Bingo Strategy Guide
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History – How To Play – Rules – Odds – Strategy
“Bingo!” It’s an eager declaration understood by both children and grandparents alike. Bingo is a classic game of probability enjoyed by players across multiple continents.
It’s estimated that over 100 million players take a seat to play a round of bingo each year. Whether you’re in the mood to pay a visit to your local bingo hall, or you want to enter a competitive online match, we promise you’ll pick it up in no time.
Bingo History
For the last few hundred years, the game of bingo has worked its way into the culture of multiple European countries and eventually found its way into the United States. Despite the time and distance, the game has traveled, players are still enjoying the game almost the same way it’s been played since day one.
Italy
History credits the creation of bingo to Italy in the 1500s. During the 14th century, Italians had quickly developed a passion for betting on games of chance. They invented a lottery game which they referred to as ‘Lo Giuoco Del Lotto D’Italia.’ Lo Giuoco Del Lotto D’Italia was considered the first version of modern-day bingo.
France
The French were the next culture to embrace bingo. The upper class favored the game, which they referred to as ‘Le Lotto,’ in the 1770s. The structure they followed wasn’t very different from the one players know and love today. Using bingo sheets featuring a 9×3 grid, players would follow the lead of a bingo caller, who would randomly select a wooden chip numbered 1-90. If a player had the chosen number on their board, they would mark it. The first player to cover an entire line of 9 was the winner.
Germany
As bingo grew in popularity in the 1800s it found its way to Germany. Rather than serving as a source of entertainment, the game was used as an educational tool. By playing the game, children were able to learn spelling, math, and history.
United States
In the roaring 1920s, bingo gained a following in the United States. While the evolution of the game, and its name, are highly speculated, we do know that it was originally played under the name ‘beano.’ This name stemmed from the player’s use of beans as card markers. Legend has it that during a game one very enthusiastic player declared her victory by yelling ‘bingo,’ rather than ‘beano.’ The name stuck, and it’s still what we call the game almost a hundred years later. A toy salesman named Edward Lowe further revolutionized the game by working to develop a system to increase number combinations on bingo cards. His charitable work with one Pennsylvanian church (who used the game for fundraising), helped contribute to the rise in the game’s popularity. More recently, an organization in the United States launched the country’s first entirely charitable online bingo website (www.ticketyboogames.org).
How to Play Bingo
Fortunately for bingo fanatics, the game can be enjoyed either in-person or from the comfort of your own home in an online format. Both offer slightly different experiences but deliver the same excitement none-the-less. (Wondering what the future of bingo will look like? The development of mobile bingo apps is on the rise!)
Land-Based Bingo:
The first necessary measure for a bingo game is to purchase admission. Depending on the venue, the player may have the option to do this beforehand, or on-site. After players have found their seats, and it’s almost time to begin, the Bingo Caller will first announce that occasion’s prizes. When the Caller has completed the introduction, they’ll say ‘eyes down,’ indicating that it’s time for the game to begin. The Caller will pick and announce numbers using their selected method (traditional balls from a bingo tumbler, or from the use of a Random Number Generator (RNG)). When one of the numbers announced appears on a player’s card, the player will mark that square off.
The game continues until a player yells ‘bingo!’, which signals that they’ve marked off all the numbers that form a winning pattern on their card. Their card is checked by a staff member, and the game will either end, or continue, depending on the rules of the venue, and the number of prizes up for grabs.
Online Bingo:
For those who seek the thrill of betting but are reluctant to leave the comfort of their home, online bingo is the next best option. With the demand for at-home entertainment increasing, online bingo has become one of the most rapidly growing variations of online gambling. In 2004 the UK had 20 online bingo sites, and today you can find over 500 of them across the web.
The process of online bingo is similar to that of land-based: You enter in a (virtual) game, choose the number of cards you’d like, listen to the numbers being called, and declare when you’ve got a winning card. However online, the talking must be done via chat, the cards are marked on your computer screen, and a win is announced with the click of a mouse. Just like land-based bingo, card styles and winning patterns can differ from game to game. Online bingo is already prominent in the United States and Europe and is expected to grow in Spain, Asia, and Latin America.
Bingo Rules
While different bingo venues and halls have different rules, the same general guidelines are applied everywhere; however, we’ve listed the general guidelines for both land-based and online-based casinos below:
Land-Based Bingo:
Technicalities often differ between bingo halls, but there are common rules that you’ll need to follow, regardless of your venue:
- Get in (the game), or get out (of the hall): audience members who aren’t in play, are not permitted in the bingo hall
- Players are expected to remain quiet so that all other players can clearly hear the caller so that he/she doesn’t need to repeat numbers
- The only time the caller should be addressed during the game is if a player is requesting for the numbers to be called out slower or at a louder volume
Online Bingo:
In the case of online bingo games, there isn’t a need for restrictions on body language or noise level. The rules players are required to follow will vary from platform to platform. Before a game, especially your first experience, players are encouraged to read the rules and regulations that the website presents. Doing so will ensure a smooth game.
