Online Bingo | Complete Guide to Playing Online Bingo in India

What is Bingo - History and Fun Facts

Bingo is a lottery game where players fill out cards with numbers and wait for a kind draw. The aim of the game is to match your selected numbers with the drawn numbers and form winning patterns.

The game has a long history, attracting fans worldwide with its simple concept and exciting mechanics. At its core, bingo is a game of chance in which whoever manages to form a certain pattern gets to shout "BINGO!" and win nice sums of money.

The History Behind Bingo: From Italy to Casinos Worldwide

According to a study by thoughtco.com, bingo dates back as far back as 1530 in Italy, where a lottery game similar to bingo called 'Lo Giuoco del Lotto D'Italia' was very popular.

Visiting the website of NY's Strong National Museum of Play (museumofplay.org), we found another interesting fact that supports this thesis. It lies hidden in the museum's Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play.

There's a book in it, titled 'The New Treasure of Games' by Marilyn Symonds More, which talks about a lotto-like game of chance played in 1530s Italy.

Very similar in nature, the essential difference between modern bingo and this old version of 'lotto' is the playing boards used. The old lotto boards had 27 squares in total and were rectangular, with nine squares in width and three squares in height.

Incidentally, Italian casinos host bingo every Saturday, even today. From Italy, the game was brought to France in the late 1770s, where it was known as 'Le Lotto'. Wealthy Frenchmen adopted Le Lotto as their favourite pastime.

In Germany, the game also gained popularity in the 1800s but was used as an educational tool for students to learn their math, spelling, and history.

The Emergence of Bingo in America

Bingo moved to North America probably in 1929, and the game was originally called 'beano'. Beano was played at country fairs, where vendors handed out numbered discs from cigar boxes, and players marked their cards with beans. When they won, they used to shout: "beano!."

The website nationalbingoday.co.uk argues that beano was first seen at a carnival near Atlanta, Georgia. New York toy seller Edwin S. Lowe spotted the game passing through the carnival. Many people seemed fond of the game, so he brought it to his hometown of New York.

Legend has it that, one day, when Edwin and his friend Lewie were playing the game, his friend suddenly shouted, "Bingo!". Apparently, Edwin found the mistake appealing, and from there, he began to promote the game and its new name.

Later, he hired a Columbia University mathematics professor, Carl Leffler, to help him increase the number of combinations in bingo cards.

By 1930, Leffler had invented 6,000 different bingo cards designed to have fewer repeating groups of numbers. The cards also had fewer conflicts where more than one person won simultaneously.

The Birth of Bingo in the UK

Bingo first appeared in the United Kingdom around the 1960s, and its popularity grew very quickly. So quickly, in fact, that many cinemas on the island began to convert into bingo clubs.

Examples include two large London cinemas, the Gaumont Peckham and the Odeon Hackney Road, which closed and converted into bingo halls very early on.

The bingo phenomenon was sweeping the country in the '70s and '80s. This is evidenced by the first purpose-built bingo hall, the Castle Club in Cantona, Cardiff, which opened in December 1988.

Nationalbingotoday.co.uk takes 1986 as the emergence date of the first national bingo game, kickstarted by the National Bingo Gaming Association (NBGA).

Subsequently, the national bingo became the largest computer-controlled game in the United Kingdom until the launch of the National Lottery.

The interest in bingo on the island has never waned. Today, there are around 250 licensed bingo clubs in the UK.

Bingo and the Catholic Church

It turns out that, for nearly a century, Catholic churches have hosted bingo for funding and entertainment purposes.

This argument is put forward by backthenhistory.com, stating that Edwin Law had strong ties with the Catholic churches.

In 1934, a Pennsylvania priest was impressed by the game and suggested Edwin Law use bingo to raise funds for the church.

Although gambling was banned in many states at the time, bingo games were eventually allowed to be organised for fundraising purposes in churches and other non-commercial groups. During this period, approximately 10,000 games of bingo were played each week.

According to the Los Angeles Times (latimes.com) and a 1986 article by John Dart, a poll conducted by Notre Dame Seminary reveals the following curious results:

The poll looked at the opinions of 1,099 parishioners, asking them to name their top three most-attended activities.

• First place goes, of course, to the Sunday Mass;
• Second place is bingo with 60%;
• The remaining percentages are split between school and sporting events (17%), services (12%) and social activities (10%).

Not much has changed in 20 years. Another article by WCPO's Kevin Eiglebach presents reports from Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's office on charity and church event laws.

