Since bingo was first invented, several different variants of the game have developed. So there are several variants of bingo to choose from for you as a player. In addition, the game developers continue to develop new features and new types of bingo games to give you as a player even more choices.
The aim of this guide is to give you, the player, an overview of the games that exist, and help you find the version that best suits you.
Here are some of the most popular variants of online bingo games:
90-ball bingo
This is one of the most common type of bingo games, especially in the UK. It uses cards with 15 numbers in three rows and nine columns. There are three prizes to be won: one-line, two-line, and full house. The full house prize is usually the biggest and it requires you to mark off all the numbers on your card.
75-ball bingo/Classic bingo
This is the most popular type of bingo game in the US. It uses cards with 25 numbers in five rows and five columns with numbers between 1 and 75. The middle square is usually free and counts as a marked number. When you play this version of the game, you need to get five numbers in a row, whether horizontally, vertically or diagonally to get bingo.
Variant bingo with 75 numbers
Variant bingo is a type of bingo with 75 balls. The big difference between Classic Bingo and Variant Bingo is that the latter contains five different draws before the game is over. Just as in Classic Bingo, you can get a Bingo horizontally, vertically or diagonally in the first round. When someone has got bingo on one row, you move on and play two rows, then you have to be the first one to get two horizontal rows within the same bingo square. Then you continue with three rows, four rows and five rows.
As there are five draws in Variant Bingo, of course the chances of getting a Bingo with the same card increases. To get a Bingo in Variant Bingo you have to fill in the following:
First round – 1 row
Second round – 2 rows
Third round – 3 rows
Fourth round – 4 rows
Fifth round – 5 rows
Pattern Bingo
Another version of bingo is Pattern Bingo. When you play Pattern Bingo, you need to, depending on your card’s appearance, get the numbers that are predetermined in a specific pattern. You might come across patterns such as numbers, letters, symmetrical patterns or something else entirely. To get a Bingo you have to get all the numbers in the predetermined pattern.
80-ball bingo
This is a type of bingo game that is designed for online play. It uses cards with 16 numbers in four rows and four columns. Each column has often a different color: red, yellow, blue, or silver. There are various ways to win, such as getting a single line, two lines, three lines, four corners, or a full house.
30-ball bingo
This is also known as speed bingo because it is the fastest type of bingo game. It uses cards with nine numbers in three rows and three columns. The only way to win is to get a full house by marking off all the numbers on your card. This game is ideal for players who want a quick and exciting bingo experience.
If several get bingo, the prize is shared
If several bingo players get bingo at the same time in a game round, they have to share the prize. Therefore, you preferably want to be the only one to get bingo so that you get as big a prize as possible. However, it is not very common to be a solo winner.
Jackpots
Regardless of the type of bingo game, there can be one or more jackpots in the game. Jackpots are special prizes that are awarded to players who meet certain conditions, such as getting a full house within a specific number of calls, or completing a special pattern on their cards. Jackpots can vary in size and type, depending on the bingo game and site you play at. They are paid out in addition to the regular prize pool and are an extra prize that you compete for if there is a jackpot in the game.