Intro to Bingo Halls

Online bingo halls are taking a classic international game and making it a favorite online pastime. Developed in Italy as a form of lotto in 1530, bingo made its way to North America in 1929. At first the name of the game was Beano, for the fact that in the early days beans were used to mark the called number squares. It was popular at carnivals throughout the U.S. south.

A visiting New York toy salesman overheard a carnival player call out “Bingo” instead of “Beano” and the development of the game continued. Over the next year, the toy salesman, Edwin Lowe, worked with Columbia math professor Carl Leffler to design more than 6000 card variations with different number placements. Now online bingo halls offer straight line, diagonal and pattern winning designs with random number generated cards.

How To Play At Online Bingo Halls

Online bingo halls offer a variety of games including standard Bingo and jackpot bingo games. Select a favorite bingo hall from among the top reputable bingo halls and register a new player account. Make a first real money deposit to purchase bingo cards to play for cash winnings.

Online bingo games are straightforward. Players purchase a bingo card for a certain amount. The more expensive the card, the better cash prize it offers for the bingo hall winner. Numbers are called at random. If a called number matches one on the player’s card, the player marks off that number. The goal is to be the first player to collect all the numbers in a certain row, predetermined pattern or total card. As soon as a player collects all the winning numbers, the player publishes a bingo call to the online chat to stake claim for the win.

75-Ball Bingo

The U.S. version bingo played at online bingo halls is called 75-ball bingo. Balls numbered from one to seventy-five are randomly selected to call the numbers for the players. Balls are pulled continuously until a winner calls the game.

Online bingo cards are arranged like standard live game bingo cards. Across the top of the card are the horizontal letters B-I-N-G-O with vertical columns of five numbers underneath each letter. In U.S. bingo, the letters and numbers correspond as:

• column B includes numbers from 1 to 15
• column I includes numbers from 16 to 30
• column N includes numbers from 31 to 45, with only four numbers and a free center space
• column G includes numbers from 46 to 60
• column O includes numbers from 61 to 75

The card contains a total of 25 squares in five-by-five rows. This card set-up allows for creative patterns for numerous types of bingo games. Winning patterns are announced to players before the start of the game. Jackpot bingo games typically require a blackout, covering all the numbers on the card, to win.

90-Ball Bingo

The United Kingdom version of the bingo game uses 90 balls numbered one to ninety. Thus 90-ball bingo offers more numbers for players but the card patterns are more precise. 90-ball bingo cards are arranged as three rows each containing nine numbered columns for a total of 27 columns.

To win at 90-ball bingo, players can win one of three ways:

• complete one line of five numbers in the same row
• complete two lines of five numbers in the same row
• fill the whole card in a “blackout” or “full house”

Online Bingo Sites

Online bingo halls offer various promotions to welcome players to their halls. New players may get a free game card or bonus money on first deposits when signing up at the bingo hall. Jackpot games and progressive jackpots offer bigger prizes. High roller jackpots can offer prizes up to $10,000 for bingo winners. To find a wide selection of bingo games, visit one of the top bingo halls listed here.

The basic game format of online bingo parallels live bingo games. The most common games players encounter at the online bingo halls are the U.S. and UK ball versions. Take advantage of welcome bonuses and promotions as an intro to bingo halls online at any of these top bingo halls.