Bingo Odds
Just like any other type of betting game, bingo has odds. In bingo, the caller will traditionally choose from balls numbered 1 through 75. When the first call is made, the odds of a specific number on your card is 1 in 75. As the game progresses, with each ball selected, those odds increase. The more numbers that are chosen, the longer a game continues, and the higher the chance that each particular number has of being called. Go figure; if you stay in the game long enough, eventually you’re guaranteed to end up with a winning combination.
The Tippett Theory:
A theory regarding bingo odds, developed by L. H. C. Tippett, claims that the more numbers that are called in a game, the higher the odds are that those numbers will be closer to the set’s median (number 38). To take advantage of that, players expecting a longer game should (if possible) seek out cards with a surplus of numbers close to the median, and players expecting a shorter game should keep their eye out for a card with very high and very low numbers. The length of a game can be estimated by how easy it is to achieve a winning combination.
Bingo Strategy
One of the reasons why bingo is such a crowd-pleaser is because it doesn’t require much practice or strategy. Because it’s a game based almost entirely on luck, both novices and experts alike have equal chances of winning. Players can, however, take advantage of tips and techniques to try to swing the odds in their favor.
Bingo Tactics
The most common bingo tactic used, is playing with multiple cards at the same time. The more cards mean the more possible winning combinations, so it’s a no-brainer. It’s even more ideal if your assortment of cards incorporates a wide variety of numbers. The danger in a greater number of cards is not having time to check all the cards when a number’s called. Players should aim to have the maximum number of cards that they’re able to keep track of. Keeping ‘your eyes on the prize’ and maintaining focus during the game, will ensure that you mark your card properly. (Bonus: online bingo often offers an ‘Auto-Daub’ mode, which will mark off the called numbers on your card for you!)
Summary
The game of bingo is a classic source of entertainment that has stood the test of time. It’s traveled the globe for hundreds of years and is played almost the same way from country to country. Whether a traditional in-person game or the fast-growing craze of online bingo, it’s one of the easiest-to-learn gambling options. What do players need, you ask? Just a venue, a bingo card, and a little luck.
Can the appropriate bingo strategy help you win more often at the bingo hall in 2019?
I believe that it can.
Below, I offer several tips for bingo players who want to maximize their chances of winning at their local bingo hall — or even at a bingo hall elsewhere that they’re visiting.
Bingo Strategy Involves Having a Plan for Your Play
Okay, I know that bingo is entirely random, but there are still things you can do to improve your probability of winning.
That’s because there’s a human element to the game.
When you play the lottery, you still have to look at the lottery ticket to see if it’s a winner, right?
If you never looked at it, you couldn’t claim your winnings.
Bingo involves even more effort on the part of the player. You have to keep up with the numbers as they get called.
And if you have multiple bingo cards (which you should), that can be a lot to keep up with.
One of the tricks to keeping up with it all is staying in the right mindset. If I’m rushed and stressed out, I can’t concentrate as well. That’s why I recommend getting to the bingo hall early.
I also like to make sure I have everything I’m going to need when I’m there. I have plenty of cash, my bingo dauber, and aspirin.
I don’t need any distractions if I can help it.
I want to get into a relaxed state of flow so that I know when it’s my turn to yell, “Bingo!”
Masking Tape Is Better than Duct Tape for Bingo Players
Bingo Blitz Strategy Guide
You might be thinking, why do I need masking tape to play bingo?
It’s so you can tape your bingo card down and prevent it from slipping around while you play.
When you’re dealing with multiple bingo cards, which you’ll need to do if you want to maximize your odds of winning, you’ll need to find a way to keep them from slipping or falling.
If you miss a number on a card because you dropped something, you’ve hurt your probability of winning.
That’s a big no-no.
I like to think of bingo as being comparable to a sport.
Nah, it’s not as hard as hitting home runs or kicking a football, but it requires skill and attention nonetheless.
In fact, anything you can do to eliminate distractions will improve your odds. Sit close to the front so you can hear the caller. Don’t drink alcohol or smoke marijuana before playing. Be sure you’ve had plenty of sleep.
Masking tape is just the most physical and obvious way of eliminating distractions, and that’s what bingo strategy is all about, really.
Remember that Bingo Is a Numbers Game
Bingo is all about the numbers, just like keno and the lottery are. And there are ways to stack those numbers in your favor.
The jackpot in a bingo game grows larger when you have more players. That’s because the prize is a function of how many people bought bingo cards.
