Online bingo is very popular all over the world. And perhaps in the UK it may be even more popular. The game is rapidly gaining followers in the United States as well. Of course, when it comes to online bingo, there are a variety of different types. In the United States, players prefer to play American bingo. American bingo is known as 75 ball bingo. This bingo game has some major differences from the standard 90 ball bingo that is usually played in the UK.
The important differences between British and American bingo
Online bingo is very popular all over the world. And perhaps in the UK it may be even more popular. The game is rapidly gaining followers in the United States as well.
Of course, when it comes to online bingo, there are a variety of different types. USA players prefer to play American bingo – 75 Ball bingo. This bingo game has some major differences from the standard 90 ball bingo that is usually played in the UK.
As we all know in the US everything is bigger. Cars are bigger, houses, cities and hamburgers are bigger. However, and it is curious, American bingo has fewer numbers of balls and smaller bingo cards. This usually means that American bingo games are faster and offer more winning opportunities to bingo players.
The history of American bingo
For several centuries the game of bingo has existed in many different forms. This fact makes bingo one of the oldest games that can be played online today. Since the beginning of the 20th century Bingo has evolved into the modern game as we know it today. The credit goes to a man named Hugh Ward who helped to develop the modern rules of bingo and popularize it.
From that point on, the game of bingo began to appear at carnivals and fairs throughout the United States. In 1929, Edwin Lowe, a toy merchant, went to a carnival where he was introduced to bingo. Mr. Lowe saw the potential of bingo and brought the game to the public. He is also credited with giving the game the catchy name “Bingo!” that we still use today when we have a winner.
Since then, bingo has become very popular among many people in the United States and around the world. In the United States, bingo has traditionally been popular with churches and charities as a way to raise funds. Today, bingo halls still exist in some USA states. Although U.S. players cannot play bingo online for real money, players from the rest of the world can still enjoy American bingo.
American Bingo Features
If you have never played bingo before, don’t worry, the game is easy to learn and even easier to play. Just follow our guide and you’ll soon have a lot of fun and hopefully, you’ll win too.
In any form of online bingo, you have cards that contain numbers. The numbers appear throughout the game. When your numbers are called, you cross them off your card. Winners are declared when they achieve a certain pattern. The type of patterns you need will depend on the variant of the game you are playing. The rules of American bingo are explained in more detail below.
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Bingo cards
Bingo cards contain a grid filled with numbers. In American bingo, each card contains a 5×5 grid with twenty-four numbers plus a free space in the center. The numbers are randomly generated when the card is purchased, and individual cards or strips can be purchased.
A strip contains 3 bingo cards and includes all numbers from 1 to 75. The rules may vary depending on the variant you play. However, in most cases you can buy up to 6 strips, i.e. 18 cards in total. Obviously, the more cards you buy, the more chances you have of winning, although the possibility of winning with just one card is not ruled out.
The numbers
When you join a game of American bingo you buy cards and wait for the room to fill up. Once the room is full, the game begins and the numbers are called at random. In online bingo games, the numbers are chosen by a random number generator to ensure that it is completely fair.
Each time a number is called out, you can check if it is on one of your tickets and mark it. But don’t worry about missing it, as the game will mark the matching numbers automatically. As you cross off numbers on your tickets, you’ll be looking to make a pattern to win.
To make your tickets easier to read, groups of numbers are contained within specific columns.
- B column – contains numbers 1-15
- I column – contains numbers 16-30
- N column – contains numbers 31-45
- G column – contains numbers 46-60
- O column – contains numbers 61-75
How to win
In bingo there are many different ways to win. In American bingo, you can get several winners in a single game. If you want to know how to play bingo, you will need to look for these patterns to win:
- Lines – Lines are a straight line of five numbers across the card. These can be horizontal, vertical or diagonal.
- Patterns – Patterns are specific groups of numbers that will be explained before the game starts. Some common types of patterns include crosses, letters and four corners.
- Full House or Coverall – A full house is where every space on a ticket is crossed out and this usually pays out the biggest prize to the lucky winner. In American Bingo, this is usually referred to as a coverall.
Some games also combine different winning conditions, so you may have to get a line and a pattern or a line and a coverall. If you are unsure, check the room rules before you play or ask one of the staff members in the chat room. The online bingo game will always automatically identify when a player has won, so don’t worry if you have forgotten to mark your card.
The main differences between UK bingo and American bingo
The American version of bingo has some important differences when compared to the classic UK bingo. The game of bingo is still just as easy, however, you need to know the differences before you start playing.
The main differences between British bingo and American bingo are as follows:
- Fewer balls – Of course, the American version of bingo features a total of 75 numbered balls, 15 less than in the classic UK version of the game. This means that games are generally completed a big quicker, letting players enjoy more games in a shorter space of time. The fact that there are fewer balls also changes how many numbers on a bingo cards. 75 is the highest number in bingo.
- Different tickets – Because there are fewer numbers in American bingo, the tickets are slightly different too. Each American bingo ticket contains a 5×5 grid, with 24 numbers and one free space in the centre. Although the tickets look different, you use them in the same way, daubing numbers as they’re called out and the free space in the middle counts as a daubed number.
- New ways to win – One of the best aspects of American bingo is that there are new ways to win such as patterns. Bingo patterns come in a variety of shapes and add a fun new way to win as well as potentially leading to big prizes. Many American bingo games feature progressive jackpots that can be won by completing a specific pattern on your bingo ticket.
American bingo popularity
Why is American bingo so popular? Perhaps because American bingo is the easiest game to play and offers the fastest pace with the potential for bigger prizes. Thanks to the growing popularity of online bingo, American bingo is taking the world by storm.
The most common reasons why players like to play American bingo:
- Unique patterns – The unique patterns that are required for a win always add a bit of variety to the game. Different games require different patterns meaning no two games of American bingo are alike. This variety helps to make the game stand out more compared to other forms such as 90 Ball bingo.
- Fast-paced – Because American bingo uses fewer balls, games tend to be faster than 90 Ball Bingo. Winners are found quicker, and this means you can get more games in during a shorter period of time. If you love fast-paced Bingo and quick wins, you’ll no doubt love playing American Bingo.
- Bigger prizes – In American bingo, players can match patterns on their tickets for big potential prizes. While most games feature standard lines and full house prizes too, a special jackpot is usually available to be won by those who are lucky enough to make a pattern. Some American bingo games have rollover jackpots that keep getting bigger until someone wins them.
Overview
Now you know the differences between American and British bingo and how to play for maximum fun and the best chances of success – it’s time to shout “Bingo!” Check out our recommended online casinos and choose one to try the different online bingo variants mentioned in this article. Remember to play online bingo for real money just for fun and responsibly.