Bingo is not a game of skill but a game of luck and probability. Fastly becoming India’s favourite game of chance with an infinite amount of combinations likely to win. There are two mainstream versions of Bingo; the US version and the UK version. In both versions, there are Bingo cards and numbers drawn and the aim of the game is to be the first player to achieve a Bingo pattern of numbers on each card. Below is a detailed explanation of how each version is played.
The US Version
The first ‘official’ Bingo games date back to early 1920 where the game was played at travelling carnivals throughout the US. The US version is considered the most traditional format of Bingo games, where each player receives a ‘bingo card’ (or cards if playing multiple games). Each bingo card is divided into 5 lettered columns (B.I.N.G.O) and 5 numbered rows. The numbers in the rows are different on each card. Each corresponding letter has a range of 15 numbers ie. B=1-15, I=16-30, N=31-45, G=46-60, O=61-75. Each card also contains a shape or free space in the middle (normally a star) which is known as a blank or free space giving each player a total of 24 numbered squares on their grid to play with
As there are 75 possible numbers to be picked there are traditionally 75 balls/numbers which are picked at random in the same fashion as a lottery draw. This is a game of chance because there is an endless possibility of Bingo combinations that can be selected from each drawing; 552,446,474,061,128,648,601,600,000 possible combinations to be exact!
The UK version
The other most popular format of ‘traditional’ Bingo is a UK version which Indians commonly refer to as ‘Tambola’. In this version, there are 90 balls and 27 card numbers. The cards are formatted in a rectangular style with 9 columns and 3 rows. Each row contains five numbers and four free/blank spaces.
To win both the US and the UK bingo games
As each Bingo ball/number is selected each player marks or highlights the corresponding number on their card until numbers on their cards create a winning pattern. Examples of pattern sequences include numbers in all four corners, numbers aligned diagonally, 1&2 full lines and full house (also known as Blackout or Coverall).
The full house pattern is often more difficult to achieve as most players will have already achieved bingo for other patterns. The full house method requires players to cover their bingo card with numbers drawn. The advantage for players aiming for a full house pattern is that they often deliver higher rewards or jackpot prizes.
Players are notified what the possible win patterns are before each draw. The first players to reach the nominated Bingo pattern wins. New bingo cards are dealt after each game.