TWO TYPES OF BINGO
There are two types of bingo played around the world. North America plays 75-ball bingo on a 5x5 card with the centre square usually marked 'free'. In the UK, parts of Europe, Australia and parts of South America they play a 90-ball game, marked on a 9x3 card. Both types of bingo are prominent online. In 90-ball bingo, each card has three horizontal lines and nine columns. Each line contains five numbers, meaning each card has 15 numbers. The first column contains numbers from 1-9, the second column contains numbers from 10-19, the third column contains numbers from 20-29, all the way through to the final column which contains numbers from 80-90. A game of 90 ball bingo will normally be played in three stages: one line, two lines and Full House. In a "one line" game players need to mark a complete horizontal line across one card (i.e., 5 numbers marked). The aim of a 'two lines' game is to complete any two marked lines horizontally across one card (i.e., 10 numbers marked). Finally a "Full House" means all the numbers marked off on one card (all 15 numbers), as in a regular coverall game. The prize split differs for each stage of the game. The Full House is always the largest prize in any one game.
American Bingo - 75-Ball Bingo
In America, Bingo players enjoy 75-Ball Bingo. This traditional game uses 75 numbers, with groups of fifteen divided by the letters B, I, N, G and O. B is used for numbers 1-15, I for 16-30, N for 31-45, G for 46-60 and O for 61-75. The Bingo cards are squared 5 numbered spaces across and 5 down - totaling 25 spaces. The center space is marked “FREE”, mechanically being ‘daubed’ by all players. Each remaining space on the card is randomly filled with numbers, according to the B-I-N-G-O layout. Players must fill the necessary spaces to complete a pattern, as defined at the start of the game and they must be very clear about how to play bingo , For example, a X pattern would require daubing two diagonal lines, top-left to bottom-right and top-right to bottom-left, in order to win. Another example would be ‘Coverall’ Bingo, also known as ‘Blackout’, where the players are required to cover, or daub, all numbers on the Bingo card.
European Bingo - 90-Ball Bingo
In Europe, players enjoy a different kind of Bingo. The basic premise of the game is the same, but the Bingo card and wining patterns are completely different. First of all, they are not called Bingo Cards, but rather Bingo Tickets. 90 numbers are utilized instead of 75. The card consists of three rows of numbers in 9 columns. There are 5 numbers in each row, with the remaining spaces left blank. That makes a total of 15 numbers places in 27 spaces. The first column can hold numbers between 1-9 second column 10-19, and so on, until the final column which can hold numbers 80-90.Winning Bingo tickets are awarded in 3 phases - 1-Line, 2-Lines and Full House. For every game, there are at least 3 winners. The player who gets one full lines across daubed wins the first prize. The player to complete two full lines across wins the second prize. The first player to daub all numbers on their ticket wins the Full House.