This doesn’t mean that going to bingo when it’s most crowded is the best way to win, though. Sure, when you do win — on occasion — you’ll win bigger prize amounts.
But you’ll win far less often.
So one of the tricks to winning at bingo on a consistent basis is to play when you have fewer competitors.
Consider the difference between playing in a poker tournament with 10,000 entrants and a poker tournament with 10 entrants.
Which poker tournament are you more likely to win?
Obviously, you’re more likely to win the poker tournament with 9 opponents, even though the prize pool won’t be as big.
The other way to tilt the numbers in your favor is to buy as many bingo cards as you can afford and pay attention to. The more bingo cards you have, the more likely you are to hit a winner.
That’s the point of the masking tape and all the “stay alert” tips in the previous section.
Stay Leery of Any Bingo Strategy for “Advanced Players”
I read a post on another site talking about intermediate and advanced bingo players. I don’t think there’s much of a distinction to make here. Bingo isn’t poker, and bingo players shouldn’t pretend it is.
Yes, there’s a minor skill element, but the emphasis should be on the word “minor.”
If you want to learn how to calculate the odds of winning at bingo, great, but that doesn’t IMPROVE your odds of winning.
It’s kind of like slot machines. You can read and try to implement as many “strategies” as you like, but at the end of the day, you’re subject to the whims of the goddess of luck.
How do you calculate your odds of winning?
Divide how many cards you have by the total number of cards in the game.
If you’re playing in a big hall where they sold 1000 cards, and you’re playing 10 cards, your probability of winning is 1% (10 divided by 1000).
And you don’t have to stand there and count how many cards they sell. Just count how many players are in the room with a quick estimate. Multiply that number by the average number of cards you see in use.
That will give you a great approximation.
Don’t Worry about Which Numbers Have Already Come Up
Some bingo players fall into the Gambler’s Fallacy trap.
The Gambler’s Fallacy is the belief that previous results have an effect on the probability of future results.
Sometimes people who fall for this think that numbers become due when they haven’t been drawn in a long time.
Others think that numbers that are coming up often are “hot.”
Both of these types of players are wrong, though. Sure, you’ll see hot and cold streaks for various numbers.
But those streaks are only visible in retrospect.
They have no predictive value.
So don’t waste your time and the employees’ time at the bingo hall by trying to buy cards that account for which numbers have been drawn. It won’t work. Your probability of winning doesn’t change.
Every bingo game is an independent event, in the same way that every pull of the lever on a slot machine is an independent event.
Previous results don’t affect the probability of future results.
It’s All about Optimizing Your Own Attention and Success Rate
Here’s an example of a sneaky trick you can use to make yourself more efficient with your bingo cards:
At some bingo halls, you can play the same cards repeatedly. You can just save them and use them again.
This DOESN’T change the odds of those cards winning. The odds stay the same.
But as you use the same cards repeatedly, you start to learn where the numbers on the cards are.
Bingo Strategy
This means you can play more cards at a time without having to worry about missing marking a number because you have so many cards in play.
The idea is that if you can play 20 cards at a time accurately — a probably superhuman feat — you can have twice the odds of winning as a person who plays 10 cards at a time.
Some caffeine isn’t a bad idea, either. Studies have shown that people who drink coffee before a test perform better on the test.
Just don’t drink so much coffee that it screws up your sleep schedule.
Use Appropriate Money Management Techniques as Part of Your Bingo Strategy
Under no circumstances should you buy bingo cards with money you need for other purposes. It doesn’t matter how lucky you feel. You can only play bingo with money you don’t need for life’s necessities.
The inherent nature of bingo is the same as the inherent nature of any gambling game. The odds are against you.
In other words, you’re probably going to lose.
That’s the main rule of money management, regardless of what gambling “experts” like John Patrick might want you to believe.
His gambling advice is always related to money management, even though he’s written dozens of “strategy” books.
But his techniques involve lots of mumbo jumbo and arbitrary starting and stopping points.
For example, he suggests setting aside a percentage of your total gambling bankroll as a “session bankroll.”
You then set a win goal and a loss limit. That’s usually a percentage of your session bankroll — maybe 40%.
The idea is that if you lose 40% of your session bankroll, you quit until the next session.
And if you win 40% of your session bankroll, you quit then, too.
Of course, neither of these arbitrary stopping points do anything to increase or decrease your odds of winning.
At best, they’ll give you an arbitrary way to force yourself to leave a winner — at least once in a while.
But no amount of money management will make for a good bingo strategy.
Finally
Those are my best bingo strategy tips given the nature of the game in 2019. I’m sure I’ve left something out, but I hope you enjoyed reading this anyway.
Do me a favor and leave me a comment and let me know what I might have missed?