How do online bingo cards work?
There are two main variations of bingo, 75-ball bingo and 90-ball bingo. In 75-ball bingo the card is divided up into a 5×5 grid where every column is marked with the corresponding letter from the word B-I-N-G-O. The squares are marked with the numbers ranging from 1 up to and including 75, except for the middle square, which is usually marked "free space". The free space already counts as daubed. To help you find the numbers on the cards more quickly, the numbers are divided per column.
- Column B contains the numbers 1-15
- Column I contains the numbers 16-30
- Column N contains the numbers 31-45
- Column G contains the numbers 46-60
- Column O contains the numbers 61-75
In 90-ball bingo the cards are often 9×3, marked with numbers ranging from 1 up to and including 90, and on the typical housie style bingo ticket not all squares are filled in. Here the numbers are also ranged per column.
- Column 1 contains the numbers 1-9
- Column 2 contains the numbers 10-19, etc.
Right up to column 9, which contains the numbers 80-90. The most popular bingo card variation for online bingo is the 5×5 card.
Bingo!
After you have bought your online bingo cards, you can join the game. Online bingo features a function called auto-daub, which automatically daubs all of the numbers being called during the game, so that you do not have to stamp them yourself (although often you can if you want to, by turning off auto-daub in your controls menu). You can call out "Bingo!" in the chat, or tell your friends which numbers you still need when you are close to winning. When you or someone else wins this will be announced automatically so that everyone can see. For more information on bingo card patterns, see the related questions below.
Related Questions:
Where do I buy online bingo cards?