you can take advantage of. These bonuses help you expand your bankroll and get the most use out of your funds. While just about every site will offer a welcome bonus, some sites will take it one step further and offer cash back bonuses, reload bonuses, birthday bonuses, and more.
Sometimes bonuses can appear to be more attractive than they really are. That’s why it’s always important to be read the terms and conditions that are associated with them.
You can learn more about thedifferent types of bonuses and how they work here.
4. Understanding Jackpots
Let’s face it. The most exciting thing about playing bingo, or any form of gambling for that matter, is the chance to win a large jackpot. What many people don’t realize, though, is that not all jackpots are the same. In fact, there are several different types of jackpots, and each type comes with its own unique set of rules.
No matter what type of jackpot you set your sights on, winning that jackpot can be life-changing. We have read several accounts of people winning hundreds of thousands of dollars and sometimes even millions of dollars in a matter of minutes through online bingo. Don’t you wish that could be you?
For more information on jackpots and for advice on how increase your chances of winning a jackpot, feel free to read through our bingo jackpots page.
5. Learning a Little Bingo Strategy
We know what you must be thinking. How can there actually be strategy to learn for a game that relies mostly on chance? Well, there is. The strategy for playing bingo is relatively straightforward, but it will still be beneficial to learn if you want to improve your skills and have the best chance to come out a winner.
Some things you’ll find in our bingo strategy page include advice on game selection, money management, and the use of the auto-dab feature.
Online Bingo vs. Live Bingo
There are quite a few differences between playing bingo online and playing in a live venue. We have outlined the pros and cons of each below.
Online Bingo
Pros
- PLAY 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK, 365 DAYS OF THE YEAR
- PLAY FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME OR ANYWHERE ON THE GO
- VARIOUS BONUSES
- WIDE RANGE OF ENTRY FEES
- GREAT VARIETY OF GAMES TO CHOOSE FROM
- CHAT ROOMS ARE AVAILABLE
- JACKPOTS VARY IN SIZE
Cons
- LIMITED SOCIAL INTERACTION
- INCREASED CHANCE OF ADDICTION
Live Bingo
Pros
- INTERACT WITH FRIENDS FACE-TO-FACE
- TANGIBLE PRIZES ARE COMMON
- JACKPOTS ARE AVERAGE IN SIZE
Cons
- PLAY ONLY DURING SCHEDULED TIMES
- TRAVELING IS REQUIRED
- SET-IN-STONE ENTRY FEES
- LIMITED GAME VARIETY
Bingo Glossary
We have developed a list of commonly-used bingo terms that you may come across while playing bingo online. It would be helpful to glance over this list before you start playing.
- Auto-dab: the option to have numbers automatically crossed off for you as they are drawn.
- Coverall: when the bingo card has to be completely filled to win. This is sometimes referred to as full house or blackout.
- Face: a standard-sized bingo card that contains 24 numbers plus a free space in the middle.
- Free space: this space is typically located in the center of the bingo card. It can be used to fulfill any winning pattern.
- Hardway bingo: a completed winning pattern that does not contain a free space.
- Jackpot: the prize awarded for attaining a set bingo pattern.
- Minimum buy-in: the smallest amount of money that can be paid to participate in a game and qualify for its prizes.
- Money ball: when a winner hits a bingo on the money ball, their prize will double in value. The money ball is determined before the game starts.
- Multiple winners: when two or more players get bingo at the same exact time, they will be forced to split the prize pool equally.
- Parti: a type of bingo where the size of the jackpot depends on how many players are present.
- Progressive jackpot: a jackpot that continues to grow in value until it is won. Once someone wins it, it will return back to its original value.
- Split Pot: when the winner of the bingo game splits the sales of the game with the casino.
FAQ
Below, we have listed a variety of frequently asked questions. Hopefully anything we failed to cover in our online bingo guide will be found here.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Play Bingo Online?
Age restrictions vary depending on the country you are playing from and their
specific gambling laws. As a
general rule, gambling sites won’t allow anyone under the age of 18 to open an
account with them. Some sites enforce even stricter rules, though, and require
their members to be 21.
Can You Play Bingo on Your Mobile Device?
The majority of online bingo sites and online casinos offer mobile
capabilities. Some sites will have their own dedicated app where you can play
their games, while others just offer access to their site through your phone’s
web browser. Keep in mind that the selection of games available via mobile is
usually smaller than what is found on a desktop.
When Is the Best Time to Play Bingo?
For the best chances of winning, we recommend playing bingo in the middle of
the day or in the wee hours of the morning, Monday through Friday. Since not as
many people are playing during these times, there won’t be as much competition.
Are Online Bingo Games Fair?
Absolutely! Bingo sites use random number generators to produce random
outcomes for both the numbers that are selected by the caller and the numbers
that appear on your bingo card.
Should I Utilize a Bingo Site’s Chat Room?
This is totally up to you! You can socialize with other bingo players by
using a site’s chat room, and it can be a nice way to get to know people who
share similar interests as you. No sites force you to use their chat room,
though, so staying to yourself is also an option.