Bingo has been played throughout Europe and the USA for centuries. It generates hundreds of millions of pounds in revenue each year, with much of this coming from online gaming platforms.
Follow these bingo tips for beginners to stay safe and maximise your chance of success as you learn for yourself why this game is so popular.
Learn the rules
The key to success in any game is to learn the rules. Even though bingo is not a game of strategy, you still need to understand what you’re looking for to know when you’re close to a win.
Traditional games of bingo use ‘tickets’, cards with nine columns and three rows with five numbers and four spaces in each row. Numbers are called out at random for players to tick off their tickets. The first to complete a line is the first winner. Prizes are also given to the fastest to two lines and a full house. You alert everyone to a win by shouting ‘Bingo!’.
Choose the right game
There are various adaptations of the traditional game of bingo. For example, tickets in the USA tend to be 5×5, and lines can go diagonally and vertically as well as across.
In the world of online bingo, games are even more diverse. Players can choose between a range of styles and themes, each with unique features, ticket prices, and jackpot sizes. As a beginner, you should opt for lower-stakes bingo to begin with while you become familiar with the format.
Stay focused
You might be surprised at the pace of bingo games! Despite the traditional use of complex Cockney rhyming slang, the callers move through the numbers at speed. You’ll need to stay focused to keep track of the numbers and mark them on your ticket correctly.
Many online bingo platforms offer helpful features like auto-daub which tracks and ticks off numbers for you. However, you still need to pay close attention to watch out for a potential win!
Manage your money
To ensure that you stay in the black, take care to manage your money while you play. Remember the 50/30/20 budgeting rule and keep at least 70% of your earnings for essential spending and savings.
With online bingo, deposit limits can be set by you before you play to help you stick to an affordable amount. You can also set time limits for your sessions, so you don’t get carried away while you play.