There are two types of gambling games out there: games of skill and games of chance. In the games of skill, talented players can tip the odds in their favor with wise strategy. With games of chance, however, players can do nothing to affect the outcome. It is just the luck of the draw. Bingo is one of the most popular games that falls into the latter category.
One of the appealing aspects of bingo is its simplicity. There is no strategy involved and the games don’t take long to play. The only skills required are literacy, good enough hearing to know what numbers are being selected, and the ability to yell “bingo” loud enough to be heard. Of course, if you’re playing online bingo you don’t even need those last two skills. You only need to be able to read what’s on the screen.
In bingo, the numbers are drawn at random and the numbers are pre-printed on the players’ cards. Sometimes the players can see what numbers are on the cards before purchasing them, but other times they cannot. Sometimes the players only pick certain numbers on their board to play, which actually makes the game more like keno. There are many variations on the game of bingo, but whatever the version, it is still a game of chance.
Bingo Cards
In bingo, each player purchases at least one card, which is usually made of either cardboard or paper. Online, there is usually a graphic representation of a card. Players can usually purchase as many cards as they want, and it is common for players to play dozens of cards at a time. Because of that, in order to make checking the numbers faster and easier, many players use a dauber, which is a special marker made to mark matching numbers on a bingo card.
The bingo cards contain 25 squares, with five horizontal rows and five vertical columns. Usually, there is one number in each square, those sometimes there are two. In most cases, there is at least one free space, which is usually in the middle of the card. To make it easier for the players to search for numbers on their cards, which is important because so many play multiple cards, there is a pattern that most bingo cards follow. The letters B, I, N, G, and O are usually printed above each column. The numbers are put in each column by their range. Numbers 1 through 15 are found in the B column, numbers 16 through 30 would be in the I column, numbers 31 through 45 would be in the N column, numbers 46 to 60 would be in the G column, and any number in the range of 61 through 75 would be found in the O column.
Winning Bingo
Once everyone has their cards, the winning numbers are selected. This is usually done by a computer, though it is sometimes done by mixing and drawing balls with numbers on them, like with keno and many state lotteries. The rules for what constitutes a winning card vary. Each bingo call, online website, casino, or wherever else you play bingo can make their own rules. In some cases, you need a straight horizontal line matching all five numbers. On other cases, you can win with a vertical line, four connected squares in a corner (called a “postage stamp”), or forming certain shapes. You may have to cover as few as one number or as many as the entire card. It all depends on the rules of the particular game you are playing and with whom you are playing. In most cases, you have to call out “bingo” when you win and bring your card to a judge for verification. This would not be necessary if playing bingo online.
Whatever the rules at the particular bingo game you are playing, the odds are predetermined and no strategy can improve your chances. Bingo is increasing in popularity both online and in person and is being played more and more by younger groups. Soon bingo will be much more common amongst all age groups. It is best to accept bingo as a game of chance, have fun, and relax.
