Guide to Online Bingo Games

Online bingo has exploded in recent years with hundreds of sites now available for customers to choose from, though with so many different bingo games available it can be a tricky process for players to make a decision that suits what they are looking for from their online bingo experience.

In this guide, we will go through the different types of online bingo games that you can enjoy, while here at BingoSites.com our extensive bingo site reviews detail which ones are available at all of the sites that we recommend.

The beauty about new games being invented is that it allows brands to be creative about what how they market them and even tie them into other products on their sites, such as slots, while the actual developers who make the games can also add their own twist to them in order to appeal to more bingo brands and also differentiate them from others.

Below is a list of the different games that you are able to find online across various bingo sites, which we are going to talk more about in this guide.

• 90-ball bingo
• 75-ball Bingo
• 30-ball Bingo
• 5-line Bingo
• 52-5
• Tombola

Let’s take a look at these various bingo games in more detail that you can now enjoy at your leisure from the comfort of your own surroundings.

 

90 Ball Bingo

These are arguably perhaps still the most popular form of bingo games that UK players participate in online and it is unheard of that you will come across a site that doesn’t offer 90 Ball Bingo.

The way that this works is that the tickets that each player is presented with use 15 numbers which are distributed randomly across a grid which is made up of three rows and nine columns, with five numbers in each row.

Once every player that is taking part in the game has their ticket, this then starts with the game and automatic ball caller reveals numbers from one to 90 often using random number generators (RNGs), with any numbers that a player has on their online ticket, automatically marked off (this actually is one of the advantages for a player who enjoys the online version – they do not have to go through the trouble of trying to find the number and then worry about missing the next one).

These 90 Ball Bingo games typically have three prizes available for players; one for getting a full line, another for two full lines and then the ultimate prize for getting a ‘full house’ (all of the numbers on the ticket). In some 90 Ball games, there are prizes on offer for players who finish the game with 1TG (one to go) or 2TG (two to go), which refers to the number of numbers that they have left on their card.

 

80 Ball Bingo

Debatably one of the rarer bingo games that players can enjoy online, this game uses just 80 balls if you hadn’t already guessed. This, therefore, means that if you buy five tickets, then all of the numbers will be on view from one to 80, while each ticket is made up of a grid that has four rows and four columns, which gives the player 16 squares with each square having a number.

Every column on the ticket is a different colour which subsequently means that you are able to view what numbers you need in more of a visible manner. As such, the first column has the numbers one to 20, the second column has the numbers 21 to 40, column three contains the numbers 41 to 59, while the last (column four) has the numbers 60 to 80.

In 80 ball bingo games, there is a variety of winning patterns that can be used and as an example, to get a full house, it means that you need to tick off all of the numbers on your ticket, four corners means that you need to complete each number on all four corners of your ticket, while lines can run vertically, horizontally or diagonally in full completion.

 

75 Ball Bingo

This bingo game first appeared in the United States and these are still played extensively today. Over the last few years, this American influenced style of bingo game has increased in popularity across the UK, with the standout selling point being that it offers a single prize. This means that the winner typically walks away with a bigger cash pool, compared to that of the 90 Ball variant in which the prize pots are divided into one line, two lines and a full house.

The 75 Ball game issues tickets that are on a 5×5 grid and these have the letters B-I-N-G-O that run across the top. Each ticket has numbers ranging from one to 75 arranged at random, however, only particular numbers are shown in each column. This means that the B column has the numbers one to 15, the I column features the numbers 16 to 30, the N column contains the numbers 31 to 45, the G column has the numbers 46 to 60, while the O column has the numbers 61 to 75.

While some games give out the prize for completing all of the numbers on the card (which is known as a ‘blackout’), the majority of 75 Ball games make use of different patterns which means that the game is typically more enjoyable.

 

30 Ball Bingo 

This has become increasingly popular over the last couple of years and is known among bingo enthusiasts as ‘speed bingo’ for its fast nature. With only 30 balls used, this means that games are usually completed quicker and can be over within a minute. This kind of game is ideal for players who like the possibility of near-instant gratification and who do not have the patience to sit through a 90 Ball Bingo game for example.

The way in which the game works is that players are given tickets in the form of a 3×3 grid, with each card having nine numbers. In most cases, there is just one prize available which is for the player who ticks off the whole grid, however, there are some versions of the game that offer prizes for completing one and two horizontal lines.

 

5 Line Bingo

If you have not heard of this, there might be a good reason why; it is because it originates from Sweden, though this is still available to play at some UK sites. Similar to 30 Ball Bingo, the 5-line games are rapid and are very easy to follow which means it can be ideal for those who are new to the world of online bingo. While each ticket is presented in a 5×5 grid, unlike 75 Ball Bingo, there is no free square on it.

Every column has a selection of numbers from one to 75, while there are five different ways for players to win which means there are prizes for one line, two lines, three lines, four lines and a full house, while lines can be created horizontally, vertically and diagonally.

 

52-5 Bingo

These online bingo games are synonymous with Dragonfish sites and as a result, they are completely unique in their own way. The way that the format works is that instead of having numbered bingo balls, playing cards are used, with each ticket having five playing cards in order to represent the numbers.

When the game starts, cards are then called at random and should any of the cards match with any cards on the player’s ticket, they are then covered off using a chip to show this. The winning player is the one which covers all of the cards on their ticket so they then claim a prize.

 

Tombola 

This is a game which has become increasingly popular over the last few years and is in essence, its own unique brand. Not to be confused with a traditional ‘tombola’ that you would typically see at fayres using a drum, this is not part of any bingo network (most bingo sites are part of a particular network, which are responsible for developing the bingo software such as the games). When you choose to play Tombola online, you can select from a variety of different rooms which have their own unique game.

For example, you can choose the Pulse room, whereby the numbers that you need hover around the screen, instead of being shown on a ticket, while there is also the Las Vegas-style Roulette Bingo game, which has the numbers that are called is determined by the spin of the roulette wheel.

 

Final thoughts

Overall, the number of bingo games that players are able to choose from online has increased significantly over the last few years, which has helped to considerably add to a player’s experience. Compared to traditional bingo halls, where, invariably one version is available (90 Ball Bingo), players who have more of an adventurous taste can choose from a wider selection to suit what is important to them.

Being able to play bingo online has opened up so many different possibilities for software developers to get creative and this means that the future could have a lot more in store for online bingo enthusiasts. You can rest assured though, that here at BingoSites.com, we will have all of the very latest updates about the newest online bingo games and how they work.