Bingo is a modern version of the game of "Beano". Beano was so named, because in the game, players were required to cover the numbers appearing on their cards with beans. In earlier days, people who wanted to have fun and at the same time donate money for a worthy cause played bingo primarily in churches and other charities. Today, people are attracted to online bingo mainly due to the cash prizes and rewards such as mobile phones, DVD players and home theater systems, on offer. Nowadays, UK Bingo is often played with cards that are marked with fluorescent ink, allowing players to see the numbers even while playing in dark halls. Bingo is an easy game and can be played almost anywhere; be it your home, hall, or park depending on the number of people participating in a game. With the advent of the Internet, it has also become possible for Bingo lovers to play online games and take part in online Bingo tournaments. Because of the influence of online gambling, the game of bingo has become a worldwide phenomenon among people of all ages and occupations.
Game Basics And Rules
Bingo has a few basic rules that are applicable to games played in land-based bingo halls as well as online games that are played in virtual bingo rooms. In land-based games, the numbers are physically drawn by an attendant or host who calls out the number over a microphone. The players just need to keep marking off the drawn numbers until they win. In online bingo games, the numbers are generated randomly by a software program. In many online bingo sites, players do not even have to click on the drawn numbers, as the software automatically marks the numbers when they are generated. As soon as the markings on the virtual bingo card makes a certain pattern required for winning, the player can press on the "bingo" tab on the web page. The winning criteria may vary depending on the site, which may have different rules and conditions.
Bingo Cards And Virtual Bingo Cards
Bingo is completely based on chance and does not require any prior knowledge or special skills. Players just need to keep marking the numbers on the bingo cards until they win. Bingo cards used in both land based games as well as online games have a 5 x 5 grid pattern with different numbers (1 to 75) printed on it at random. The columns of bingo cards are marked with the letters ‘B’, ‘I’, ‘N’, ‘G’, and ‘O’ from left to right. The first column contains five random numbers between 1 and 15, the second column has numbers from 16 to 30, the third column has numbers from 31 to 45, the fourth column has numbers from 46 to 60, and the fifth column has numbers from 61 to 75. Although a number can appear only once on a bingo card, the number of combinations that are possible for the bingo cards is limitless.
In general, land-based bingo cards come in large booklets along with the calling number jokes and a number board. A few vendors replenish the bingo card supply every few months for a nominal fee or at times at no extra cost. These arrangements are created for bingo halls that hold an average of four to five games per day and cater to a large audience. However, for household games and charity events, such arrangements are not necessary. Cards for such games can be downloaded and printed off the Internet through online bingo portals and bingo equipment websites. Many websites have the provision of free printable bingo cards. All that users have to do is log on to the site, follow instructions, download and print or print while still online. Many online portals provide this facility at a price, but are prepared to give customers some downloads for a free trial.
Winning Criteria And Patterns
In most variations of land-based games, a player is declared a winner when the markings on the card make a certain pattern, which may be five continuous markings; be it diagonally or in any one of the five rows or columns. A ‘full house’ is also a common winning criterion wherein the winner needs to have all the numbers marked on his/her bingo card. There is no standard winning criteria and a game organizer can define any number of winning criteria based on his/her imagination. The winning criterion may require players to have one marking in every row, one marking in every column, complete two rows, complete two columns, or any other possible combination. In land-based games, when a player fulfills the required winning criteria, he/she just needs to shout out the word "bingo" and claim his prize. This is necessary since there is only one prize for fulfilling one wining criteria and chances are that more than one player might have fulfilled the winning criteria.
Online Bingo Sites
Bingo’s popularity is fast gaining prominence over many other traditional casino games with the launch of numerous user-friendly online bingo websites. Online bingo is the latest and by far the most exciting way to enjoy the game of bingo. Most of these online bingo sites provide all the necessary information with the minutest details regarding the game of bingo. This information helps players who are already acquainted with the game and is of special help to first-timers and beginners. Some of these online bingo websites also sell bingo equipment. These websites make sure that every time someone wins, the prize is deposited directly into their account.
Some of the online bingo sites offer games free of cost. In cases where cards have to be bought, the charge may not be very high. One major concern of online bingo gamers is security of financial transactions. Most of the online bingo sites have secure servers that encrypt and protect all the information against malicious computer viruses and computer hackers. A bingo site should be reliable enough for an individual to give his credit card number. Best online bingo sites make sure that the game has not been arranged and has independently been audited to confirm that the game is fair.
While playing online bingo, chances are that the Internet connection may fail while a player is accessing the game. Some sites in such cases may keep the game going and if the person has a winning card, they would give him the corresponding winnings. Some other sites may remove the player from the game and return the money. Some bingo sites also give bonus to players who refer other people to the site. These sites also allow people to play bingo and slots at the same time. These online bingo sites provide easy access to various online bingo games and facilitate easy downloading of bingo games. They also make possible easy downloading of any software required to play the game apart from offering the biggest jackpots, the largest promotions, and the best consumer service. |