In it, we find that the Ohio District has collected $10.3 million from bingo between November 1st, 2015 and October 31st, 2016.

Bingo as Therapy

We can't help but mention the popularity of bingo in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Bingo is played for recreational therapy and socialisation purposes.

Commonwise Homecare is an extremely popular nursing home that also treats patients with dementia.

They provide coverage in two states, North Carolina, and Virginia, and in a total of 12 cities between them. On their website (commonwisecare.com), there is an article by Jeffrey Grossman that lists six major benefits of playing adult bingo. These include:

• Increasing social engagement;
• Allowing recovery of memories;
• Reducing risk of mental illness;
• Improving cognitive function;
• Improving memory retention;
• Improving hand-eye coordination.

The game is easy for staff or volunteers to manage, and people inside the nursing home can play along with their visitors.

Moreover, bingo is used to relieve symptoms of severe conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease. A 2001 study published in Sage Journals (journals.sagepub.com) by Benjamin P. Sobel looked at the effect of bingo on cognitive stimulation in Alzheimer's patients.

The study included patients from six adult daycare centres on Long Island, New York, all of whom had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. The patients were divided into two groups, one for cognitive stimulation through bingo and the other for physical activity.

The results showed that physical stimulation did not significantly improve their condition.

On the other hand, bingo was found to be very effective in improving cognitive function. The game stimulates multiple processes, such as attention, concentration, visual and auditory orientation, and short-term memory.

Similar results are found in many other tests, such as the Boston Naming Test and the World List Recognition Task.

DID YOU KNOW... ?

According to thoughtco.com, more than $90 million in North America is spent on bingo every week.

How Numbers Get Generated in Online Bingo?

The numbers and, therefore, the results in online bingo are generated by a Random Number Generator (RNG). In other words, the RNG in an online bingo game is the element that determines which number will be drawn at random for each round.

RNGs are computer programs or algorithms that generate a random series of numbers at great speeds, measured in thousands of numbers per second. They are unpredictable, and each successive number in the sequence is unrelated to the previous.

This randomness ensures that every player has equal chance of winning a bingo game. Legit Random Number Generators are checked and certified by independent regulatory bodies to ensure they work correctly and offer fair results.

Apart from online bingo, results in other online casino games are also determined by RNGs.

How to Play Bingo Online - Game Rules

To play bingo online in India, you must choose a casino, register your account, pick your game, place your bets, and get lucky on the draw.

Let's go into more detail and explain each individual step so that you can start your bingo journey as soon and as safely as possible.

• Select your bingo casino of choice: The first step to playing online bingo is to find a trusted website or app that offers the game. Choosing platforms with at least one international licence is of utmost importance to ensure fair play. Below, we'll introduce you to the safest and most trusted online casino options for Indian players.

• Registration: Once you've chosen your platform, register your account by providing the necessary verification details. If you want to online bingo with real money, it is also mandatory to make your first deposit.

• Select a game: One of the most popular online bingo games in India is Wild Bingo by Platipus, available at Rajabets, Bettilt, Megapari, and Lopebet casinos.

• Place your bets: Depending on which online bingo game you choose, you can select the number of betting cards, as well as your numbers for each individual card. However, take note that your payout odds drop when betting on more cards and numbers.

• Wait for the draw: The numbers on your cards are matched against the numbers drawn by a random number generator (RNG) or in the live bingo setting. You can win different prizes depending on the number of matches and the winning patterns.

The matching numbers can form different winning patterns, such as a Line (horizontal, vertical or diagonal), the Four Corners, or a Full House. The numbers and the exact patterns needed to win vary depending on the specific online bingo title you are playing.

Important

In online bingo, the numbers on the playing cards are pre-positioned and you cannot rearrange them.

If you need more clarification on how to play bingo, you're in luck.

Our experts have prepared a complete breakdown of one particular game. It's Wild Bingo by Platipus, available at Lopebet, Rajabets, Megapari, and Bettilt.

Wild Bingo features up to 4 playing cards and a total of 60 numbers. Each card is loaded with specific numbers, but if you don't like a particular layout, you can change the numbers and get brand new cards by clicking on them.

You can see your current budget in the top bottom left of the screen, while your bet is in the bottom left corner. The bet size can be changed according to your preferences by clicking on the coin icon next to the spin button. Different betting options for the game include ₹6, ₹12, ₹30, ₹60, ₹120, ₹300, ₹600, and ₹1,200.

