Bingo Information & Glossary

75 Ball Bingo

75 Ball bingo is the traditional game played in the USA and Canada. Each card has numbers on a 5x5 grid with numbers going from 1 to 75. Normally games are played by a specifying a pattern, such as corners, lines, letters, numbers, shapes, or coverall. This is announced at the beginning of each game and the winner will be the first one to cover the required pattern.

80 Ball Bingo

80 Ball bingo is an alternative to the more popular 75 ball and 90 ball bingo games. Here each card is divided into 4 strips with 4 numbers each (a 4x4 grid), and the strips are coloured red, blue, yellow or sliver. You play for patterns in the same way as in the 75 ball game, where the first one to complete the pattern announced at the beginning of the game wins. More and more online bingo sites are now featuring the 80 ball game.

90 Ball Bingo

90 Ball bingo is traditionally played in Britain and Europe in bingo halls. Normally tickets are in strips and numbers range from 1 to 90 in 3 lines of 5 numbers each. You play for covering one line, 2 lines, and full house in each game of bingo. Effectively you have 3 chances to win in each game of bingo.

Free Bingo Rooms

Some bingo sites offer free bingo rooms instead of a no deposit bingo bonus. These free bingo rooms may be available all the time or just have games once or twice every hour. Also, some sites that offer free bingo rooms only offer them to funded players.

Side Games

Virtually all online bingo sites offer a good variety of side games which can be played through the games lobby. Such games usually include a variety of slots games, table games, and video poker as these tend to be very popular. Other games available may include scratch cards, pull tabs, instant win games, keno, and numbers games. Side games usually can only be played with the player's own funds and not bonus money.

Bingo Networks

Bingo networks usually have several different bingo sites which share the same software and are linked in terms of players and prizes. Although individual bingo sites will have their own games, prizes, and promotions, there will be some games which will be played across the whole network. This in turn increases the number of players and prize pool.

Bingo Rooms

Bingo games are played in bingo rooms where different rooms may have different themes, prizes, or even play different games such 75 ball or 90 ball bingo. Most bingo sites will have several bingo rooms to choose from, and some may also have free rooms and penny bingo rooms.

Bingo Software

Bingo sites use games software to provide bingo games, and usually there is no download required. A bingo software provider is what characterises a bingo site and it's games. Usually sites that share the same bingo software will provide similar games, prizes and promotions.

Deposit Bingo Bonus

Most (if not all) bingo sites offer a welcome bonus when you make your first deposit to play bingo. This can be as a cash match bonus (100% bonus) which doubles the amount of money you have to play with or go up even further as a proportion of your deposit. Some sites even offer a welcome bingo bonus on the first two or three deposits as an incentive to create player loyalty.

No Deposit Free Bingo Bonus

Some sites offer players a no deposit bingo bonus purely as an incentive for players to sign up and try playing bingo at their site. This can be in the form of free bingo cards or as bonus money. Usually this bonus only allows players to play bingo games and not side games, and there are always wagering requirements or limitations in order to withdraw any winnings made with this bonus money. Please consult the T&C's of the site you wish to play at.

Reload Bingo Bonus

Many bingo sites offer bonuses for each deposit that you make. These are called reload bonuses and they typically range from 25% to 50% depending on the site. There is usually a maximum amount that will be given as a reload bonus.

Gaming License

All bingo sites require a gaming license in order legally be able to provide pay for play games online. Gaming licenses are obtained in certain jurisdictions which are heavily regulated so bingo sites must comply with the rules and legal conditions of that jurisdiction. Gaming licenses require sites to be audited for fair play and legal compliance.

Loyalty Programme

Loyalty programmes are designed to give something back to players usually in the form of bonus points. Players can then earn and redeem loyalty points for either bonus money to play bingo, or prizes or competition entries.