Bingo! During its near 500-year history, this hugely popular pastime has historically been enjoyed by tens of millions of people around the world.
The enduring appeal of bingo has seen it become firmly established as a mainstream entertainment activity and that is unlikely to change for the foreseeable future.
In countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States, the game of bingo was the ‘go-to’ social pursuit for working class people in the 20th century.
Advancements in technology subsequently sparked a major shift in consumer habits, leading many players to start playing bingo on the internet.
Numerous operators jumped on the bingo bandwagon and the internet is now awash with sites where people can access this iconic game.
This has helped to generate a huge rise in revenues, with experts predicting that the sector could be worth around $2 billion by the end of 2020.
In order to facilitate this growth, many companies have introduced exciting new variants, so read on as we look at some of the best bingo games you can currently play.
90 Ball Bingo
This version of bingo is most commonly played in Great Britain and Ireland, with the games generally requiring players to complete lines or the full house to win prizes.
Each ticket consists of 15 different numbers and these can generally be purchased in strips of six on most online bingo sites, thus ensuring that the player can cover all 90 numbers in a single game.
Prizes are usually awarded for the first player to call a single line, two lines and the full house, with the latter paying out the biggest percentage of the prize pool.
The payout in most games is usually determined by the number of tickets sold, although some leading operators do offer a fixed minimum cash prize on selected games.
75 Ball Bingo
If you like your online bingo action to be fast and furious, the 75 Ball version of the game popularised in North America should be right up your street.
Each card has 25 squares arranged in a 5×5 grid, with each spot containing a number apart from the centre square which is marked as ‘free’.
Prizes are generally paid out for completing a row, column, diagonal or full house, with the amounts once again based on the number of tickets sold.
Some sites run special games where players must complete a pre-determined pattern such as a letter or heart shape in order to win the prize pool.
5 Line Bingo
While most players will be familiar with the 90 and 75 Ball variants of bingo, they are not the only games currently available to play online.
5 Line Bingo was originally derived from Swedish Bingo and, as the name suggests, offers players five different chances to win in a single game.
The card is structured in the same way as 75 Ball Bingo, although the centre square also contains a number rather than being marked ‘free’.
The first player to complete a single line, two lines, three lines, four lines and the full house is awarded a cash prize, with the payout table tiered to pay the highest amount for a completed card.
Flash Fives
Flash Fives is an exciting new game which perfectly blends selected elements of casinos with the wonderful world of bingo.
Playing cards are used instead of bingo balls, with players required to complete a hand of five cards they are dealt from a traditional 52-card deck.
Players can purchase multiple hands for a single game and the first person to hit five cards scoops the prize pool. There is often more than one lucky winner in Flash Fives, meaning that the jackpot is distributed evenly between each winning ticket.
With just 52 cards in the deck the action come thick and fast, making Flash Fives the ideal game to play on mobile devices if you are looking for a quick bingo fix.
Bingo Roulette
Casino games and bingo once again prove that they are a match made in heaven with the magnificent Bingo Roulette.
Instead of bingo balls and tickets, your card is transformed into a game of roulette where players are required to hit five numbers to win a prize.
The caller is replaced with a spinning roulette wheel and ball, which join forces to reveal the numbers during the game. Players can buy a maximum of 96 tickets per game, thus increasing their chances of securing a winning return.
If you love the thrill of bingo mixed with iconic casino games, Bingo Roulette is a game you simply cannot afford to miss.
Bingo Games – The Final Word
If you are planning to play bingo, make sure you choose a reputable operator who is licensed and regulated to offer their services in your jurisdiction.
Test out the games in free play mode before depositing real money, and always make sure that you enjoy yourself!