How to play bingo
Bingo is a game of chance: a caller draws numbered balls at random and players mark the matching numbers on their cards. The first player to complete the agreed pattern shouts “bingo!” and wins. These are the rules of the two most common versions.
75-ball bingo
- Each player has a card with a 5×5 grid under the letters B-I-N-G-O. The centre square is free.
- The caller draws a ball and announces its letter and number, for example “B 12”.
- Players mark that number if it is on their card.
- The first player to complete the winning pattern (a row, column or diagonal, four corners, or a full card) calls bingo.
- The caller checks the numbers. If they were all called, the player wins.
90-ball bingo
- Each ticket has 3 rows and 9 columns with 15 numbers between 1 and 90.
- The caller draws a ball and announces the number.
- Players cross it off if it is on their ticket.
- There are usually three prizes: the first complete row (one line), then two rows (two lines), then all 15 numbers (full house).
Tips for running a game
- Agree the winning pattern and the prizes before the first ball.
- Call each number clearly, and twice in a noisy room.
- Keep the called numbers visible so a winning card can be checked at once. The board on this site does that, and you can tap any number to see whether it was called.
- In a big room, use projector mode so everyone can see the last ball.
Ready to play? Open the 75-ball or 90-ball bingo caller, or read about playing bingo online.