Bingo Glossary – Online Bingo terms in Bingo Glossary.
Some terms in Bingo Glossary
Below is a comprehensive glossary of terms commonly used in Bingo, along with additional context and explanations for clarity. This overview provides an in-depth understanding of the game, its variants, and terminology.
A
- Action Card: A card used in some variations where special actions can apply, often affecting gameplay outcomes.
- Adult Bingo: A version of Bingo designed for adult players that usually incorporates themed games, such as charity events or nightlife entertainment.
- Bingo Anticipation: The excitement felt by players as their card numbers are called, especially when they are close to winning.
- Ball Machine: A device used in Bingo halls to randomly draw numbered balls during gameplay.
B
- Bingo: A game of chance in which players mark off numbers on cards as they are drawn randomly and the objective is usually to complete a specific pattern.
- Bingo Card: A card printed with a 5×5 grid of numbers, usually featuring a “FREE” space in the middle. Players mark the numbers as they are called.
- Bingo Hall: A venue where Bingo games are played, set up with multiple tables and often equipped with electronic devices for calling numbers.
- Bingo Caller: The person who is responsible for drawing and announcing the numbers and ensuring the game runs smoothly.
- Bingo Markers: Tools (like daubers, pens, or chips) used by players to mark their Bingo cards.
- Bonanza Bingo: A game format where a predetermined payout is established, and players can win large sums.
C
- Card Verification: The process of confirming the validity of a winning Bingo card before awarding a prize.
- Chat Bingo: An online version of Bingo where players can chat while playing, often enhancing the social aspect of the game.
- Coverall: A game where players must mark all numbers on their Bingo card to win, typically with a larger prize.
- Cumulative Jackpot: A prize pot that increases over multiple games until it is won.
D
- Dauber: A special ink applicator used by players to mark their Bingo cards efficiently.
- Double Bingo: A win condition where players must complete two different patterns on their cards to win.
E
- Electronic Bingo: A modern variation of Bingo that involves electronic devices or machines that automate the game.
- Extra Ball: A bonus ball that may be drawn to provide players with additional chances to win.
F
- Free Space: The center square of a Bingo card that is automatically considered filled and does not require a number to be marked.
- Flash Bingo: A rapid version of Bingo where numbers are called quickly to keep the game moving.
G
- Game Pattern: The specific arrangement of numbers that must be matched on a Bingo card to win. Common patterns include straight lines, crosses, and full cards.
- Gambler’s Fallacy: The belief that past events can influence future outcomes in games of chance, like Bingo.
H
- Housie: A variation of Bingo played mainly in the UK, typically with different rules than standard Bingo.
I
- Instant Bingo: A type of Bingo where players can win immediately upon purchasing or playing the card.
- Interface: The digital layout of an online Bingo game, including how the Bingo cards and number calls are presented to the player.
J
- Jackpot: A large prize awarded, often for special achievements, such as completing a particular game pattern in fewer calls than predetermined.
- Join the Game: The term used to invite players to participate in a Bingo round.
K
- Keno Bingo: A hybrid game that combines elements of Bingo and Keno, featuring more complex betting and winning opportunities.
L
- Line Bingo: A basic win condition where players need to mark off a complete horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line.
- Lucky Numbers: Specific numbers believed by players to bring them luck during the game.
M
- Matrix: The arrangement of numbers on a Bingo card; in traditional games, this is often a 5×5 grid.
- Mixed Games: Bingo games that combine different types of play and rules.
N
- Numbered Balls: The balls pulled from the ball machine, usually numbered from 1 to a maximum (like 75 or 90).
- No Win Situation: A scenario in which no player successfully completes a game’s winning pattern after all numbers have been called.
O
- Online Bingo: A digital format of Bingo played over the Internet, often featuring chat rooms and various themed games.
- Overlay: An event where the guarantee for a jackpot or prize pool exceeds the total amount collected from buy-ins.
P
- Pattern Bingo: A format where specific patterns must be achieved to claim a win, as opposed to just completing lines.
- Progressive Jackpot: A jackpot that increases with each game or round until someone wins, often requiring a specific condition to win it.
Q
- Quinella: A variation of Bingo where players can win by matching numbers in any order.
R
- Redeemable Tickets: Tickets earned during Bingo games that can be exchanged for prizes, cash, or other rewards.
- Regular Game: The standard format of a Bingo game without special rules or variations.
S
- Shade: The action of marking a number or space on a Bingo card.
- Speed Bingo: A fast-paced game format where numbers are called quickly, and players must react swiftly.
- Special Event Bingo: A themed or unique Bingo game that is often organized for charity or special occasions featuring special prizes.
- Slips: Small cards or pieces of paper used in some Bingo games to track player wins or scores.
T
- Tombola: A Bingo-like game popular in some regions, usually involving a rotating drum filled with numbered balls.
- Tournament Bingo: A competitive form of Bingo where players compete in rounds with the potential for larger prizes based on their performance.
U
- Up to 90 Bingo: A game using 90-numbered balls, leading to different strategies and gameplay types compared to 75-ball Bingo.
V
- Variation: Different formats or rule sets that modify how traditional Bingo is played, such as using different patterns or the number of cards.
W
- Winner: A player who successfully completes a specified pattern and claims the prize.
- Wild Card: A special element in some modern Bingo games that can substitute for any number on the card.
Y
- Yard Sale Bingo: A fun, community-focused version of Bingo where prizes are donated items, often seen at local fundraisers.
Conclusion
Bingo is a versatile game with a rich history that has evolved quite a bit over the years, adapting to different audiences and experiences. Whether played in a traditional hall, at home, or online, understanding these terms enhances both the knowledge and enjoyment of players. As you delve into the world of Bingo, these definitions will provide a useful reference to enrich your experience, whether you’re a casual player or a seasoned Bingo enthusiast.
