BINGO GLOSSARY
Whether it’s online bingo or land-based bingo there are numerous terms for what bingo is all about. Our glossary should give you a good understanding of what means what.
75-Number Bingo
Stemming from America there are 75 numbers that can be called in this type of bingo.
90-Number Bingo
90-number bingo is like 75-number bingo but has 90 numbers that can be called.
Admission
Players usually have to purchase a minimum number of cards to participate in a bingo game. The purchase of cards is the admission fee.
After Game
The bingo game played after the regular session of play. Online bingo is different as it allows you to play an internet bingo game whenever you please.
Ball Gate
The one-way flap in a ball dispensing machine at the top of the ball runway. The ball passes under the ball gate to enter the main playfield area.
Ball Lifter
The mechanism used to raise the ball from beneath the playfield to the ball shooter tip.
Ball Runway
The channel from which the ball is launched up by the ball shooter to enter the main playfield area.
Ball Shooter
A spring-loaded plunger with a rubber tip, used to launch the bingo ball into the playfield area.
Beano
Beano was the original bingo and was so-called because beans were originally used to cover the numbers called out. Check out 'Where Bingo comes from' to find out more.
Bingo Board
A display board (usually electronic) that lights up showing each number as it is called.
Bingo Booklets
A number of different coloured bingo cards bound together in a booklet. Generally bound in the order in which they will be played.
Bingo Bonus
Given out by many Bingo online sites, bingo bonus is either given out as part of a loyalty program or given out to use to play with as part of your Bingo balance.
Bingo Card
The card is what you purchase to play bingo. There are many thousands of cards with different number variations. Online bingo has virtual cards on screen and work in the same way. Strips of tickets are generally purchased at the start of each game – a ticket is the name for each individual grid of numbers. A strip is a set of six tickets containing all 90 bingo numbers. For online bingo if you are playing many tickets at once, those that are the closest to winning will be automatically placed at the beginning.
Bingo Lingo
The language of bingo is fast-paced and learning the lingo will help you keep up with it.
Bingo Marker/Dauber
In traditional offline bingo, a crayon or ink dauber is used to mark the numbers on a bingo game card as they are called out. For online bingo you may have the choice to “dab” manually, or to use the Auto Dab function. Auto Dab allows all numbers called that match those on your tickets to be marked automatically; this is ideal if you’ve purchased a large number of tickets or if you want to have a chat.
Blackout or Coverall
A variation of bingo in which the object is to cover all spaces on your bingo card, rather than just a line or two lines.
Buzzword Bingo
A game played using buzzwords in place of numbers. Players mark words and phrases on their card as they are spoken. The first player to mark five phrases or words in a row calls “bingo”.
Caller
The person who calls out the bingo numbers.
Cash Ball
A progressive jackpot that pays off on the called number, drawn before the session begins.
Cash In Prize
A bingo game in which the prize is a cash payout, taken from the money paid in.
Cash Match
Many bingo sites offer a cash match on your first deposit i.e. deposit £10 get £10.
Chat Games
Online chat games provide a wide selection of games for players to choose from whilst they are in the chat room. So you can get added opportunity to win bingo jackpots and cash prizes.
Chat Master (CM)
The person in charge of online bingo chat rooms and chat games. Also called the chat moderator, the CM will usually type in capitals or bold font to differentiate themselves from other players and is there to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Chat Room
In online bingo the chat room is an area to chat with other online bingo players, make friends and have a laugh. Chat rooms also offer special bingo chat games, giving you additional chances to win cash and fabulous bingo prizes.
Consolation Prize
This is a prize sometimes offered if there is no winner in a predetermined number of calls.
Early Bird Game
An Early Bird game generally starts before the session but sometimes it refers to the first game of the session. The first game of a session is also more commonly known as a Warm Up.
Full House
A winning pattern in which a player has marked off all the numbers on their ticket.
Game Board
An electronic display board next to the bingo board that displays the pattern needed to win that particular game. The game board looks like a bingo card and shows the variation of bingo being played.
Game Room
When playing online bingo, players can often enter different “game rooms” to play or chat.
Hard Ball
The first number drawn at the start of the bingo session.
Instant Bingo
75-number bingo: a break open ticket which contains the letters B I N G O, bingo card faces, bingo numbers, and no other symbols. Players must incorporate letters spelling the word B-I-N-G-O or complete a pre designated bingo pattern (vertical, horizontal or diagonal line) in order to win.
Jackpot
The largest cash prize, usually awarded for achieving a difficult pattern (such as a blackout or a selected shape) within a specified number of balls.
Main Stage Bingo
The main event of a session of bingo games.
Minimum Buy-in
The minimum amount that players must spend to play bingo and to be eligible for prizes.
Money Ball
A number drawn before the game that offers double winnings for the player who achieves “bingo” on that number.
Moonlight Bingo
A session of bingo that starts late at night (usually around 10pm), also called Late Night Bingo.
Multiple Winners
If two or more players achieve bingo at the same time, the prize is divided equally between them.
On
A player is “on” if one or more of their cards is missing only one number to achieve bingo.
On The Way
The game played prior to the blackout on the same card.
Pattern
The pattern players need to make on their card, by covering corresponding numbers when called out, in order to win. For 90-number bingo, the patterns include single line across, two lines across and full house.
Payout
The percentage of sales paid out by the house.
Postage Stamp Pattern
A pattern that covers four numbers in a postage stamp formation (a 2 x 2 grid) in any of the four corners on a bingo card.
Prize Bingo
A game of bingo in which a set prize, vouchers or cash can be won.
Progressive Jackpot
A bingo jackpot which increases continually over time if not won in a set number of calls.
Quickie
A bingo game in which the numbers are called as quickly as possible and the player’s card must be fully covered to win.
Rainbow Pack
A paper bingo pack that allows players to play for three or four different prizes at once.
Roomies
A collective term for players who are in a chat room.
Session
In traditional bingo a session usually lasts between two and a half hours to three hours. In online bingo a session is simply the amount of time you play for. There are no time limits with online bingo, and you can have a session of bingo at any time, day or night. Play online bingo today to see for yourself!
Single Line Across
A pattern in which a player has marked off all the numbers on one row of their card.
Special
Games played with a set of cards different to those purchased at admission.
Speed Bingo
A variation of bingo in which numbers are called very quickly and players can achieve bingo in as few as three numbers. Speed bingo is usually played before or after a regular session.
Split Pot
A bingo game in which the winner splits the sales of the game (the pot) with the bingo hall or house.
Two Lines Across
A pattern in which a player has marked off all the numbers on two rows of their bingo card.
Wager
This is the total amount you have staked on a game.
Wrap Up
The last game of a bingo session.
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