If you are ready to start the game, click the spin button in the bottom right corner of the screen. The system will select 30 numbers randomly, and if the numbers drawn match any of the numbers on your cards, they will be highlighted in red.

Wild Bingo offers you the opportunity to purchase extra balls and even receive free balls. The cost depends on the size of your bet, and you have the opportunity to get an extra number that could increase your winnings.

Wild Bingo also features 4 super prizes (₹60, ₹300, ₹1500, and ₹6000) and a jackpot of ₹24,000!

In the following table, we look at the numbers that correspond to each letter of the word "BINGO."

How and Where Can I Play Bingo for Free?

If you want to try online bingo for free, you can do so at Rajabets, Megapari, Lopebet, and Bettilt. These four internationally licensed casinos offer the best bingo experience for players in India.

Playing online bingo for free allows you to learn the rules and try out new strategies, though it lacks the excitement of winning real money.

Of course, you should realise that the main benefit of playing online bingo for free is gaining valuable insight, experience, and first-hand knowledge of the game.

Particularly if you've never played the game, we advise you to go through the demo mode first to feel more relaxed and confident when betting with real money.

Where Can I Play Real Money Bingo in India?

In India, you can play real money bingo at Bettilt, Rajabets, Lopebet, and Megapari casinos.

These casinos offer a solid variety of bingo titles for you to enjoy. Most of them feature 60 numbers divided into four cards, but there are also games with 75, 80, and even 90 numbers!

None of these casinos offer live bingo, though. We expect this to change in the future as bingo gets more and more popular in India.

Despite the limitations, the online bingo variation on dispay can satisfy the tastes of most fans of the game.

What Types of Bingo Are There?

Online bingo is roughly divided into classic 90-ball bingo, 75-ball bingo, 30-ball bingo, and 80-ball online bingo.

Let's break down each of the four types of bingo to understand their unique features, card layouts, and ways to play them.

90-Ball Bingo (Classic Bingo)

Classic 90-Ball Bingo is the traditional form of the game. The playing card consists of 3 rows and 9 columns, with each column having 5 numbers and a total of 15 numbers per card.

To win, you must fill a row, two rows, or the entire card (Full House). You can play with any number of cards, depending on your preference and strategy.

75-Ball Bingo

The 75-Ball bingo, also known as American Bingo, is played with special 5x5 cards that contain 24 numbers, and each column is labelled with the letters B-I-N-G-O. In the middle of the card, there is a free space, which is kept blank.

The numbers in each of the five columns are distributed in the following way:

• B - Numbers from 1 to 15;
• I - Numbers from 16 to 30;
• N - Numbers 31 to 45;
• G - Numbers 46 to 60;
• O - Numbers 61 to 75.

To win, you must form a specific pattern, which can be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, or even complex shapes. This form of bingo is known for its speed and dynamism and is very popular in the US and the UK.

30-Ball Bingo

30-Ball Bingo, also known as speed bingo, is a variation of the game played with small 3x3 cards and only 9 numbers. To win, you must fill the entire card. The advantage of this game is that the rounds are fast, making it ideal for players who like a faster-paced casino experience.

80-Ball Bingo

80-Ball Bingo is a relatively new form of bingo played with 4x4 cards. Winning patterns can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal lines, Four Corners or a Full House. For example, if the numbers drawn are 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, and 80, and you marked exactly those numbers on your card, you can shout bingo!

Each version of online bingo has its unique features that offer different challenges and strategies. Regardless of the type of bingo you choose, the main goal is to have fun!

Different Types of Bingo Winning Patterns

At casinos available in India, there are 7 main winning patterns in online bingo. These include horizontal/vertical lines, diagonal lines, Full House, inner and outer squares, Four Corners, and multiple rows. There's also a host of special patterns for more adventurous players.

Let's tackle each winning pattern to see how they are formed and what odds you can expect from them.

Horizontal/Vertical Line

In every version of online bingo, regardless of the number of balls, you can win by completing a horizontal or vertical line on the card. It has to be all the numbers in a row or a column.

The odds of single-line wins can vary depending on the rules and stakes of the particular game.

For example, if your playing card hits all the numbers in the fourth row (7, 22, 40, 48, 63) or the first column (5, 10, 3, 7, 12), you win. If you bet ₹20, you are expected to win ₹40.

You can hit multiple lines on a single draw, bringing you multiple wins.

Diagonal Line

The diagonal line winning pattern mainly applies to the 75-ball and 80-ball bingo but isn't featured in the classic 90-ball bingo.

