Online Bingo News

In North America, 75-Ball Bingo is the most common version of the game.
While the origins of 75-Ball Bingo date back centuries, the game received its now globally known name in 1929. It became overwhelmingly popular in the 1940’s, and continues to gain new enthusiasts with each
passing year.

The game of 75-Ball Bingo is played - you guessed it - 75 Bingo balls.
The balls are usually divided into 5 colors, with each color representing one letter of the word B-I-N-G-O. The numbers are placed into groups of 15, with each letter of the word B-I-N-G-O representing a number group, as well. The balls are tossed about in a large, rotating cage. Once a bingo ball pops out of the cage, a ‘Bingo Caller’ announces the Letter and Number of the Bingo Ball (i.e. B-5).

Each player receives Bingo Cards and a Dauber. The Dauber is used to blot each called number that appears on their Bingo Card(s). The Bingo
Cards are a diagram of numbers, 5 across and 5 down. Across the top of
the card is the word “B-I-N-G-O”, with each letter of the word representing a column of numbers. In the very center square of the card, under the ‘N’ column, is a ‘Free Space’. All players can assume this square to be automatically ‘daubed’ at the start of the game.

The first column - ‘B’ - is filled with five random numbers ranging from 1 through 15. In the second ‘I’ column is random numbers of 16-30.
The third ‘N’ column has only 4 numbers (and a ‘Free Space’ in the middle), ranging from 31-45. The ‘G’ column contains five numbers of 46-60. The last column, ‘O’, runs from 61-75.

Example 75-Ball Bingo Card:

| B  | I  | N  | G  | O  |
| 02 | 25 | 28 | 60 | 72 |
| 11 | 24 | 35 | 47 | 63 |
| 09 | 22 | F* | 56 | 71 |
| 05 | 19 | 26 | 52 | 74 |
| 04 | 17 | 33 | 48 | 67 |

* F = Free Space

The object of the game is to complete a specific pattern by daubing all of the numbers on your Bingo Card to create that pattern.
Traditionally, the idea was to get one single line, down, across or diagonally, to win. As the game has evolved, more intricate patterns have been designed to bring an added element of excitement to the game, while also making each round of Bingo last longer.

There are well over 300 patterns used in today’s Bingo games. One of the most popular is known as ‘Coverall’, or ‘Blackout’. This pattern
requires the player to daub every single number on their bingo Card in
order to win. There are also number patterns, letter patterns and miscellaneous item patterns (airplane, umbrella, coffee mug, etc.) to keep things interesting.

The winner of the Bingo game is the person who completes the predetermined patterned first, and shouts “Bingo!” Should two players get Bingo at the same time, both will win and split the prize.