Even if you have never played a game of Bingo, chances are that you have heard about it. It is essentially a game of luck, in which traditionally, each player held a card. The card has a 5×5 grid of numbers, with the centre square ‘Free’. This means that it is a wild card. Numbers are called out, and if they match a line, horizontal, vertical, or diagonal, on your card, you win.

It is so straightforward that it has been a hugely popular game for decades now. It is estimated that in the 1960s, there were as many as 14 million active bingo players in the UK alone. While it lost some popularity over the year to other forms of entertainment, it is now making a comeback. Online gaming has introduced so many more people to bingo, that it is now being adopted even in its physical version again!

Getting started

So how do you get started? Below are a few pointers on Playing Bingo, both the online and physical versions.

• Which bingo site?: There is an umpteen number of bingo sites around today. If you are confused, check some online reviews of the best ones around and try one or two of them.
• Set up an account: Before you try them out though, you will have to register. Typically, these sites ask for basic details, including payment details before you can start playing.
• Choosing a game: A dashboard will show you the games currently being played to choose from. They will also tell you the number of players in the game and the prize money. These will help you make the best pick for you.
• Setting a budget: It is advisable to restrict yourself to a budget. We do not want to get so carried away with a fun game that we lose our savings to it!
• Get a good seat: If you are playing bingo in an actual hall, it can pay to be well seated. To do this, try to arrive early so you have options to choose from. A seat that comfortably allows you to tick off the numbers can be good too.
• Interact, interact: Whether through an online chat or at the actual hall, interacting with players can be fun and possibly profitable! It allows players to learn from each others and even apply some tips and tricks to their game.

Tips and tricks

This brings us to some quick tactics that can be used to win a game of bingo. It appears to be just a game of chance. But there are plenty of hacks around. There are even some statistical strategies that can be employed. Some of the best hacks are:

• Opportune times: When there are fewer players in a game, your likelihood of winning is greater, because there is less competition. Try play during weekdays or during odd hours, when there is less likelihood of people playing.
• Number of cards: It’s easy to comprehend that having more cards increases your chances of winning. Some online bingo websites make it even easier by automatically tracking the numbers for you, which alleviates the concern of keeping up with multiple cards. This feature automatically crosses out called numbers for you.
• Choose better odds: Certain games offer more opportunities to win than others. For instance, Jackpotjoy provides information on their website on how to play bingo, that details these winning games. Some of their games offer five ways to win instead of the standard three.
• Diversify the game: There are various online bingo games to choose from, so why not experiment with different variations? You may find that some games are more suitable for you than others.

Winning strategies

You can also try out two winning strategies for playing bingo that are based on statistics and probability. The first is the Granville strategy, developed by financial expert Joseph E Granville in the 1970s. It recommends purchasing balanced cards. This means that they should have unique numbers that include high and low figures, odd and even numbers. Ideally, numbers ending in digits 1-9 should be selected.

The next is the Tippett strategy, created by British statistician Leonard Tippett. This is based on the length of the game. It says that in shorter games, numbers at the extreme ends of the range, such as 1 or 75, are more likely to be called. On the other hand, in longer games, numbers closer to the average value of 38 are more likely to be called.

Play bingo

With a full guide to get you started, why not give bingo a try. It has not been a popular game for decades for no reason. It is easy, social and enjoyable. There are also big cash prizes to be won. With online gaming it is now more accessible than ever, with a straightforward process to start playing. And there are plenty of winning tricks to try too!

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