Do you want to know how to play Bingo? Then you have come to the right place. In this game guide, we’ll be looking at everything you need to know! Now I know what you might be thinking isn’t Bingo easy and pretty straightforward?
Well, while it’s true that Bingo isn’t a complex game like Chess or Shogi, it is a game with a lot of variety to it. As some of the best card games, there are several ways you can play Bingo, and it’s this variety that makes it so fun! So, let’s talk a bit about what Bingo is all about.
What is Bingo?
Bingo is a very famous game, and it’s played all over the world. The game as we know it today was inspired by an Italian game of chance called Lotto. The US version of the game originated in the 1920s. However, it wasn’t until the 1940s that boxed versions of the game became available.
What makes Bingo so special is the many unique elements different versions of the game have. Now playing Bingo is usually relatively straightforward. Every player will have a card that features a grid with numbers on it.
Each card features 25 squares in a five-by-five pattern. The middlebox will be empty and is a free space. The game is played with someone calling out numbers using a Bingo machine. When a number you have is called, you use a pen or marker to mark it on the card. For example, in US Bingo, the numbers go from 1 to 75.
Compared to Battleship in some respects. If all your numbers are called, then you must shout “full house” to win. However, Bingo usually plays in rounds. So, if you get a line (vertical, horizontal, or diagonal), you will win the first round. The end game goal is always to win the full house, though.
Bingo is very popular, and although stereotyped as a game for older women, it’s played by people of all ages. In some places, Bingo is even played in Bingo parlors for both prizes and money. So, this is a game with many fans, and it makes an excellent group game to play at home.
What You’ll Need To Play?
To play Bingo, you’ll need a Bingo set. A Bingo set will include everything you need including a Bingo machine, cards, and Bingo Balls. You’ll also usually get markers to help you mark the numbers on your cards.
This Bingo set from the Regal Games Store would make a great choice. You can also opt for extra Bingo cards as well. So, there will be more variety in what numbers people will need to win the game. Because there are so many elements, we’ve listed how each works below.
The Bingo Machine
It might sound fancy, but a Bingo machine is a giant ball that spins around with a crank handle. The machine spins the Bingo balls around and opens with a small hatch at the top. Once it’s been turned, you open it and then take out the ball and call the number.
Bingo Balls/ Board
In US Bingo, the balls range from 1 – 75, and they are usually minimal. So make sure all the balls are put in the machine to ensure the game is fair. Alongside the balls, you’ll also get a Bing board. The board is used by the person calling the numbers to mark them off as they are called out.
Bingo Cards
Finally, the Bingo cards are what each player uses. The cards feature 25 squares separated into five by five columns. The middle square will almost always be empty and is considered a free space. Therefore, every time a number you have is called, it should be marked off. This can be done with a pen/ pencil, but you can also use colored markers to mark the cards.
How to Play Bingo?
The Aim of The Game
There are many great ways to play Bingo, and adding your own rules is relatively easy, just like in Monopoly. However, almost all versions of Bingo follow the same basic rules and structure. So, we’ll be going over the classic American rules.
The Set-Up
Bingo is very much a group game that can be played with a dozen people (or more) easily! It would make a great party game that can even be played outdoors. One person should be nominated as the machine operator as well.
The operator can also play alongside the other players because the game is entirely random, after all! So, they can have their card with them as they are operating the machine. When spinning the device, they should rotate the ball at least a couple of times before taking out a ball.
The operator should call out the numbers loudly and clearly and then deposit the ball into a bag; make sure you don’t put it back into the machine! Mark off the number that was taken out on the Bingo board too.
Playing Bingo
If you aren’t operating the machine, you need to listen carefully while the numbers are being called. When a number you have is called, you should mark it off on your card. Then, when you have completed a line, you should shout out “line” to the rest of the players.
This is done to help build tension amongst the other players. However, you only win Bingo by being the first to get all your numbers. So if you do, you need to shout out “full house” before another number is called.
Under standard Bingo rules, if you don’t shout “full house” before a number is called, you have essentially forfeited the game! So, make sure you pay attention and act fast. Once one player has called and their card has been checked, the game is over.
New Ways To Play
There are plenty of different ways to play Bingo. A fun twist is to reverse the game; in other words, you win by being the last player to have all your numbers called. This type of game will be much longer and can be pretty intense.
If you don’t want to play a long game of Bingo, you can also just play for a line. This means the first player to mark off a string of their numbers will win. Don’t be afraid to get creative and think up new rules with friends before playing.
Bingo – The Classic Party Game
Everyone can enjoy a good game of Bingo! The game is famous all over the world for a reason. So, get some friends together and get playing! While it might not seem like the most exciting game in the world, trust us, it can be quite the nail-biter at times.
