Table of Contents
- How We Rate Bingo Sites
- What You Need to Know about Bingo Gameplay
- The Most Popular Online Bingo Games
- How to Play Bingo Online
- Types of Bingo Rooms – Network or Exclusive Rooms
- How Community and Chat Rooms Work at Online Bingo Sites
- History of Bingo
- Why Play at Online Bingo Sites
How We Rate Bingo Sites
There are many online bingo sites offering players a great experience or at least claiming to do so. These include the established operators and new online bingo sites that enter the market every year. As we always do here at casinos.win, we don’t simply take their word for it. Instead, we conduct an in-depth assessment of each sites and what they’re made of.
Much like how we rate online casinos, we use a list of tried and trusted criteria when assessing the best online bingo sites. This enables us to arrive at unbiased ratings for each site we review. Here are the things we check:
Licensing and Security
The most crucial factor for any bingo site we review is legitimacy. As such, we check that the UKGC or other reputable authorities licence them. Sites with multiple licences get an extra point in favour.
We also check the security protocol on the site. Usually, we expect to see an SSL encryption logo which ensures that players’ details are safe from unauthorised third parties, hackers, etc.
Variety of Bingo Games
Several bingo variants are available on the market, and the best sites should have as many as possible to diversify the experience for gamers. Some operators will have exclusive bingo games, but most of the library will usually be from third-party providers. So we make sure to check the quality of the bingo software providers on the site as well.
Chat Rooms and Engagement
Bingo is originally a social game, and the best online bingo sites maintain this social aspect through chat and community rooms. We rate the quality of the chat host and the side games available.
A good chat host should keep the conversation flowing with lively banter. The best sites will ensure a friendly community that makes new players feel at home and keeps everyone entertained.
Bonuses and Promotions
Almost every bingo site aims to attract players with online bonuses. So we check for those with the best value deals that not only offer generous amounts but also have reasonable wagering requirements, like the best low wagering bonuses. Besides the new player offers, we also check for the promotions reserved for existing customers, reload bonuses, reward programs, etc.
Fast and Reliable Payment Methods
There should be diverse payment options available for players, including card providers, e-wallets, online transfer methods, etc. More importantly, we rate the quality of the payment providers. The most popular and internationally renowned banking methods will guarantee better security and are more trustworthy. At the end of the day, players want to get their winnings as quickly as possible, so we also recommend sites based on payout speed.
Other Casino Games
UK bingo sites often provide other casino game sections for players to enjoy away from the bingo rooms. This could include slots, table games or live dealer games. We take the time to consider the variety and quality of the other casino games on offer.
Mobile Compatibility
It’s not news that online gamers are fond of playing on their mobile phones. Mobile devices offer greater convenience and allow players to enjoy their favourite games on the go. For this reason, we make sure to take into account the mobile compatibility of every site we review, if mobile apps are provided or not, and the quality of the mobile bingo site. We pay close attention to the gaming interface and how it plays on Android and iOS devices.
Reputation and Real Player Reviews
When assessing the security standard on the site, by extension, we check for the company that owns or operates the site. Do they have any record of withholding players’ winnings? Do they operate other casinos, and what’s the player experience at those sites? We also check for real player reviews at casino forums for a general consensus about the site. The best sites should have excellent player reviews, for the most part.
What You Need to Know about Bingo Gameplay
Bingo is a popular game that migrated from the land-based to the online scene because of its simple and fun gameplay. Playing bingo online is very similar to land-based bingo. It involves a bingo card/ticket with a series of numbers arranged randomly. The goal is to tick off numbers on the card as the host calls them out. If you mark numbers in a winning pattern, you receive the corresponding payout.
In a traditional bingo setting, a bingo caller calls out the numbers on the randomly selected bingo balls and the first player to complete a pattern hits “Bingo.” Online bingo, on the other hand, uses virtual software. The selected numbers are determined by an RNG (random number generator) to ensure fair play. You can also choose to Auto-Daub numbers, then sit back, relax, and wait to see if you land a winning pattern.
