The world Bingo can be highly exciting, but in order to enjoy the game to the full extent you need to know the rules. This is especially important when it comes to online bingo. The joy of the game is in its simplicity which is why hundreds of thousands of committed gamers log in and play each day.

This article provides a brief summary of the nuances of the different kinds of bingo and aims to give players the knowledge they need to enter their first match with confidence.

75 vs 90 – Sometimes Less is More

The idea in bingo is simple. A caller selects a ball (picked at random or selected by a machine for the purposes of fairness) and players mark off the numbers on their cards. As a game goes, the format could not be simpler. But it is the slight differences between these games that could create the confusion.

75-ball bingo, for example, uses cards with 25 numbers ranging from 1-75 (to correspond with the balls called) arranged in five rows of five. 90-ball bingo has fifteen extra balls, so larger cards with more numbers. 75-ball bingo also has a blank square in the middle of the cards which can be used when picking a winning line.

This is the other key difference between the games. When a player marks off a number on his or her card, he or she is hoping to arrange the crossed-off numbers into a pattern, most commonly lines. The 75-ball game allows these lines to be arranged horizontally, vertically or diagonally or, in promotional games, arranged in patterns from L-shapes to diamonds. It is always worth noting when joining a game which particular variety is being employed to avoid any disappointment.

The 90-ball game works slightly differently. The concept of lines is identical, but the lines in 90-ball bingo must be arranged horizontally. Again there are nuances, but not as varied as those in 75-ball bingo. Here the main difference can be whether the site will allow prizes for the second as well as first line. In bingo halls proper, it is more common for prizes to be awarded for the first line and then for the “full house”, where all three lines are covered. Online, it is common for a second prize to be awarded for a second line.

As in all walks of life you do not get something for nothing. The providers make profits from tens or hundreds of players purchasing their bingo cards for as little as 20p. Players are usually not limited to the number of cards they can purchase (check with the provider first to ensure the terms and conditions of the site and the game) in theory improving their chances of winning by purchasing more cards. It is also worth playing free games first to familiarise yourself with the game itself before spending big money on handfuls of cards.

More recently an 80-ball version of bingo has emerged, which is becoming more and more popular. Once you have learned the differences between the 75-ball and 90-ball game, feel free to explore 80-ball bingo to find for yourself which of the many bingo games is the one you prefer.

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