How to play bingo without setting foot in a bingo hall

So, you’re not feeling too enthusiastic about returning to the bingo hall? You’re not alone. 

Even after Covid-19 restrictions eased, official figures proved that fewer people were taking part in betting games like bingo. Now, though, you can forget needing to sit in a stuffy room where you can hardly hear the caller. Instead, you can play from the comfort of your own home, either with friends, from your phone or on your laptop.

Eager to hear more? We’ve outlined three of the best ways to play bingo, either on your own or with friends, without going to the bingo hall.

Traditional bingo: How does it work?

Bingo is like everyone’s favourite type of lottery. 

At the start of a new game, each player buys or receives a ticket known as a card. In a game of 90-ball bingo, each card typically contains six grids (strips) filled intermittently with numbers and blank squares. That’s one strip for each of the rounds in the game.

A ‘caller’ randomly selects and calls out numbers, usually up to 75 or 90. The first player to mark off or ‘dab’ a horizontal or vertical line wins a prize. The ‘jackpot’ prize is up for grabs to the first player who marks off all the numbers in a strip: but they need to shout bingo! to claim it!

There are plenty of variations of bingo. With desktop, mobile, and various in-person formats to choose from, it’s hardly surprising that variety is just one of the many reasons why bingo is so popular in the UK. With that in mind, it’s worth knowing a few ways to spice up the game.

Three exciting ways to play bingo

• Online bingo

The rise of online games has skyrocketed bingo’s overall popularity. Perhaps the most accessible way to play, you can choose from a plethora of bingo sites all promising an interactive and immersive experience with the game. 

Many sites also offer the opportunity to play unique games like tombola’s Deal or No Deal bingo, so it’s easy to find variety. From special offers to exclusive takes on the classic game, there are plenty of amazing cash prizes on offer online too. 

• At home with friends

Hosting a bingo night at home has never been easier. You can download and print out pre-designed template cards to make sure everyone can follow a familiar format. 

There are also plenty of random number generators on the internet, but you might prefer to do that the old-fashioned way by picking numbers out of a hat. No matter how you go about the details, all you really need is a great group of friends and perhaps some drinks on the side too.  

• Themed bingo

Lastly, did you know that it’s also possible to play bingo without it really feeling like bingo at all? Whether you use song lyrics or another type of reference to popular culture, you can simply pop your alternative to the numbers in the grid and work around that. 

From musical bingo to conceptual ideas or personal anecdotes, there are so many ways to give bingo your own hilarious twist. Why not try it at the next big birthday party?

As long as you follow the basic principles of this lottery-based game, you can make bingo as immersive and as cheeky as you’d like. Just remember that if you’re putting money on the game, it’s important to keep in control. If you’re not having fun anymore, it could be time to take a break.