How to play bingo
Bingo is one of the easiest games there is: players mark numbers on their cards as a caller draws them, and the first to complete the pattern shouts “Bingo!” Here are the rules for the American 75-ball game and the British 90-ball game, and how to host a game that runs smoothly.
What you need
- A card for each player. Print free numbered cards, or let players use their phones.
- Something to mark with: bingo daubers, pens, coins or buttons.
- A way to draw the numbers: a ball cage, or our free online bingo caller, which draws, calls out and shows every number.
- A few prizes, even small ones. They make every game exciting.
The bingo card
A 75-ball card has five columns, headed B, I, N, G and O, with five numbers in each:
- B has numbers 1 to 15, I 16 to 30, N 31 to 45, G 46 to 60 and O 61 to 75.
- The middle square is a free space, marked from the start.
- Every card is different, so players hold different numbers.
How to play bingo, step by step
- Choose the pattern. Before the first number, the caller announces what wins: a straight line is the classic, and there are dozens more, like four corners, an X or a full card.
- Call the numbers. The caller draws numbers at random and reads each one out with its letter, such as “B 12” or “O 68”. Many callers add the traditional bingo calls, like “legs eleven”.
- Mark your card. If a called number is on your card, mark it. Players with several cards check them all.
- Shout “Bingo!” The moment your marked squares make the pattern, shout it out loud, before the next number is called.
- Check the card. The caller checks the winning card against the numbers called. If it’s right, that player wins the game. If not, play carries on.
- Play again. Clear the cards (or hand out new ones), choose a new pattern and start the next game.
Winning patterns
A line can run across, down or corner to corner. Other popular games are four corners (quick: only B and O numbers can win), X, postage stamps (two 2×2 squares in the corners) and blackout or coverall, where every square must be marked. A good bingo night mixes quick games with a long blackout to finish. See all 75 on our bingo patterns page.
How to check a winner
When someone shouts bingo, stop calling and read their marked numbers back against the numbers called. With our printable cards it’s quicker: every card has a number printed under it, and the bingo card checker (also built into the caller) rebuilds the card from that number and shows whether it has won. If two players win on the same number, they usually share the prize.
90-ball bingo rules
The game played in the UK, Ireland and Australia uses tickets with three rows and nine columns. Each row has five numbers and four blank squares, so a ticket holds 15 of the numbers from 1 to 90. The first column has 1 to 9, the second 10 to 19, and so on up to 80 to 90 in the last.
Each game has three prizes, played in order without clearing the tickets:
- One line: all five numbers on any one row.
- Two lines: any two rows on the same ticket.
- Full house: all 15 numbers.
To draw the numbers, use the bingo number generator in 90-ball mode.
Fun variations
- Picture or word bingo: squares with words or pictures instead of numbers, great for children, classrooms and themed parties. Make cards with the bingo card generator.
- Holiday bingo: festive words or calls, like our Christmas bingo.
- Speed bingo: automatic calling every few seconds, for players who want a challenge.
- Virtual bingo: everyone plays on their phones, in the room or over video. See how to play virtual bingo.
Tips for hosting a bingo night
- Put the board where everyone can see it. A TV or projector showing the last number and every number called stops “what was that?” after every call.
- Find a steady pace. About 5 to 10 seconds a number works for most groups; slow down for children and seniors.
- Start quick, finish big. A few one-line games warm the room up; save blackout for the biggest prize.
- Give out two or three cards each for experienced players, and one for beginners.
Start calling a game Print bingo cards
Bingo rules questions
What are the basic rules of bingo?
Each player has a card of numbers. A caller draws numbers at random and reads them out, and players mark the ones on their card. The first player to complete the pattern being played shouts “Bingo!” and wins once their card is checked.
How many numbers are on a bingo card?
A 75-ball card has 24 numbers and a free space in the middle, in five columns: B, I, N, G and O. A 90-ball ticket has 15 numbers in three rows.
Does the free space count?
Yes. The free space in the middle of a 75-ball card is marked from the start and counts towards any pattern that uses it, such as a line through the middle or an X.
Do diagonals count in bingo?
Yes, in a normal line game a diagonal from corner to corner through the free space counts, as well as any row across or column down. The caller can agree a different rule before the game.
What happens if two people get bingo at the same time?
If both cards are checked and both win on the same number, the usual rule is to share the prize. Some groups play a tiebreak instead, like drawing one more number each.
What if someone shouts bingo by mistake?
Nothing bad happens: the caller checks the card, says it isn’t a winner yet, and the game carries on from the next number.
How long does a game of bingo take?
A one-line game of 75-ball bingo with a room of players usually ends after 10 to 20 numbers. A blackout takes most of the numbers, often 50 or more.