The diagonal winning pattern covers all diagonal numbers in two variations. A line can start from the top right corner and end at the bottom left corner.

Another option is the line drawn from the top left corner to the bottom right corner. The odds depend on your game and bet, but assuming you bet ₹20 and got a diagonal line, you can expect to win ₹60.

Full House

Full House can be formed on any online bingo variation by completing the entire card. This means that all the numbers on your playing card must be drawn.

The rewards for a Full House are usually the largest but, again, vary depending on the rules and bets in specific games.

For example, let's say you hit all 15 numbers on the card in a classic 90-ball online bingo game and win Full House.

Hitting a Full House in a 30-ball bingo with a ₹20 bet would bring you ₹200. Betting ₹20 in a 75-ball bingo would bring you ₹400. If you win Full House in an 80-ball bingo game with the same bet, expect ₹500. And finally, a Full House with a ₹20 bet in a 90-ball bingo would bring you ₹600.

Inside Square

In some variations of online bingo, you can win by completing an inner square pattern by hitting all the numbers that form a square in the centre of your card.

For example, you can hit all the numbers that form a square in the middle of the 80-ball bingo playing card (e.g. 28, 29, 38, 39). In this case, the ₹20 bet would bring ₹120.

Outside Square

The outside square pattern is similar to the inner square, except that the square must be on the peripheral part of the playing card.

For example, you win if you hit all the numbers that form a square around the edges in an 80-ball bingo card (e.g. 1, 8, 73, 80). The potential winnings with a ₹20 bet are again ₹120.

Four Corners

The Four Corners bingo pattern will have you hitting the four corner spots on the card. It is relatively easy to mark and offers good payouts.

For example, you win the Four Corners if you hit the numbers on your 75-ball playing card (e.g. 1, 15, 61, 75). Here, the estimated winnings on a bet of ₹20 is ₹80.

Multiple Lines

In most variations of real-money online bingo, you can win by hitting multiple rows on your playing card and marking all the numbers in two or more horizontal lines.

Wins for completing multiple rows are usually larger than those for a single line. Once again, they vary depending on the rules and bets in specific games.

To take an example, let's say you hit two horizontal lines on your 90-ball bingo playing card. If you've bet the standard ₹20, you can win more than ₹100.

Special Patterns

In addition to the regular winning patterns, online bingo also features special patterns that combine them. There are many examples of special patterns, and we'll look at the most common ones: the windmill and the bell.

• Bell - The bell, or the Christman tree, can be formed on a 75-ball bingo card. It includes 13 winning numbers arranged in patterns of vertical and horizontal lines and 2 adjacent lines with 3 numbers each. By forming the bell, you win by the odds of all vertical and horizontal lines included in the pattern.

Windmill - The windmill can also be found in bingo with 75 balls. It includes the Four Corners pattern and 2 diagonal lines. Windmill is usually difficult to make but can result in jackpots in some games.

And that's another thing that makes bingo such a popular online casino game. To spice things up, certain games offer special jackpots for some patterns, adding an extra degree of excitement.

What Are the Odds of Winning at Bingo?

The odds of winning at the game of online bingo vary greatly and are determined depending on the type of game and the winning patterns included in each specific title. Different bingo variants, such as those with 30, 75, 80 or 90 balls, pay for hitting a variety of patterns, each with different chances of success and payout.

Generally, the more complex a combination is to mke, the higher the payouts. To help you get a grip on bingo winning odds, we've prepared a sample table with the different types of online bingo and possible payout odds for different patterns.

What Are Bingo Jackpots and How to Win Them

Bingo jackpots are special game prizes that offer payouts over and above what you get with regular patterns. Jackpots are divided into two types: fixed and progressive. The former are usually smaller and depend on your bet, while the latter include large amount of money that increases with each bet.

Fixed Bingo Jackpots

Fixed jackpots are more common in casinos available in India. With a fixed jackpot, you can receive set amounts of money for hitting more complex patterns in the game. Let's take Platipus' Wild Bingo as an example. The game's fixed jackpot can be won by hitting a Bingo Prize in one of the four played tickets. The prize is 4,000x your bet and can rise to a maximum of ₹4,800,000!

Progressive Online Bingo Jackpots

Progressive bingo jackpots are not fixed but continue to increase with each bet in which they are not won. They often start at a certain amount and increase with each game. These jackpots are won randomly or when a player wins the game in the shortest time possible.

