Bingo is a game that finds its origins way back in 16th century Italy. The game we play today is still extremely similar to how it was played back then, perhaps showing the strength of its simplicity and the enduring appeal of this really fun game. One of the things that people love most about bingo is that it's really easy to learn, so for those of you who have never played it before, here's a crash guide to give you the basics.
The aim of the game
Firstly, what is the aim of bingo? Essentially, it is to call 'bingo' before anyone else does so that you win the game – and the prize money.
In order to do this, you will normally have to fill in your card of numbers before everyone else. At the start of every bingo game, you are given at least one bingo card – the number of cards you get depends how many you ask to buy. This is usually broken into twenty five squares, which are filled with numbers. Often the middle square is blacked out.
A bingo caller will then call out numbers as they are drawn and your job is to mark off the corresponding numbers on your card. You win if you fill them all in first. Sometimes variations on the traditional bingo game are played, where you have to fill in a particular line or shape rather than the entire card.
The rules you need to know
There are only a couple of rules that you need to know about before you get down to playing bingo. First of all, the amount of numbers that are called is likely to depend on which version of the game you are playing: American bingo has 75 numbers, while European bingo has 90 numbers.
Whichever version you play, it's a very fun game. One thing to note is that when money is involved, you will normally need to be over the age of 18 to play. Also, when you call out 'bingo', make sure you do it before the next number is called or else you'll miss your chance to win.
Other than that, there isn't really much else to know in order to be able to play bingo. You'll typically be informed of the house rules of the venue where you have chosen to play at the start of the game, but the basic premise always remains the same. This is also true of online bingo, which is a very popular alternative that is played by millions of people.
You don't need to know any special rules in order to play online bingo, but the method of marking your card will inevitably be different as it is all done on screen. Your numbers will also be checked automatically if you win, rather than by an assistant as usually happens with offline bingo.
In conclusion, this is a sweet and simple game that has millions of followers and is still going strong more than 500 years after it was first invented. Even if you're a total beginner, there's no doubt you'll be playing like a pro before long.
