Bingo
Number-matching game where players mark drawn numbers on a card, aiming to complete a pattern (line, house, or shape) and shout 'Bingo!' first.
What is Bingo?
Bingo is a game of chance in which players match randomly drawn numbers to numbers printed on a card. The first player to complete the designated pattern (line, cross, X, full house) calls out 'Bingo!' The game evolved from the 16th-century Italian lottery 'Il Gioco del Lotto d'Italia,' spread to France as 'Le Lotto' in the 1770s, and reached the USA in the 1920s as 'Beano.' It was renamed 'Bingo' by Edwin Lowe after hearing a winner shout the word by mistake, and mass-marketed with the help of mathematician Carl Leffler, who developed over 6,000 non-duplicating cards. Today Bingo is played in halls, churches (for charity), online, and on cruise ships worldwide. UK 'Housie' uses a 3×9 card of 15 numbers (1-90); US Bingo uses a 5×5 card (1-75) with a free centre space.
Quick facts
Category
Casino & Gambling
Type
Individual
Players
2–5000
Duration
~10 min
Where played
both
Field / court
Bingo hall / online lobby
Country of origin
🇮🇹 Italy
Estimated origin
1530 (Italian lottery); 1929 renamed 'Bingo' in USA by Edwin Lowe
Olympic
No
Popularity
global
How it works
Objective
Be the first to complete the winning pattern (a line, X, corners, or full card) with called numbers and shout 'Bingo!' to claim the prize.
Match structure
Players purchase one or more cards. The caller (or RNG) draws numbers at random and announces them one at a time. Players mark matching numbers on their cards. When a player completes the designated pattern for the game (one line, two lines, full house, X, corners, letter shape, etc.), they shout 'Bingo!' The caller verifies the card, and if correct, the player claims the prize.
Rules
Basic rules
Buy your cards
Cards cost £/$ 1-10 each depending on venue; buy multiple cards to increase chances.
Mark called numbers
As the caller announces each number, dab it on your card if present.
Winning pattern
Games can be one line, two lines, full house (blackout), X, four corners, or other patterns — announced before each game.
Call 'Bingo!' quickly
You must call out before the next number is drawn — otherwise you may lose the win.
Verification
The caller or staff verifies your card matches what's been drawn.
Advanced rules
US 75-ball vs UK 90-ball
75-ball: 5×5 card with letters B-I-N-G-O over columns; free centre. 90-ball: 3×9 with 15 numbers per card; win on 1 line, 2 lines, or full house.
Speed / Quick Bingo
Faster call rate (every 2-3 seconds) and simpler patterns.
Coverall / Blackout
Cover every number on the card — high jackpot, low probability.
Progressive jackpots
Prize grows if not won within N calls; carries over to next session.
Online bingo auto-daub
Online cards auto-mark; players just watch and wait for the auto-'Bingo' call.
Scoring
Prize awarded to first player completing the pattern; multiple winners split the pot.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| 1-line win (90-ball) | Base prize, typically 10-20% of pool |
| 2-line win (90-ball) | Larger prize, 20-30% of pool |
| Full house (blackout) | Largest prize, 50-70% of pool |
| Progressive jackpot | Variable — can be tens of thousands of £/$ |
Win condition · First player to complete the pattern and successfully call 'Bingo!' wins.
Playing area
Called
Bingo hall / online lobby
Dimensions
Hall size varies; games are called from a caller's stage or podium
Player tables with dabbers (markers); caller with a numbered ball drawer or electronic RNG; large display of drawn numbers.
Equipment
Bingo card
5×5 (US, 75-ball) or 3×9 (UK, 90-ball) grid with random numbers.
Dauber / dabber
Ink stamper used to mark called numbers on paper cards.
Bingo blower / cage
Machine that randomly draws numbered balls.
Balls (1-75 or 1-90)
Numbered ping-pong-style balls drawn one at a time.
Caller
Announcer who reads out each drawn number with the traditional call-language.
Officiating
Live halls have a caller (announces numbers, verifies cards) and floorwalkers (help players). Online is fully automated.
- Caller / Bingo Master
- Verifier / Floorwalker
- Cashier
Strategies
More cards, higher chance
Playing more cards linearly increases win probability — but you must be able to track them all.
Off-peak sessions
Fewer players = higher individual win chance for the same buy-in.