Bingo Lingo
Bingo callers in traditional English bingo halls often use funny little names when calling out the numbers, these are known as bingo calls. Unfortunately, the calls are used less frequently nowadays and are virtually non-existent online, however, because they’re quite fun and because they hold a particularly special place in my memory bank we wanted to include something, even if by way of a little homage to the old days.
Each number from 1-90 has its own bingo call. Some of the bingo lingo is very simple, such as ‘Four and Nine’: 49. Other nicknames follow cockney rhyming slang, such as ‘Pick and Mix’: 26. Occasionally, the bingo call will rhyme with the number, for example ‘Tom’s Tricks’: 6. Other bingo calls don’t rhyme at all but instead have a biblical association e.g. ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’: 23 (referring to Psalm 23 in the Bible) – not very good for those of us who didn’t pay much attention in RE…
Most bingo lingo numbers have more than one call, and depending on the caller’s personality will have a favourite of his own. For example, he may prefer the rhyming slang association; ‘Garden Gate’ (which rhymes with 8), or the visual representation ‘One Fat Lady’ (because the shape of a figure 8 looks like a larger woman wearing a tight belt).
- After Game – The last game of a session.
- Admission Packet – The minimum number of cards that players have to buy for their admission.
- Ball Runway – The opening where the ball shooters launch balls to go into the main playing area.
- Ball Lifter – It is a device for lifting the ball from playing area to shooter.
- Bingo Board – usually an electronic board that lights up with the calling of each number.
- Ball Shooter – The plunger who launch the ball in the playfield area.
- Bingo Marker – A marker for marking off the bingo cards’ numbers.
- Bingo Card – The card required for playing the game; it contains 24 numbers and a vacant space in the lay-out of 5 rows and 5 columns.
- Break Open – numerous cards that are made from paper products or paper with perforated tabs for break open.
- Coverall or Blackout – The act of covering all the called-out numbers, players aim to cover all numbers to win.
- Chat Room – The room in an online bingo site where gamers interact with one another.
- Caller – The person responsible for calling bingo numbers out when the numbers are drawn.
- Cash-In-Prize – A game that offers a prize in place of cash rewards.
- Dauber – A pen that comes with a foam tip to cross called-out numbers off.
- Early Bird Games – bingo games that start before the general schedule.
- Face – bingo sheets that come with one empty space and 24 numbers.
- Free Space – the Square in the middle of each card that counts towards players’ wining game.
- Four Corners – The numbers found on the four corners of the card. Players can win a game if they get these four numbers.
- Game Room – rooms that are designed for different types of bingo games and to divide players as per their selection of games.
- House – the centre or hall where the game takes place, it can also be the operator or owner of gambling games.
- Hard-way Bingo – A game which is played in straight line without using the vacant space.
- Instant Bingo – It is meant for open tickets contain the letters B I N G O. Winning tickets come with the word B-I-N-G-O or a bingo pattern or logo.
- Jackpot – A huge prize given away for completing a difficult bingo pattern.
- Lucky Jar – it is the other name for cookie jar that contains cash. Players that win a game also win the jar and take the cash home. Money is added to the jar every time the lucky numbers are called and when bingo callers make a mistake in game.
- Late Night Bingo -games that begin quite late at night, usually around 10pm, these games are also called Moonlight Bingo.
- Minimum Buy-in – The minimum mandatory amount that gamers have to spend to be entitled for playing and winning prizes.
- Multiple Winners – When more than one player wins at the same time.
- On The Way – The game that is played before the blackout game on the same card.
- On – players those who are lacking just one number for winning are considered as ‘On’.
- Pattern – To win a game, players need certain patterns like straight line, vertical, horizontal or diagonal line to cover the numbers on the card.
- Payout – It is the percentage of sales that is paid by the House. Majority of bingo halls pay around 75% out of their sales.
- Progressive Jackpot – A special type of Jackpot that keeps on growing in amount until a player finally wins.
- Prize Bingo – Cash which is offered as the prize for winning a game.
- Quickie – A fast-paced game in which numbers are called rapidly and to win the card has to be full and all numbers need to be crossed off.
- Rainbow Pack – It is a paper booklet which enables players to play for multiple prizes simultaneously.
- RNG – Acronym for Random Number Generator; it is an electronic device that generate numbers randomly for a game.
- Reno Night – this term means an evening filled with various casino games such as blackjack and roulette.
- Session – An entire evening or day time scheduled for bingo.
- Shutter Board – A reusable board made of plastic that come with pre-printed numbers in a 4×4 format; player’s numbers mark off the numbers by closing the shutters over each number.
- Speed Bingo – A faster version of regular bingo where numbers are called out quickly and players can win in just three numbers; most new bingo sites host these games.
- Speed Game – this game is played as a single game and with a single card in the way mentioned above.
- Six-pack, Nine-pack – six or nine numbers placed in one block on one card.
- Split Pot – where winners split the pot with the House or bingo hall.
- T.E.D., G.T.I. – An electronic marking method which is used to play several different packs at once.
- Tickets – these are the printed pages laid out in grids on which the bingo is played. Tickets usually come in books and some of them come with bar codes describing numbers to help check claims.
- Texas Blackout – A specific variants of bingo games.
- Wrap Up – it refers to the last game of a particular bingo session.
- Wild Number – generally played on double bingo that eventually lead to triple bingo, The first called-out number decides the wild number; for example if 38 is the first called-out number all numbers that end with 8 need to be marked off.
The online bingo demographic has created a language to encourage a sense of community. Our list is provided as a dictionary of terms to help all confused players! So now there’s nothing stopping you. The next time you are asked for a quickie, don’t freak out!