How to Play Bingo?

Bingo is a popular game for social gatherings and also at non GamStop casinos. The game rules are explained quickly and easily. The game is played with a game leader and any number of players. Each player receives a bingo card (also called a ticket or bingo ticket) with randomly selected numbers from a predetermined pool (usually 75 or 90 numbers).

Example: Three bingo cards in the 75 system. Bingo cards for other variants look different, but the basic rules of bingo are largely the same.

The game begins with the game master drawing a new number, showing it to the players and announcing the number drawn out loud. Each player checks their bingo card for the number drawn:

• When the player finds the number on his bingo card, he marks the box for the corresponding number. To do this, he circles the number, puts a cross through the box, covers the box with a chip or marks it in any other way.

• The player then checks whether he has now completed a winning combination using the newly marked box. A winning combination is usually either a fully marked straight line or a fully marked bingo card. The valid winning combinations are determined at the start of the game.

• Once a player has completed a winning combination, they shout “Bingo!”. The game master checks whether the winning combination is correct. If this is the case, the player has won and the round is over.

• [Optional] The round continues after the first “Bingo” with a new, more difficult winning combination as the goal. For example, play first to the first complete row and then to the first completely marked bingo card.

If no player calls bingo, the game leader waits for a certain time (around 15 to 30 seconds after announcing the previous number) and then draws the next number. This continues until there is a winner. Optionally, it is also possible to play until a certain number of winners have been reached.

The possible winning combinations must be determined at the start of the game. Typically, a horizontal, vertical or diagonal row is considered a winning combination. But the variant that all numbers on the bingo card have to be marked is also not uncommon. It is known by various names such as “Blackout” or “Cover-All”. It is also possible to set your own patterns, such as the goal of marking all four corners. You can find more information on the topic in the articles on the 75 system and 90 system.

Examples of winning combinations on a 5×5 bingo field (row horizontal / vertical / diagonal). But other victory conditions can also be set.

Yes. At bingo events, players often purchase multiple bingo cards to increase their chances of winning. You can of course also play at home with several bingo cards per participant. This makes the game a little more challenging because you have to keep track of several cards. But it also increases the thrill as you want to check as many lines as quickly as possible. We really like bingo with multiple bingo cards, definitely give it a try!

Ideally, the game master concentrates entirely on his role and is only responsible for drawing and announcing the numbers. This means there is no conflict between announcing a number and finding the number on your own bingo ticket. However, for small groups it is often impractical to appoint a dedicated game leader. The game leader often plays along himself or the role of game leader is alternately taken on by different players.

It can happen that several players complete a winning combination with the same number. Typically in this situation, the player who calls bingo first is declared the winner. If the rare case occurs in which several players actually call bingo at the same time, you can decide by drawing lots or count both as winners.

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