Laura Thornhill | June 8, 2022 | Updated on: February 26th, 2024
Learning how to play bingo is easy. It’s one of the oldest gambling games and is very popular in Australia. Bingo is like a lottery game with numbered cards and a lucky draw. Traditional bingo is 75 ball bingo and there are other versions of bingo – 80 balls and 90 ball bingo. The bingo rules are similar for these different bingo games.
Bingo is a lottery game. Each player buys a bingo card with 25 numbered squares. The bingo card has five columns and five rows. Above the columns is the word “BINGO” each letter aligned with a column.
There is a bingo caller who announces the letter and number on each ball as it is drawn. Players must mark off each number that appears on their ticket. To win, all the announced numbers must appear on your bingo card in a specified pattern.
How Bingo Works
There are three main components of real money bingo – the bingo card, the bingo cage and balls, and the caller.
The Bingo Card
The bingo card has five rows and five columns. Each letter of the word BINGO aligns with each column. In total there are 25 squares on a bingo card. The square in the middle of the card is a “Free” space and has no number.
The Bingo Cage and Balls
In Australia, 75 ball bingo is the most popular so we will use 75 ball bingo as the example for now. There is a cage with balls that are marked with a number and a letter. The cage is spun around, and 5 balls are randomly ejected.
Bingo Caller
The bingo caller is the person in a bingo who announces the letter and number on the ball as it is drawn. The caller also sets aside each ball that is drawn into a tray with the word Bingo across the top and columns of numbers under each letter. Balls are placed into a column that matches the number and letter on the ball.
Bingo Rules Australia
Bingo rules are simple all you must do is mark the card if the number and letter drawn both match what’s on your card.
The winning numbers on your bingo card must appear in the allowed patterns for your win to be valid.
You can buy multiple bingo cards and play them simultaneously.
In a bingo hall you must shout “BINGO!” first and beat anyone else who may have a winning bingo card when you get all five numbers in an approved pattern on your bingo card.
The free space on your bingo card can substitute for any number. So, if you have four of the called numbers and the free space aligns with the other numbers, you can use the free space to complete your winning pattern.
How to Play Bingo Online
Playing virtual bingo is the best way to enjoy bingo. It is much easier to play multiple bingo cards and you never have to shout “BINGO!” in a hall full of people to win. When you play online if your bingo card has the winning numbers in the right patterns your winnings are instantly credited to your balance.
How to Play Bingo – Winning Patterns
There are many patterns in bingo. Bingo halls and online bingo sites can get quite creative with the winning patterns. However, there are five standard common patterns – diagonal, straight line, X, four corners, and coverall or blackout. There are other patterns like postage stamp, inside diamond, outside diamond, and inside four corners.
75 Ball Bingo features the standard winning patterns and other pattern wins like chevrons, checkmarks and diamonds.
80 ball bingo has a 4×4 grid on its card, so the winning patterns are standard patterns and other patterns like diamonds, checkmarks and chevrons similar to 75 ball bingo.
90 ball bingo has a ticket with three rows and nine columns so the winning patterns are one line win, two lines and a full house or coverall.
How to Play Bingo FAQs
What is a bingo pattern?
A bingo pattern is a layout in which winning numbers should appear on a bingo card to win.
Is there any skill to bingo?
Online bingo does not require any skills. If you are playing bingo in a bingo hall, the skills you need are speed to mark the numbers as they are called quickly, good hearing to hear the numbers the caller announces and attention to detail to mark off all the numbers.
How many numbers are in bingo?
There is 75 ball bingo with 75 numbers, 80 ball bingo wing 80 numbers and 90 ball bingo with 90 balls.
What letter is 69 in bingo?
69 is under the letter “O” in Bingo.
What are the different types of bingo?
There are 75 ball bingo, 80 ball bingo and 90 ball bingo.
What is a full house bingo?
Full house in bingo is when your bingo card has all the called winning numbers. It’s also known as a coverall, and it wins you a jackpot.
Learning how to play bingo is easy. It’s one of the oldest gambling games and is very popular in Australia. Bingo is like a lottery game with numbered cards and a lucky draw. Traditional bingo is 75 ball bingo and there are other versions of bingo – 80 balls and 90 ball bingo. The bingo rules are similar for these different bingo games.
