One of the less expected twists in the entertainment industry over the past decade has been the astonishing revival of bingo. This old school game was once the Friday night activity of choice in towns and suburbs in Europe and America, before fading into obscurity at the turn of the millennium. Then, sometime in the 2010s, bingo became cool again.
Part of this revival is due to the success of online bingo platforms, which allow anyone to play real money bingo alone or with friends from the comfort of their homes. However, there are thousands of online bingo games out there, not all of which are created equal. Here are our top tips for choosing the right bingo for you, the first time around.
Look for jackpot games
Some online bingo games are quite standard and offer a set prize that does not change from game to game. However, some platforms that allow you to play bingo online, such as Paddy Power, also offer so-called “jackpot bingo” games. With these, every single card played by every player contributes to a collective prize pot on top of the main prize. At some point, one lucky player will win this special jackpot, which can eventually grow to six-figure sums. If you’re looking for bigger prizes, jackpot bingo is the way to go.
How many balls?
Some people don’t realize that there are multiple variants of bingo. There is 75-ball bingo, which is more common in the US, and there is 90-ball bingo, which is more common in the UK and most of Europe. In between, you can find 80, 85, or even 100-ball bingo.
The choice you make here is important. 75-ball bingo usually only offers one way to win (a pattern), but also has bigger top prizes for those that do. Meanwhile, 90-ball games allow three main ways to win, a line, two lines, and a house. Top prizes are lower, but there are also opportunities to win side prizes via the “chat games”.
Do you want to play socially?
Some people prefer to play bingo solo, while others enjoy the social experience. If you’re a social bingo player, you should only sign-up for bingo platforms that offer social features, such as an in-game chat room and the opportunity for you and your friends to all enter the same virtual bingo lounge at once. Not all bingo websites offer this, so read the T&Cs carefully before you create an account.
Look for free games
In order to play online bingo, you will need to make your stake of some kind, usually by purchasing your virtual bingo card. However, there are ways to play online bingo for real prizes without spending a penny. Look out for bingo websites that offer a sign-up bonus for new members. With these, you can get credit from the bingo site to spend on a certain number of games, with any cash you win on these games going straight to your player account. If you love a bargain, be savvy when choosing online bingo sites.
Online bingo is a lot of fun, especially if you do your research beforehand. Follow these tips to find the right game for you, the first time around.
