How to Prepare for Your First Game of Bingo
If you’re considering getting into bingo, you’re not alone. Research has shown that bingo has surged in popularity in recent years, with the bulk of that growth being driven by millennial players, who are taking advantage of digital platforms that allow them to play bingo from anywhere in the world.
While this growth is a relatively recent phenomenon, bingo itself is a game that has been around for around 500 years, with its origins believed to be in Renaissance Italy.
Since then, the fundamentals of bingo have not changed much, regardless of whether you’re playing in a bingo hall or on a bingo website. If you’re new to the game and want to get off to the best start possible, here is everything you need to know to ensure you are prepared.
1. Know What Type of Bingo You Are Playing
Before you sit down and start playing, it is vital to remember that there are different variants of bingo which often differ significantly from each other. On the most fundamental level, you’ll see bingo games are referred to by numbers of balls, for instance, 75-ball bingo or 90-ball bingo. Each variant has its own features that might appeal more or less to players. For example one game would be considered to have a faster playing style than the other and so on.
Beyond this, the growth of online bingo games has introduced even more variants, which often combine bingo with other popular games. For example, those looking to play Paddy bingo on their website will see variants such as Deal or No Deal Bingo, which takes the format of the game show of the same name, and Housey Bingo, which combines bingo and poker. Knowing the rules of the game you are playing is half of the battle, so study up.
2. Know Your Bingo Terms
No matter what version of bingo you are playing, there will likely be a lot of terms and phrases that you might be unfamiliar with. Knowing these terms is crucial as they are often used to indicate the progression of a particular game and will let you know if you are close to winning. In all variants of bingo, the term ‘line’ is used when you have a full ‘line’ of numbers on your card, which often results in some kind of prize.
Likewise, the term ‘full house’ is used to denote a situation where a player has filled all of the numbers on their grid, thereby winning the grand prize. There is also a wide range of terms used in British bingo to describe different numbers. For example ‘two fat ladies’ means 88, while ‘cup of tea’ means three. If you’re playing at a bingo hall, learning these terms will likely help.
3. Pay Close Attention
There is no sure-fire strategy for winning at bingo since the numbers are always called out completely randomly. However, the best thing you can do to improve your chances of success is to simply pay very close attention.
Every number that is called out that matches your bingo card brings you one step closer to a line or a full house. This means it is important to not drop the proverbial ball and to always be listening out for callouts and announcements. Missing a number or failing to call out a line when you have it could be the difference between success and failure, so keep your eyes and ears open.
With this wisdom at hand, you will be ready to start your bingo journey like a pro. Don’t forget to enjoy yourself and soak up the community spirit of the game, as that is what it’s really all about.
