Bingo cards are playing cards designed to facilitate the game of Bingo in its various forms around the world.
History[edit]
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In the early 1500s the people of Italy began to play a game called 'Lo Gioco del Lotto d'Italia,' which literally means 'The game of lotto of Italy.' The game operated very much like a modern lottery as players placed bets on the chances of certain numbers being drawn. By the 1700s, a version of Lo Gioco del Lotto d'Italia was played in France, where paper cards were first used to keep track of numbers drawn by a caller.[1]
Before the advent of printing machines, numbers on bingo cards were either painted by hand or stamped using rubber stamps onto thick cardboard.[2] Cards were reusable, meaning players used tokens to mark called numbers. The number of unique cards was limited as randomization had to occur by hand. Before the advent of online Bingo, cards were printed on card stock and, increasingly, disposable paper.[3] While cardboard and paper cards are still in use, Bingo halls are turning more to 'flimsies' (also called 'throwaways') — a card inexpensively printed on very thin paper to overcome increasing cost — and electronic Bingo cards to overcome the difficulty with randomization.[4][5]
Types of Cards[edit]
There are two types of Bingo cards. One is a 5x5 grid meant for 75-ball Bingo, which is largely played in the U.S. The other uses a 9x3 grid for U.K. style 'Housie' or 90-ball Bingo.[6]
75-ball Bingo Cards[edit]
Players use cards that feature five columns of five squares each, with every square containing a number (except the middle square, which is designated a 'FREE' space). The columns are labeled 'B' (numbers 1–15), 'I' (numbers 16–30), 'N' (numbers 31–45), 'G' (numbers 46–60), and 'O' (numbers 61–75).[7]
Randomization[edit]
A popular Bingo myth[8] claims that U.S. Bingo innovator Edwin S. Lowe contracted Columbia University professor Carl Leffler to create 6,000 random and unique Bingo cards. The effort is purported to have driven Leffler insane. Manual random permutation is an onerous and time-consuming task that limited the number of Bingo cards available for play for centuries.
The calculation of random permutations is a matter of statistics principally relying on the use of factorial calculations. In its simplest sense, the number of unique 'B' columns assumes that all 15 numbers are available for the first row. That only 14 of the numbers are available for the second row (one having been consumed for the first row). And that only 13, 12, and 11 numbers are available for each of the third, fourth, and fifth rows. Thus, the number of unique 'B' (and 'I', 'G', and 'O', respectively) columns is (15*14*13*12*11) = 360,360. The combinations of the 'N' column differ due to the use of the free space. Therefore, it has only (15*14*13*12) = 32,760 unique combinations. The product of the five rows (360,3604 * 32,760) describes the total number of unique playing cards. That number is 552,446,474,061,128,648,601,600,000 simplified as 5.52x1026 or 552 septillion.
Printing a complete set of Bingo cards is impossible for all practical purposes. If one trillion cards could be printed each second, a printer would require more than seventeen thousand years to print just one set. However, while the number combination of each card is unique, the number of winning cards is not. If a winning game using e.g. row #3 requires the number set B10, I16, G59, and O69, there are 333,105,095,983,435,776 (333 quadrillion) winning cards. Therefore, calculation of the number of Bingo cards is more practical from the point of view of calculating the number of unique winning cards.
For example, in a simple one-pattern game of Bingo a winning card may be the first person to complete row #3. Because the 'N' column contains a free space, the maximum number of cards that guarantee a unique winner is (15*15*15*15) = 50,625. Because the players need to only focus on row #3, the remaining numbers in rows #1, #2, #4, and #5 are statistically insignificant for purposes of game play and can be selected in any manner as long as no number is duplicated on any card.
