Bingo is an easy game with an even simpler objective: match all of the called numbers in a predetermined pattern on your card. Still, due to the wide variety of designs and patterns, some players could be a little confused about what they’re supposed to do. If you intend to hit the bingo halls any time soon and want to stay one step ahead of the other players, then learning the different bingo patterns used could be of great help.

Knowing the patterns does not only ensure that you will be able to identify the numbers on your card faster, but that you do not miss randomly called numbers as well. In the following article you will find out the most common patterns employed in online and offline bingo.

Single line

The pattern implies achieving a horizontal, vertical or diagonal 5-number line by using both numbers and the free space in the N column.

Letter X

The player must fill in two diagonals across the card so that they form the letter X, while also utilizing numbers in the N column.

Double cross

As its name suggest, the pattern implies covering all the numbers in the N column along with the middle numbers in the columns I and G.

Large diamond

In order to create a large diamond pattern you will need to get matching numbers for the digits surrounding the middle numbers in columns G and I, the middle figures from the O and B columns as well as the top and bottom digits on the N column.

Postage stamp

The postage stamp pattern implies covering a segment of four numbers in any corner of the bingo card. It is necessary to mention that in some bingo parlors, the design could comprise of double and even triple postage stamps.

Picnic table

The design implies creating a letter X pattern and also covering the top and bottom lines on the bingo card.

Small picture frame

To obtain a small picture frame pattern you will have to fill up all the squares surrounding the free space in the column N. In other words, you have to cover three numbers from both the I and G columns as well as two additional numbers from the N column. For this pattern you do not need to get a match with the numbers in the B and O columns.

Blackout

Also dubbed coverall, the pattern implies covering your entire bingo card and is mostly used in games with high prizes.

Jail bars

Achieving the jail bars pattern implies filling in the B, N and O columns completely.

Crazy kite

A slightly more sophisticated postage stamp pattern, crazy kite refers to a design that features a stamp in one of the corners and a tail, which is essentially a partial diagonal line.

Hardway bingo

Your aim here is to get a 5-number line without using the free space in the N column. The streak can be a diagonal, vertical or horizontal line.

The Bingo Rooms – The Place Where All The Fun And Action Happens!

 
 
If you are looking for an online bingo site, you will eventually notice that the bingo rooms are usually themed to match the site’s overall design. While some rooms have a 3D design especially created to resemble genuine bingo rooms, others have a minimalistic appearance, meaning that they include the game screen and a bingo chat window.

Simple bingo rooms are more than meets the eye

Even though they may not sound like much at first, the bingo rooms with a minimalistic design include all the information you need to know to play the game. To be more precise, they are arranged in an intuitive manner so the player does not have to spend a lot of time searching for something. More often than not, you will find:

• The chat window on the left hand side of the room
• The bingo board is displayed in the upper side of center of the screen
• The cards you buy are shown right in the center of the room
• Current jackpot and patterns can be found on the right hand side of the room

Types of bingo rooms

Most bingo sites have at least two bingo rooms available, namely a general room that addresses beginners and players who play for fun and a special room – High Rollers Room – made for players who want to go for higher stakes. In the general room you can play mostly standard games and benefit from minor incentives and promotions; on the other hand, the rooms for advanced players can include special offers, such as jackpots and progressive jackpots.

While both beginner and advanced bingo rooms include the same features, the difference is that High Rollers Rooms have the bigger jackpots and sometimes, more challenging games such as completing a blackout pattern for instance. In addition, in advanced rooms the card prices and the minimum cards you are required to purchase are usually higher.

The features of the bingo rooms

Irrespective of the room you play bingo in, you can be sure to find a card buying feature, which allows you to pre-book games and buy cards in advance, so you will have more time for socializing with other players. A very important part of the bingo rooms that helps bring a strong sense of community between players is the chat window. The window chat allows you to communicate with other players and chat leaders, thus making the game more entertaining.

On a side note, some websites encourage players to communicate with each other by offering incentives, such a gallery of the loyal players or weekly newsletters, all for the purpose of making players feel they are part of a bingo family.

It is important to note that almost all bingo websites condemn rude or aggressive behaviors towards other players. If you do not respect and are nice to chat leaders or players you will be given a warning and, in case the behavior persists, you can be banned from the bingo room.

While online bingo is available in both 75 and 90 ball variants, the former is usually the preferred version in Canada and the United States. On the other hand, the 90 ball bingo is more popular in the United Kingdom and Europe. Regardless of which version you prefer, the rules of the game are simple and straightforward: get all the numbers in a predetermined pattern.

The objective of the game

The bingo board comprises of random numbers ranging from 1 to 75/90, a 24 number mix that can be either of the 6,000 possible number combinations available on a bingo card. The balls that are drawn are presented to the players in the form of a letter and a number. The bingo card comprises of five columns, each of them being marked with the letters of the game (B, I, N, G, O). While the B, I, G and O columns include five numbered squares, the N column only has four squares for numbers and a free space. The cells on the columns have ascending numbers, meaning that the B column includes random numbers from 1 to 15, on the I column you can find random numbers from 16 to 30, so on and so forth.

General rules of bingo

Regardless of the site you choose to play bingo, you need to be at least 18 years old – the legal gambling age limit – in order to play. In addition, most bingo websites do not allow players to have more than one account, to prevent violations of their policies and other abuses. Other rules common for most websites include:

• You are responsible for keeping your registration details safe
• You cannot return the purchase after you bought the bingo cards
• You should have an amiable attitude toward other players and chat leaders

Rules on depositing and payouts

Before signing up with a bingo website, it is highly recommended that you read and understand the terms and conditions associated with deposits and payouts. While most bingo websites require you to make a deposit first, rest assured that the credit is not usually excessive. On average, you are required to deposit around $25 to be allowed to play and, depending on the site, you might be eligible for special promotion returns, such as 300% off the first deposit made.

It is important to note that most sites apply limits such as $500 per day or $2,000 per week. Moreover, even though you can benefit from other bonuses over time, they are mainly used to fund player accounts and do not constitute cash prizes.