How to Play Online Bingo
Did you know that bingo dates back to the 16th century?
That’s right — one of our favourite games of chance is over 500 years old, and it’s always been popular, especially in the UK.
Today’s technology may have abated the need for bingo halls and cards, but it has also made bingo easier to play than ever. Besides, it’s more accessible now, as basically anyone with an Internet connection can play it whenever they want.
Bingo may be simple, but it’s fun nonetheless. It’s a great game for when you just want to relax and not use your head as much as you would for some other games (poker, for instance).
There are many online bingo websites nowadays, so we understand that it may be difficult to choose one and start playing. That’s why we’re here to help. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to play online bingo.
Choosing a Website
As we’ve said, there are plenty of online bingo websites, and each of them is different in its own way. Basically, there’s something for everyone’s taste.
Speaking of taste, you need to figure that out before you choose your game. In other words, you need to think about how you want to play the game.
The first thing you should consider is your budget. How much are you willing to spend? If you’d rather not spend too much money, you should aim at websites that offer low stakes or even free games. There are also websites that let you play highly progressive jackpot games, but unless you’ve got money to burn, we suggest that you start with something cheaper.
Another important thing you should figure out is what platform you’ll be using. Will you be playing via desktop, mobile or both? Some websites require you to use your PC or laptop, while others let you play on the go. Some offer both of these options.
Moreover, you should also think about how you want to approach the game. Do you want to play casually or competitively? Casual players mostly use forums and chats, while competitive players can try their luck at tournaments.
And lastly, do you plan on playing other games on the website? If so, go with a website that lets you play multiple games. There are plenty of those, as well.
Once you figure all this out, you can check out a few websites and see what they offer.
Signing Up
When you find a website that fits you the best, you can go ahead and register. You’ll most likely be asked to input the following information:
- name
- date of birth
- email address
- home address
- phone number
- username and password
- security question and answer.
Keep in mind that there are certain laws that protect every legal gambling website in the UK. So, when filling out the form, give accurate information. Using false information will definitely get your account banned.
In addition, you probably won’t be able to change your username later on, so be careful when choosing one. After all, the username will be your main form of identification on the website.
After filling out the form with all the necessary information, you’ll probably be asked to agree to the Terms and Conditions. Provided that you don’t have a problem with that, you can simply tick the box.
At this point, you’ll be sent a link which you should use to verify your account. If the email doesn’t arrive immediately, have a bit of patience and wait for a day. When you receive it, simply click the link they sent you, and you’ll be redirected to their website. Sign in again if you need to, and you will be ready to take the next step.
Making Your First Deposit
Before you enter any of your credit card details, make sure to read the website’s policies regarding payments. Find out what payment methods they offer, as well as what their withdrawal times and limitations are.
Making a deposit is fairly easy. You start by choosing your payment method. We suggest that you use PayPal for this if you can, as it can deposit the money almost immediately. Other payment methods may take longer. As we’ve said, you can read about their withdrawal times on the website itself.
Don’t forget to select your preferred currency. There is probably an option for it somewhere on the website. On the other hand, some websites will require you to choose one when making an account.
After you’ve chosen how you want to pay, you can input how much you want to pay. Here’s a piece of advice — start with something small, at least until you test the waters. Additionally, check the website’s fees so that you can accurately calculate how much you’ll need to set aside.
In the end, check everything once again and confirm the selected options if you’re ready.
Knowing Your Game
After you’ve made your first deposit, you are ready to play your first game. To be honest, your first time could be a bit overwhelming, especially if you aren’t used to online bingo.
For starters, you’ll find yourself in the game lobby. The lobby serves a single purpose — to show you what kinds of games are currently available.
You can choose from a wide variety of different bingo games — jackpot games, speed bingo, 75-ball, 90-ball, specials, themed games, as well as new player games. Each variety has a multitude of different games available, and you can choose which one you like. You should make your choice based on the ticket price, prize pool, and the number of registered players.
Once you choose a game, a game room window will pop up in your browser. Inside the game room, you will find a button you can use to purchase a ticket (usually, you can buy multiple tickets). Additionally, you will see the patterns you need in order to win, as well as the current prize pool. After you buy a ticket, you’ll see your card and get to track your progress.
In addition to playing bingo, you can communicate with other players using the provided chat box. The chat box lets the players get to know each other. To that end, we have provided emojis, mini-games, as well as hilarious chat hosts. If you’re lucky, your chat room will be hosted by one of them!
Choosing a Game
If it’s your first time playing online bingo, you may not know that there are multiple variants of the game. Actually, all the games boil down to the same mechanism — the system periodically drops a ball with a number, and different card patterns match different rewards.
The main difference between these variants is the number of balls that the system drops per game. In most cases, there are four main variants of bingo — 90-ball, 80-ball, 75-ball, and 30-ball. The first three variants are standard, with the 30-ball variant, also known as speed bingo, being significantly shorter.
In addition to the number of dropped balls per game, bingo can also be differentiated by the time needed for a new ball to drop. For example, 90-ball bingo can have multiple versions — slow, normal, and fast. Even though 90 balls drop in each of the aforementioned games, this type of bingo moves quite fast.
Moreover, many websites also feature mini-games and awards that let you earn prizes. These can be just as fun as the bingo itself, so don’t underestimate them! Besides, you can win some bonuses that can always come in handy.
Once you choose which game you’d like to play in the lobby, you can press the unmissable ‘Play Now’ button and start playing bingo!
Playing Bingo
Once you’ve learned the basic bingo rules and game mechanisms, it’s time to dip your toes in online bingo for the first time. If you follow the instructions, you’ll find it quite easy to choose between different variants.
After choosing a suitable game, a pop-up game window should appear. Make sure to buy your ticket, or tickets, before the end of the countdown. After that, it’s up to you to enjoy your game. Don’t forget to say hi to the other players in the chat box, and good luck!
In Conclusion
Bingo is a game that can be enjoyed by everyone — no matter if they’re a rookie or an expert, male or female, young or old. It’s a universally loved game for a reason. It doesn’t require much knowledge or skill, so you can casually play it whenever you feel like it. And with the rise of online bingo, you can play practically everywhere and at any time!
Now that you know how it all works, go ahead and test your luck with the good old game of bingo. Who knows? You might end up winning a lot of money! If not, at least you can make some friends in the chat box along the way.