Improving Your Chances of Winning at Bingo

Bingo is one of the oldest gambling games known to man. It has roots in Italy in the 16th century, although it was not known as bingo back then. The game originates from the Italian lottery, Il Gioco del Lotto d’Italia, and spread to France, then other parts of Europe. Tens of thousands of people play bingo online or in bingo halls around the world today.

The game of bingo is ultra simple and requires no skill on the player’s part. The game of chance is so popular because it allows people the chance to socialise at the same time as potentially winning some prize money. Prizes tend to be on the smaller end of the scale, but special national games can and do payout massive prizes in six-figure amounts.

A Typical Bingo Game

A typical bingo ticket has 27 spaces over nine columns and a trio of rows. Five numbers and four blank spaces make up each row. Each column contains up to three numbers. Bingo halls and online bingo sites sell tickets in strips of six. This is because a strip of six allows all possible numbers to appear. Buying a full strip of six means you have every single number that is called out.

The bingo caller presides over the game, calling out randomly selected numbers. Having all the numbers on balls is the traditional way of calling bingo. However, modern games use a computerised Random Number Generator.

If you are not a bingo fan, you can also play online pokies in Australia.

The caller calls out the number and players mark it off their ticket if that ticket has the called number. Some numbers feature special phrases. For example, “two fat ladies” is 88 because of how the number looks. Number ten is the current prime minister’s den in the United Kingdom. Most special numbers are linked to the locality in which you play the game.

How Do You Win?

There are several ways to win on a bingo ticket, although rules differ from hall to hall. A line is a common winning combination. This covers a horizontal line of five numbers on the same ticket. Two lines is the same except you need two completed lines on the same ticket.

A full house is when you cover all 15 numbers on one ticket. Shouting “house” or “bingo” signals you have a full house. It is this prize that is always the largest of that particular game.

Some bingo halls link up for special games where huge prizes await. These so-called national games often pay six-figure sums. £1.1 million ($2.045 million) is the largest-ever bingo prize.

Some bingo sites and halls offer bonus payments for completing a full house under a predetermined amount of numbers. For example, calling a full house in less than 50 numbers, which is a popular bonus.

Can You Improve Your Chances of Winning?

Bingo is a game of chance which means there is very little you can do to improve your chances of winning. However, it is imperative you always play the maximum number of tickets. Buy your tickets in strips of six. This ensures every number called is on your tickets, which gives you the best chance of winning.

Using the game to clear bonuses is another way to improve your chances of winning. Some of the best payout online casinos offer bingo as part of their portfolio. Signing up to such a casino usually entitles you to a welcome bonus.

Loyalty programs are along the same lines as welcome and reload bonuses. They reward you with free cash or tickets if you play a specific number of games with the same site.

In addition, pooling your winnings and losses with friends is a good idea. This is a social game best enjoyed with people. Sharing each others winnings and losses when you play is a great way to boost your winning chances.