Winning Patterns in Online Bingo
Online gaming enables more diversity, and the same can be said for this game. When playing bingo online, there are plenty more winning patterns than you’ll find in a traditional setting. Depending on the game, you’ll receive a payout for one or more of these bingo patterns:
- Single Line – The single line is about the most straightforward winning pattern. Here you simply tick off all the numbers in a straight line from one end of the grid to the other. It can be a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line. Note that this could also include the free square in 75-ball bingo.
- Double Line – This is any two straight lines anywhere on the bingo card. It doesn’t matter if the lines intersect, e.g. a vertical and a horizontal.
- Full House – This is when all numbers on the card have been ticked off. It usually signifies the end of the game and offers big prize rewards, including jackpots. It’s a standard winning pattern in all bingo games, regardless of the variant.
- Four Corners – This pattern requires you to mark off the four spaces on the edge of the bingo ticket. Since only four numbers are necessary, it’s a pretty simple one. However, you often have to complete it within a limited number of balls.
- Frame – Here, you need to mark off all numbers in the shape of a square frame. This can be an outer frame covering all the outermost numbers on the grid. It can also be an inner frame where you mark off numbers in a square just inside the outer frame. In 75-ball bingo, this includes all other spaces except the middle spot.
- Letters and Numbers – These are winning patterns that resemble numbers and letters. The characters that offer payouts depend on the rules of the particular game. However, the most common patterns are ‘P,’ ‘X,’ and ‘7.’ The X pattern is sometimes classified independently as a cross pattern.
- Shapes – Various shapes may be included as winning patterns in online bingo. Typical ones are clock, bell, pyramid, arrow, and diamond. They are not too common, but you may find them in modern bingo games.
The single line, double line, and full house are the most common, which you can expect to find in almost every game. Prizes will depend on how hard a pattern is to achieve. As such, the more complicated patterns will have higher payouts. Difficult patterns will often award a special prize or jackpot.
The Most Popular Online Bingo Games
All bingo games play the same way but differ in grid arrangement and the number of balls used. Below are the most popular variants you’ll find at online bingo rooms:
90-Ball
The original bingo variant and the most popular among UK players is the 90-ball. As the name suggests, the game uses between 1 – 90 numbers. It plays out on a 9×3 card grid (9 columns; 3 rows). Only 15 spaces are covered with numbers, while the others are blank. The standard winning patterns require you to mark off all numbers in 1 row (single line), 2 rows (double line), or all 3 rows (full house).
75-Ball
A 75-ball bingo ticket has a 5×5 grid. There are generally 24 numbers per ticket with a free space in the middle indicated with the word ‘FREE’ or a star symbol. It was invented as a faster variant of the 90-ball and will allow more diverse winning patterns. 75-ball is most commonly played in the USA.
80-Ball
The 80-ball ticket has a 4×4 grid, making it a faster alternative to the previous two variants. The game uses 80 numbers, with each column holding consecutive groups of 20. That is, the first column reveals numbers between 1 and 20; the second shows between 21 and 40, and so on. Each column is allocated a colour which makes it easy to identify and mark off numbers. 80-ball also allows more varied winning patterns than the traditional 90-ball. Unlike the 75-ball, there is no free space at the centre of this card.
30-Ball
Here’s one of the fastest variations of online bingo. 30-ball involves a 3×3 grid ticket and uses only 30 balls. It’s often called Speed Bingo and is excellent for new players or those who prefer fast-paced gaming. Considering the smaller grid arrangement, the standard winning pattern here is always the full house.
Bingo Slots (Slingo)
Slingo has become a player favourite in recent years. The appeal of these games is that they cater to both slot and bingo lovers. Slingo essentially offers a mix of both games in one. You receive payouts according to Slingo patterns on a bingo-like grid. At the same time, there’s a reel set below the grid that helps you achieve winning combinations.
