Bingo has become the biggest game on the internet in an unbelievable short space of time, outstripping poker has the most popular online game. Despite this Bingo is still mainly played in halls around the globe.
Bingo's beauty lies in it's simplicity and the social element of the game, there's nothing to compare to playing bingo and having a good chat with your mates, and online bingo is no different. That 's why the top sites are concentrating on introducing good chat software as much as good game play.
The rules couldn't be simpler, each player gets a card (or as many as you prefer.) with a grid of 25 boxes made up of five columns and five rows. (this is a description of 75 ball bingo). The columns are represented by the letters B. I. N. G. O. each column is split into a range of numbers B 1-15, I 16-17, N 31-45, G 46-60, 0 61-75, the numbers on each card are unique so no two players have matching cards.
A caller selects the numbers at random and as they are called the players mark them off, the center square under the N is always a free square. the game ends when a player marks five boxes in a row either vertically, horizontally or diagonal, there are other combinations of winning.
Other variations of bingo are the UK traditional 90 ball bingo where each ticket as 3 rows of 5 numbers you play for either a Line, Two Lines or a full house (marking off all your numbers).
More recently 80 ball bingo has been introduced this game originally called shutter board bingo. The tickets are arranged in five rows and four columns each column is a different colour, the colours are Red, Yellow, Blue and Silver 80 ball bingo is considered by some to be a great compromise between traditional 90 ball bingo and the American 75 ball game.
There are several patterns that can be played the classic X other letter variations the four corners horizontal and vertical there is also the traditional full house or as they call it in 80 ball bingo the coverall.
Online bingo varies dependent on the software used. Some have download versions while lots now play using either Flash or Java based games the end result is very similiar in that you have lots of fun playing this perennial game.
Some sites are play for free with small prizes and lots of adverts while with others you pay a small amount and you can win big prizes. Pay to play sites require you to register, you will need to supply your name, address, email details you will then be asked to pick a user name and a password, after this you deposit your money into your account once that's been completed you can play.
Most sites offer the opportunity to play games at a level you can afford. You can also choose to play by type coverall, shape or speed bingo. These games are refered to as streams, once you decided on your stream the interface will automatically load you with virtual bingo tickets these can be used to play in the next game. All you need do then is click on the tickets you wish to play and then on the purchase button.
Once the game begins the 'caller' annouces the balls as they come out, each number will appear on the call board as they are annouced most software will daub off the numbers that are matched as they are called (select the auto daub) the software will automatically call house when you have won.
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