In the last 20 years, Bingo has moved from bingo halls and community centres to being played on mobile phones and laptops at the kitchen table.
In 1999 there were no banking applications, and the internet wasn’t as useful or accessible as it is now. Hard to believe that it is not that long ago!
Technology and the internet have changed how we socialise and play games like bingo – in fact, it has change bingo as we know it from three lines and a dabber to fun extras like 5 line bingo and chat rooms.
If you’ve only played Bingo a few times, you might be asking what is 5 line bingo?
Don’t worry! We’ll cover that and more, along with plenty of bingo tips and tricks for a fantastic ladies’ night!
It surprises most people to find out how old bingo is. It originated in 1530 in Italy, and by the 60s was the chosen night out for many women.
Women have been the main driver in the success of online bingo, too; according to YouGov, 62% of bingo players are female.
- A 60s revolution
Bingo is so woven into the fabric of the British culture; there were bingo halls all over the country. Going ‘out-out’ at the weekend often involved a meal, some drinks, and a few games of Bingo.
The Liverpool Echo reported that bingo club membership was a massive 14 million in the 60s. One bingo club stating that they had a daily intake of 150,000 players per day in the mid-60s.
There were 1,000 bingo halls in the UK in the 60s, but that has plummeted and is less than half in 2020.
In the 60’s, many females would head to a bingo hall with friends for a ‘night out’.
- What does a typical night out playing bingo look like?
Now we are used to Twitter parties, Zoom cocktails, online game nights, and socialising online more than off.
But before bingo broke big online, getting ready for an evening out with your lucky dabber and best friends was a big deal.
Many women still enjoy heading to the bingo hall or playing in the local pubs and there is a lot of preparation:
- Decide who is driving, or which order the Uber or taxi will pick people up.
- Discussing and deciding on the best outfit.
- Arrive at the bingo hall a little bit early to get the lucky table and drinks.
- Choose your ticket packs or sets for the evening.
- Get change from the change machine to play the machines at the table.
- Chat quietly, discussing your bingo strategy while dabbing and hoping for a win.
- Head home happy and chatty.
It takes a lot more effort to get ready for a night out playing bingo than some games online. And, it usually costs more too!
Playing online with friends is much more relaxing; another considerable perk is you can spend less and win more online.
Playing online bingo with friends
Cocktails, coffees or hot chocolate are all available and much cheaper when made at home. Having a ladies night of online bingo is a low effort but high fun activity.
Here are a couple of things you might consider when playing Bingo online with friends:
Arrange who is hosting the call, or the meet-up.
- Make sure you have your comfiest loungewear ready.
- Pick your perfect online bingo website, and choose the same room.
- Set a playing budget for the evening.
- Make a snack plate.
- If you aren’t playing in the same house, you can use the online chat space.
- Celebrate or commiserate together.
Of course, you could always choose to glam up and ditch the loungewear – after all, how often do we get to dress up just because?
Playing Bingo strategically
A few tips and tricks can help you increase your chance of a win when you are playing bingo.
Make sure you have your lucky dabber or lucky socks when you play is the first step, and always take advantage of deposit matching and free bingo cash when possible.
Here are some others:
Calculate your odds per room
To calculate your odds of winning, you divide the number of bingo cards you have by the total number of cards in the game.
The only exception to watch out for is progressive jackpots, as there isn’t a guaranteed winner.
Peak playing hours
The more players in each room, the lower the chance of your winning. If you do win, you are more likely to have to share the prize pot too.
Although peak hours are great for socialising, you might not find them the best to secure a win.
Many people believe by playing a game of bingo when it is not a peak time increases the chances of you winning.
Game selection
There are different bingo game styles, including 75-ball, 90-ball, 5 line bingo and speed bingo.
Choosing the bingo that you prefer to play and are more experienced in will mean you play in a relaxed manner.
You will also be more familiar with game specials, bonuses and bingo card costs.
Bankroll
The most crucial strategy for a win is knowing how much of your cash, bingo promotions, free play, prize draws, and deposits amount to.
Once you set a bankroll amount, you should never really spend more than 2-3% of it per session.
For example, if you have set aside £1,000 for your total bankroll, never spend more than £30 in a session or day – even if you win.
Cards
When you factor in the time you are playing, the rooms you are playing in, and your bankroll, you can make intelligent decisions about your cards.
Usually, the more cards you have, the higher your chance of winning is.
Look at it like this:
One hundred players in a room, they buy six cards each. You use your bingo strategy and buy 20 tickets. The other players have less than a 1% chance of a win.
It’s not a given that you will win, but it is more likely.
With so many different online bingo options, there is something for everyone. The real question is – what will you play first?