How to Play Bingo Online
Anyone can start playing bingo online right away. The beauty of this game is that you don’t need prior knowledge to win. Bingo isn’t skill-based like blackjack or poker. Some even consider it simpler than online slots.
Our recommended bingo sites will guarantee the best experience with a fun community feel, chat rooms, quality bingo games, and exciting bonuses. The best £10 deposit bingo bonuses are available on these sites. You only need to sign up through our links to enjoy all of it.
Getting your gameplay underway is the easiest part. Simply:
- Browse the games available and pick your preferred title
- Click to enter the bingo room
- Buy an online bingo ticket(s)
- Tick numbers are they are selected during the draw
- Achieve any of the winning patterns and get a payout
Most bingo games are scheduled to begin at set times. However, you won’t have to wait too long as most sites have games starting every few minutes. Between bingo rounds, you can also enjoy side games like slots, Slingo and mini-games.
With online bingo, you can select the Auto-Daub option to tick numbers automatically on your ticket. The software will also tell you when you’ve won.
Types of Bingo Rooms – Network or Exclusive Rooms
Most times, when playing bingo at online bingo sites, you’re actually playing at a bingo room operated by a bingo platform like Dragonfish or Jumpman Gaming. Bingo sites essentially connect players to the platform’s gaming network.
These ‘network’ rooms are available across multiple sites using the same software. As such, there’s a big community with many players and lots of bingo’ buzz.’ The prizes here can be significantly large, especially on weekly or monthly networked games. So if you’re looking for big jackpots, network rooms are where it’s at. However, because there are so many players, you have statistically lower chances of winning.
Exclusive rooms, on the other hand, are usually restricted to a single site. Exclusive bingo games are often in-house-developed or branded titles. These gaming rooms are less busy since there are relatively fewer players. The jackpots are also smaller. But less competition means you have a better chance of winning a prize.
How Community and Chat Rooms Work at Online Bingo Sites
Playing in a bingo community adds an authentic feel to the experience. Bingo chat rooms are used to promote interactive gameplay at these sites further. For starters, chat moderators welcome players and are available to explain the game’s rules. They also run quiz games and competitions during the interlude.
You can chat with other players in various locations, especially when playing network games. Simply enter the bingo room, choose your chat name and join in the banter. It’s not uncommon to build friendships along the way. Several bingo sites will provide the functionality to create a friend list. Others will enable you to connect with fellow bingo players via social media.
You’ll be making good memories and, hopefully, long-lasting relationships. If you’re lucky, you’ll land some impressive cash prizes too.
History of Bingo
Bingo origins date back to 1530s Italy. It began with the Italian Lotto game ‘Il Gioco del Lotto D’Italia’, where players selected numbers hoping to match them with winning number balls pulled from a drum. It migrated to France, where it became a favourite of the French Aristocracy and then to Germany, where it was adapted to classroom versions for promoting spelling and number skills.
Fast forward to the 1920s, the bingo’ house’ game was gaining popularity in the US. The Americans were also the first to use the name ‘bingo’ and created 6,000 unique game card combinations to popularise the game further.
Bingo began flourishing in Britain by the 1940s throughout the Second World War when it was a popular pastime within the Armed Forces. By the 1960s, it was played by people of all classes.
From then, bingo halls surged all around the UK through the end of the millennium. In the early 2000s, Microgaming and other game developers took the initiative to create online bingo platforms based on UK land-based bingo formats. With its introduction into the online scene, bingo has continued to grow.
Why Play at Online Bingo Sites
Online bingo sites are a great place to enjoy these games. They are also more convenient than going to actual bingo halls. Thanks to chat rooms and other consciously embedded interactive elements, you enjoy a similar community feel. Some other reasons to play at online bingo sites include the following:
- Tickets are cheap; you can enter for as little as 10p.
- There’s a wide variety of bingo games, including newly engineered options.
- Network games connect players from multiple sites and locations, significantly increasing the potential jackpots on offer.
- You can enjoy slots and other casino games from leading casino software providers.
- Plenty of generous online bonuses and promos add more value to your gameplay.