Tippett's theory (90-ball)
The longer a coverall game runs, the closer drawn numbers cluster around 45 (the mean). Marginal effect only.
Granville's system (75-ball)
Balance low/high, odd/even, and B-I-N-G-O column numbers on your cards. Statistically debatable, culturally popular.
Terminology
- Dabber / Dauber
- Ink stamper used to mark numbers on a paper card.
- Caller
- The announcer who reads each drawn number.
- House / Full house
- Winning by covering all numbers on the card.
- Line
- Winning by covering all numbers in a single row (or column).
- Blackout / Coverall
- US term for covering the entire card.
- Wild number
- Optional rule: a random number acts as wild, allowing any matching digit.
- Kelly's Eye / Legs Eleven / Two Fat Ladies
- Traditional UK bingo call nicknames for 1, 11, and 88.
- Progressive
- A jackpot that grows across sessions until won.
- Speed bingo
- Fast-paced variant with rapid calls and simpler patterns.
- Six-pack / nine-pack
- Buying multiple cards printed on a single strip.
Major competitions
National Bingo Game (UK)
daily · UK — 400+ clubs · since 1986
Mecca Bingo National Games
weekly · UK
Bingo World Championship (Sun City, Rio)
annual · USA · since 2018
Where it is played
Governing bodies
The Bingo Association (UK)
Founded 1998 · Lutterworth, UK
Official site ↗National Independent Bingo Alliance (USA)
Founded 1995 · USA
UK Gambling Commission
Founded 2005 · Birmingham, UK
Official site ↗
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- N/A — casual pastime; some influential callers and hall owners historically
Records
Largest Bingo game (Guinness)
Bingo Kaskarrada, Bilbao — 70,080 players simultaneously (2009)
Largest single Bingo prize
Christina Grimmie's grandmother (Deal or No Deal casino, UK) — £1.1 million online jackpot (2012)
First 'Bingo' shouted (etymology)
Anonymous player, Edwin Lowe's game — The winner accidentally shouted 'Bingo!' instead of 'Beano!' in 1929 (1929)
Learn this sport
beginner
- 1
Understand the card
US: 5×5 with B-I-N-G-O over columns and a free centre. UK: 3×9 with 15 numbers.
- 2
Follow the caller
Numbers are called one at a time; dab the matching numbers on your card.
- 3
Know the pattern
Before each game the caller announces what pattern wins (line, 2 lines, full house, X).
- 4
Shout 'Bingo!' immediately
Call out as soon as you complete the pattern — before the next number is drawn.
intermediate
- 1
Manage multiple cards
Play 4-8 cards at once by aligning them and dabbing systematically.
- 2
Recognise call language
Learn traditional UK calls (Kelly's Eye = 1, Legs Eleven = 11).
- 3
Session strategy
Save budget for progressive jackpot games; play cheap early games for warm-up.
advanced
- 1
Card selection
Buy strips with balanced number distributions (Granville / Tippett heuristics).
- 2
Online play
Auto-daub lets you play 30+ cards; focus on chat games and side promotions.
- 3
Charity vs commercial venues
Charity bingo often has better prize ratios; commercial halls have larger jackpots but higher house cut.
Frequently asked
Where does the name 'Bingo' come from?+
In 1929, US entrepreneur Edwin Lowe saw a game called 'Beano' at a carnival. At his own house game, a winner accidentally shouted 'Bingo!' instead of 'Beano!' and Lowe adopted the name.
What are the odds of winning at Bingo?+
Depends on players and cards. In a hall of 100 players each with 1 card, your chance is roughly 1/100 per game. Buying more cards improves your odds linearly.
Is Bingo a game of skill or luck?+
Pure luck. The only skill is managing multiple cards accurately and calling quickly.
Why do UK numbers have nicknames?+
British bingo halls developed rhyming or descriptive nicknames (Kelly's Eye = 1, Legs Eleven = 11, Two Fat Ladies = 88) to make the calls entertaining and memorable.
What is the difference between US and UK Bingo?+
US: 5×5 card, 75 balls, letters B-I-N-G-O over columns, free centre. UK ('Housie'): 3×9 card, 90 balls, wins on 1 line, 2 lines, and full house.
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Bingo (US)— Wikipedia
- Wikipedia — Bingo (UK)— Wikipedia
- The Bingo Association (UK)— Bingo Association