Bingo Introduction

Bingo Rules

How to Play Online Bingo

Online Bingo Tips

Bingo Patterns

Find the Best Bingo Sites

Playing Bingo Online is a lot like playing it at real bingo halls, except that they come without the noise of other players and smoky environment.

The main bingo card is a pop-up window that contains the following information:

- A list of current players
- Your card faces (usually 3)
- A "chat room" where players can type to each other between games (to chat during games, type into the chat box under their cards and press the 'Enter' key on your keyboard.)
- The current number and a list of previously called numbers

Many Online Bingo games are free, but most do come at a price. You'll have to search through the adverts found next to the game cards or pop-up windows to see whether they come at a price. You will need to pay the fee every month for your Internet access.

How to Play

Getting started: Before playing Online Bingo you need to sign up for a user name. Apply your valid e-mail address, so that you are able to claim your prizes. Most of the games are straight-line bingo.
Online Bingo has several benefits over Offline Bingo halls. Online you are able to play anywhere, anytime which is a blessing for die-hard bingo players who don't have much time to visit offline gaming rooms. You are also able to move from one bingo room to the next within minutes.

You receive 3 cards per game that appear in a pop-up window with the bingo tote board and a chat area (and a lot of adverts). The pattern in which you need to match will appear in the top right corner of the screen. The computer will call random numbers. As the numbers are being called, players "daub" (mark) their cards by clicking the mouse. When your card matches the pattern, you need to press the "Bingo" button.

Speaking “Bingo”

If you’re a regular texter, you’re bound to know that if someone says LOL it means they’re “Laughing Out Loud”, and that BRB means they’ll “Be Right Back”.

Playing bingo online, you’ll find that there are a lot more acronyms to get used to. All good online bingo sites have chatrooms where players can talk to each other before, during or after a game. Whether you want to catch up with old friends or meet new ones, chatting is a central part of the online bingo experience.

Most people like to chat while they’re actually playing, so there’s no delay between one game and another. But writing out long messages can take up too much time, and nobody wants to miss the one lucky number that can make all the difference. Using acronyms, therefore, is very common and just because you’re a newbie you shouldn’t expect people will take the time to explain what they mean.

There are some that are used all the time, which include:

CYA – see ya
1TG – one number to go
GL – good luck
GLA – good luck all
BLNT – better luck next time
TY – thank you
YVW – you’re very welcome
TTYL – talk to you later
OMG – oh my goodness
NP – no problem
IRL – in real life
TC – take care
WB – welcome back
BTW – by the way
GN – good night

It’s a good idea to try and learn this list, because you’re almost bound to come across them on your first visit. There are dozens more, too. Greetings, commiserations, requests and opinions are all shortened to a few letters. The numbers themselves often have their own acronyms like LE – Legs Eleven.

Every online bingo will have a guide to basic bingo lingo, and the same phrases are used all over the world. You can have such a page open in your browser while you play at the same time, but the quicker you learn what they mean the less time you’ll need to spend away from the bingo cards.

Written by Alex Corcoran, who you will find pursuing her hobby in the online bingo sites and blogging about her bingo adventures.