Communicated Content – Believe it or not, bingo has been around for centuries. Historians claim that it originally appeared at some time in the 1500s in Italy. However, the modern U.S. version of Bingo gained popularity only a little less than 100 years ago. Today, there are several types of bingo games that are played all over the world.
Since 1996 bingo enthusiasts have enjoyed playing the game online in one form or another. In that time, global revenue for online bingo has gone from multi-millions to over 2 billion USD. Depending on how it’s played, winners may earn hundreds, thousands, or even millions of dollars in prize money.
Most people play online bingo in single-session game formats. However, for those who are passionate about bingo, competing in tournaments offers the chance for a big payout. Now, let’s go over the typical types of bingo games that are available to play right now.
The Most Common – 75 Ball Bingo
The 75-ball bingo game is the traditional format played in the U.S. as well as Canada. Every bingo card has a total of 25 spaces in a 5×5 row and column layout. In the middle of the card is a free space with surrounding spaces containing a set range of numbers.
Above the grid, it’s not uncommon to see the word BINGO spelled out. Each letter represents one of the 5 columns in sequential order. For instance, B represents the 1st column, I the 2nd, N the 3rd, and so forth. The allowed number range follows a similar pattern for those columns.
Since 75 divided by 5 equals 15 the defined range of numbers looks something like this. The 1st column spaces may contain numbers 1 through 15. Next, the 2nd column spaces contain numbers 16 through 30. This sequence continues for the remaining 3 columns.
In order to win, players must form a line vertically, horizontally or diagonally across their card. Of course, what numbers are drawn or called determines which spaces get filled. Some bingo websites allow for unique patterns to award a winner. Such patterns may include shapes of a turtle, airplane, or even letters.
The UK Variant – 90 Ball Bingo
On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean in the United Kingdom, 90 ball bingo dominates the region. This exciting take on the American style features 3 rows and 9 columns for the card. As you may have guessed, each column represents numbers in sets of 10 in order.
90 ball bingo is one of the types of bingo games where winning may progress at various levels. As an example, a single line winner must mark off all 9 columns in 1 row. The next round needs two lines (rows) to declare a winner. Finally, a full house pattern is when all 3 lines (all spaces) are completed.
Jackpots are available in a few different ways for this bingo game. Players may win a fixed jackpot that has a set prize amount regardless of the number of competitors. Compare that to progressive and escalator jackpots which increase over time until a player fulfills all of the requirements.
The Fast Game – 30 Ball Bingo
If playing speed is important to you then you’ll love 30 ball bingo. Only 9 spaces make up the bingo card in a 3×3 grid. Similar to 90-ball bingo, the number ranges are in sets of 10. The fast pace means you can play more games at your leisure. The perfect choice for people with busy schedules!
The only way to win in 30-ball bingo is by covering your entire card. It’s very possible this might be done on a minimum of 9 balls drawn. Prizes vary from site to site depending on the number of tickets and players per game. Make sure to read the rules carefully to understand exactly what’s at stake.
How to Choose a Bingo Website
There is no shortage of online bingo websites available to players across the world. Many such sites have up to a dozen or more bingo games with unique twists and prizes. Given such a large choice, you may need help finding the best ones that suit your style of play.
Your best bet is to compare sites that offer bingo bonuses with no deposit required. These bonuses are usually in the form of a certain dollar amount or number of free cards. In some cases, casino websites also offering slot games may throw in some free spins too!
Ultimately, you want to play for the chance to win real money but also have fun in the process. That way, even when you lose, the experience and thrill of the bingo game is worth the effort. There’s also the opportunity to make some new friends or acquaintances in the game chat rooms.