Progressive bingo is available in The American Bingo by 777 Gaming, and it has reached different amounts in different operators. At the time of writing this article, they are as follows:

• Lopebet - ₹136,071 +
• Rajabets - ₹269,593 +

DID YOU KNOW... ?

According to thesun.co.uk, the biggest bingo jackpot ever won was worth £5.9 million! The record jackpot was won in 2012 by John Orchard, a worker at an employment centre in Lincolnshire, UK. He was playing online bingo after work and managed to win with a tiny bet. This small investment changed his life and helped him retire early.

What Is the House Edge in Bingo?

The house edge for bingo ranges from 2.53% to 11%. With online bingo, the house edge can vary significantly, depending on the type and rules of the specific game.

Unlike games such as blackjack or baccarat, where the house edge is constant and easily measurable, it's more difficult to determine in bingo.

Generally speaking, it is usually significantly higher than in card games but lower than in games such as keno.

Despite the larger house edge, many Indian players prefer online bingo because of its many winning patterns. Additionally, the excitement of waiting for the next number adds a unique appeal to the game.

Practical Tips for Playing Online Bingo

There are several tips that will help you get the most out of your next bingo session. We have prepared five practical tips, including being familiar with the game's rules, setting goals for winnings, not chasing losses, playing for fun, and playing only at licensed casinos.

By following these five tips, you will have a better bingo experience while controlling your budget, mental health, and well-being.

Learn the Bingo Rules

Before you start playing, make sure you understand how bingo works. How many numbers do you have to tick to win? What are the different winning patterns? What are the rules for paying and withdrawing your winnings? You need to know the answers to these crucial questions before filling your ticket.

Set Winning Goals

Determine what you want to achieve with your bingo game. This may include a certain amount of winnings or a specific number of games you want to play. When you reach your goal, stop playing.

Never Chase Losses

If you're having a bad day and lose several online bingo games in a row, you may be tempted to increase your bets to recoup those losses. Don't, because this can lead to even bigger losses. Remember, bingo is a game of chance, and you can't control the results.

Play for Fun - Not to Get Rich

Bingo is a form of entertainment, not a means of making an income. Play with money you can afford to lose, and always play responsibly. If you are under stress or playing to get rich, you will likely miss out on the game's fun.

Choose Licensed Casinos for Playing Bingo

Always choose the internationally licensed online casinos available in India to make sure you play in a safe and fair bingo environment. This will also ensure that your financial transactions are protected and you don't fall prey to online scams.

Bingo Strategies for Increasing Your Winning Chances

Bingo may be a game of luck, but there are also two strategies - the Granville and the Tippett - that you can use to give yourself a better shot. While nothing in bingo is guaranteed, using these strategies can help increase your chance of winning. Let's see what they're about:

The Granville Bingo Strategy

The Granville refers to a strategical approach in choosing your tickets, something commonly used among bingo players. According to the Granville, every number has an equal probability of being drawn.

Using this theory, bingo players should choose cards with as many varied numbers as possible - including high and low numbers and even and odd numbers.

Also, the ideal card would have numbers with as many last digits as possible. Although it doesn't guarantee anything, Granville's strategy may help you win in the long run.

The Tippett Bingo Strategy

The Tippett's strategy is based on the principle that in bingo, the numbers drawn tend to get closer to the average number the longer the game is played. The Tippett strategy advises choosing cards with numbers closer to 1 and 75 for playing a quick round.

However, if the round takes time, then it is better to choose cards with numbers closer to the average (for example, 37 and 38 for the 75-point bingo). Again, the strategy doesn't guarantee winnings, but it does increase your chances over a period of time.

Pros and Cons of Online Bingo

Bingo is a favourite game for many Indian players, but also a game that does not suit everyone's taste.

To help you decide which camp you belong to, it's time to examine the pros and cons of online bingo. The following list will help you decide if this game is right for you.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we can confidently assert that online bingo is a game like no other, offering a unique blend of excitement, variety, and winning opportunities.

Although there are a few drawbacks, such as the high house edge, we believe it deserves your attention.

However, whether bingo is the game for you depends on your playing style, preferences, and personal taste. After all, we all have our own strategy and approach to get the most fun and excitement out of gambling.

However, like all forms of gambling, bingo should be played responsibly. Understanding the rules and using strategies and our practical tips are essential elements of playing bingo successfully and safely.

But most importantly, remember that playing bingo should, first and foremost, be a source of entertainment, not a means of getting rich.