Introduction
Have you ever wondered if there were more ways to play bingo? Perhaps, your weekly bingo sessions are becoming repetitive and you are looking for new ways to spice up the game. Although bingo might be a rather simple game, there are several variations. For instance, requiring different winning patterns of a bingo card, or even varying the number of balls being played. Read on for some easy yet fun techniques to liven up your bingo sessions. And after you’re done with that, check out this list of bingo websites to put your skills to the test!
Offline or Online Bingo?
Each bingo player has their own preference between online or offline bingo. Some find offline bingo more enjoyable due to its face-to-face nature, and the opportunity to socialize with like-minded individuals after bingo sessions. Furthermore, some might be wary of online scams. Thus, they would opt for offline bingo.
Online bingo has gained popularity over the years after it came through smartphone applications. Many players are won over by the convenience of online bingo as they are able to play bingo anywhere and at any time of the day. Nevertheless, more precautions should be taken if one decides to participate in online bingo. Look for safe and authorized sites that usually have a large community of players and a regular payout period. In addition, find out about the reward systems to figure out which websites suit you the best.
Common Types of Bingo Variations
The versatility of designing online bingo applications has allowed game developers to experiment with varying modes of gameplay. Hence, resulting in the emergence of bingo variations. While a traditional bingo game involves the use of 75 balls, other variations use different numbers. Different modes of bingo may benefit the players by increasing their chances of winning. When a smaller number of balls is used, the probability of winning tends to be higher. Although not every mode will be liked by all players, one could test out the different versions to find the best fit. These are the more popular kinds of alternative bingo modes.
30 Ball Bingo
30 ball bingo is played using a three-by-three bingo card. As such, it is an efficient variation and is advantageous to those who have limited time to engage in bingo games. The winning chances are higher too, due to the fact that players are able to complete an increased number of rounds within a relatively shorter amount of time.
75 Ball Bingo
75 ball bingo is played on a five by five card, with 24 numbers and an empty square right in the middle. This variation is the most common in the U.S. and Canada, and most probably the version that comes to mind when we think of bingo.
Each column is differentiated by the alphabets B, I, N, G, and O. That is, the extreme left column is labeled ‘B’, and so on. Each column has a set range of numbers. Columns B, I, N, G, and O consist of numbers 1 to 15, 16 to 30, 31 to 45, 46 to 60, and 61 to 75 respectively.
80 Ball Bingo
Each 80 ball bingo card has a four-by-four arrangement containing 16 numbers. For aesthetic purposes, every column is colored. Starting from the left to right, the columns correspond to the colors red, yellow, blue, and white. It is good to know that each column has its specific number range. Moving from the extreme left to right, the first, second, third, and fourth column consists of numbers 1 to 20, 21 to 40, 41 to 60, and 61 to 80 respectively.
Any completed row, column, or diagonal will result in a win. There are instances where winners complete more than one line, which allows them to reap greater rewards. Additionally, there are two other ways to win. Firstly, scratching off the four corners would result in a win. The second method of winning is when a player scratches off the four middle squares.
90 Ball Bingo
This style of bingo is more commonly played in the U.K. and might be less popular in the States. 90 ball bingo consists of 15 numbers, arranged in a three-by-five manner on a bingo card. The first player who manages to scratch off a row wins. Anyone who scratches off two rows will clinch the runner-up title. In an event where all 15 numbers are scratched off, the player gets a full house.
Winning patterns in Bingo
Outer Edge
As its name suggests after all the outer squares are scratched off, the player bags the prize. Alternatively, this mode is known as frame bingo as the crossed-out boxes will eventually form a border for the bingo card.
Four Corners
This winning pattern is used in 80 ball bingo. Intuitively, it suggests that filling in the four corners of a bingo card will indicate a win.
Multiple Rows
More than one row has to be filled in order to win, depending on the game’s variation.
Full House
This pattern is used in 90 ball bingo, where a player achieves a full house when all the boxes are filled out.
Letter Patterns
A rather interesting method of winning, letter patterns require the winner to have their card scratched off to form alphabets such as E, L, W, X, and Z on the grids.
Wine Glass
A wine glass winning pattern requires the player to fill out the squares in a manner that mimics the outline of a wine glass. To do so, scratch off the boxes to create the alphabet ‘Y’, completed with a horizontal line at the bottom. This mode of winning is more commonly found in online bingo.
Conclusion
Bingo is a classic game that is still being played globally, despite the emergence of new games. With regards to online bingo, check for its authenticity before signing up. If you are bored of regular bingo, you can always try out the different bingo variations to see which ones you prefer. Ultimately, play to your heart's content while ensuring that you gamble responsibly.
