A Guide to Bingo Rules

[Manne]

Bingo is a game that is elegant in its simplicity -- and it's even easier online.

The objective of any style of bingo is to complete the game pattern on your bingo card before any other player. If you do, you have a "bingo" and win the prize. Easy! When playing online, your bingo cards are randomly selected for you. Most online games give you 3 or 4 cards. Other games let you take more. Every online bingo game has a caller or a display board for the bingo numbers. The game pattern is also displayed. It's important to pay attention to the pattern. You only need the numbers that form the pattern to win the game. Some patterns are much easier than others to complete. The most basic patterns are straight lines in a horizontal, vertical or diagonal direction. Another simple and popular game is the "blackout" or "coverall" where you have to cover the whole card.

The numbers are announced quickly, usually 10 seconds apart, so you must pay careful attention to the numbers that are called and mark them quickly and accurately on your cards. Some games automatically mark the numbers on your card for you, but that takes much of the fun out of the game. The play continues until one or more players claim bingo. Then the game stops immediately and the numbers are verified. If there's a winner announced, the prize is awarded. If there is more than one winner, they split the prize. Next the players get new cards and a new pattern is displayed. And a new bingo game begins!