How to Play Online Bingo: A Beginner's Guide
Online bingo keeps the fun of a bingo hall, with the numbers called and marked for you. Here is everything you need to know before your first game.
How online bingo works
The idea is the same as in a bingo hall. You buy tickets for a game, numbers are drawn at random, and the first players to complete a winning pattern on their tickets win the prizes. Online, a random number generator draws the numbers and the site marks them on your tickets automatically.
Games run in rooms, each with its own ticket price, prizes and style of game. Once a game starts, you can't buy more tickets for it, but most rooms let you pre-buy tickets for upcoming games.
Which kind of bingo?
You'll see three main formats in UK bingo rooms:
- 90-ball bingo, the traditional UK game. Tickets have 3 rows and 9 columns with 15 numbers, and prizes are usually paid for one line, two lines and a full house. See our 90-ball bingo guide.
- 75-ball bingo, played on a 5 by 5 card with a free centre square, with prizes for patterns. See 75-ball bingo.
- 80-ball bingo, played on a 4 by 4 card, a quicker game with simple patterns. See 80-ball bingo.
Many sites also run faster formats and themed games, but the basic idea is always the same: match the called numbers to a pattern before anyone else.
Rooms, schedules and ticket prices
- Schedules. Popular rooms run a game every few minutes, while special games and bigger jackpots run at set times. The lobby shows when each game starts.
- Ticket prices. Prices start from a penny in some rooms and go up to a pound or more in others. Cheaper rooms usually have smaller prizes.
- How many tickets. Buying more tickets improves your chance of winning a particular game, but it also costs more. In 90-ball bingo you can buy a strip of six tickets that covers every number from 1 to 90.
Auto-daub and chat
Auto-daub marks your numbers as they're called, so you never miss one, and most sites sort your tickets so the closest to winning are shown first, often with a "1TG" (one to go) marker.
Chat is a big part of online bingo. Rooms usually have a chat host who runs chat games, welcomes new players and keeps conversation friendly. You don't have to join in, but it's part of what makes bingo sociable.
Prizes and jackpots
Bingo prizes come in a few forms:
- Fixed prizes, where the room shows the prize before the game starts.
- Prize pools that grow with the number of tickets bought.
- Jackpots, which may be won by completing a full house within a set number of calls, and can build up until they're won.
If two or more players complete a pattern on the same number, the prize is normally shared between them.
Bingo bonuses
Bingo welcome offers usually give you bonus funds to play with after a first deposit. At SaviBet, LuckCity and BetBlink, for example, new bingo players who deposit £10 get £20 to play bingo, with 2x wagering on bingo games. As with any bonus, check the time limit and any cap on what can be withdrawn.
Here are the current bingo welcome offers from our featured brands:
Editor's pick Position 1
LuckCity LuckCity iOS app
Match deposit bonus for new bingo players
Deposit £10, Get £20 to Play Bingo
- Min deposit £10
- Wagering 2x
- Max conversion 3x bonus amount
- Valid 30 days
18+ New bingo players only. Deposit £10+ via the bingo cashier to get a £20 bingo bonus. Bonus wagered 2x on bingo games and valid for 30 days. Max conversion 3x the bonus amount. Skrill and Neteller deposits excluded. Withdrawal requests void active bonuses. 18+. T&Cs apply.
Great offer Position 2
SaviBet SaviBet iOS app
Match deposit bonus for new bingo players
Deposit £10, Get £20 to Play Bingo
- Min deposit £10
- Wagering 2x
- Max conversion 3x bonus amount
- Valid 30 days
18+ New bingo players only. Deposit £10+ via the bingo cashier to get a £20 bingo bonus. Bonus wagered 2x on bingo games and valid for 30 days. Max conversion 3x the bonus amount. Skrill and Neteller deposits excluded. Withdrawal requests void active bonuses. 18+. T&Cs apply.
New Position 3 BetBlinkBetBlink
Match deposit bonus for new bingo players
Deposit £10, Get £20 to Play Bingo
- Min deposit £10
- Wagering 2x
- Max conversion 3x bonus amount
- Valid 30 days
18+ New bingo players only. Deposit £10+ via the bingo cashier to get a £20 bingo bonus. Bonus wagered 2x on bingo games and valid for 30 days. Max conversion 3x the bonus amount. Skrill and Neteller deposits excluded. Withdrawal requests void active bonuses. 18+. T&Cs apply.
Our bingo bonuses page compares every current offer, and the bingo hub lists the sites we feature.
Playing within a budget
Bingo is sociable and cheap per ticket, which makes it easy to keep buying "one more game". Decide on a budget for the session before you join a room, use pre-buy only for games you'd play anyway, and set a deposit limit in your account. And if you've ever wondered where "two fat ladies" comes from, our guide to bingo calls has the full list.
Keep it fun
Set a budget before you play, never chase losses and take regular breaks. Gambling should never be a way to make money. Free, confidential help is available from GamCare or the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.