Perhaps the most common pattern set, known as 'Straight-line Bingo' is completing any of the five rows, columns, or either of the main diagonals.[5] In this case the possibility of multiple winning cards is unavoidable because any one of twelve patterns on every card can win the game. But not all 552 septillion cards need to be in play. Any given set of numbers in a column (e.g., 15, 3, 14, 5, 12 in the 'B' column) can be represented in any of 5! (for the 'B', 'I', 'G', and 'O' columns. 4! for the 'N' column) or 120 different ways. These combinations are all statistically redundant. Therefore, the total number of cards can be reduced by a factor of (5!4 * 4!) = 4,976,640,000 for a total unique winning card set of 111,007,923,832,370,565 or 111 quadrillion. (Still impossibly enormous, but our eager printer described above would only need 1.29 days to complete the task.)
The challenge of a multiple-pattern game is selecting a winner wherein a tie is possible. The solution is to name the player who shouts 'Bingo!' first, is the winner. However, it is more practical and manageable to use card sets that avoid multiple-pattern games. The single-pattern #3 row has already been mentioned, but its limited card set causes problems for the emerging online Bingo culture. Larger patterns, e.g. a diamond pattern consisting of cell positions B3, I2 and I4, N1 and N5, G2 and G4, and O3, are often used by online Bingo games to permit large number of players while ensuring only one player can win. (A unique winner is further desirable for online play where network delays and other communication interference can unfairly affect multiple winning cards. The winner would be determined by the first person to click the 'Bingo!' button (emulating the shout of 'Bingo!' during a live game).) In this case the number of unique winning cards is calculated as (152*(15*14)3/23) = 260,465,625 (260 million). The division by two for each of the 'I', 'N', and 'G' columns is necessary to once again remove redundant number combinations, such as [31,#,#,#,45] and [45,#,#,#,31] in the N column.
90-ball bingo cards[edit]
[9] In UK bingo, or Housie, cards are usually called 'tickets.' The cards contain three rows and nine columns. Each row contains five numbers and four blank spaces randomly distributed along the row. Numbers are apportioned by column (1–9, 10–19, 20–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, 70–79 and 80–90).
Other Types of Cards[edit]
See also[edit]
- Reader service card (also known as a 'bingo card')
References[edit]
- Young, William H. and Nancy K. The Great Depression in America: A Cultural Encyclopedia, Volume 1. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2007. ISBN978-0-313-33521-1.
Footnotes[edit]
- ^Crossland, Drake. 'Bingo:A Game's Journey Through History'. EZinearticles.com.
- ^'Bingo Card History'. VirtualBingo. Archived from the original on September 6, 2008. Retrieved 2012-12-08.
- ^'Bingo Cards'. BettingExpert. Retrieved 2012-12-08.
- ^'Types of Bingo Cards'. VirtualBingo. Archived from the original on September 6, 2008. Retrieved 2012-12-08.
- ^ abAndrew Bowser. 'Bingo Equipment'. How Stuff Works. Retrieved 2012-12-08.
- ^Hoeft, Mike (2014). The bingo queens of Oneida : how two moms started tribal gaming in Wisconsin (First ed.). ISBN978-0870206528.
- ^John, Player (1 January 2014). 'Gala Bingo Mobile App: play wherever you are'. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- ^'Bingo Myths: Fact or Fiction?'. My Casino Strategy. Retrieved 2012-12-08.
- ^'bingobonuspage:What are the different Bingo game types?'. Archived from the original on December 6, 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
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How does online bingo work?
Playing bingo online couldn’t be easier. In fact, it’s very similar to playing at your local bingo club. Just in case you haven’t been to a club before, here’s a quick run-down of how to play online bingo:
- You start by buying a bingo ticket with a set of numbers on it. Maybe a few tickets, if you want to up your chances of winning.
- The caller, or in online bingo’s case, the online program, will randomly select and draw numbers.
- If one of your numbers is shown, you’ll be able mark it off your sheet manually or use the automatic feature to automatically mark it off on your ticket.
- The main ways to win are to get a line of numbers marked, or every number on your ticket – what’s known as a full house. Some games will also reward you in other ways, such as getting the four corners of your ticket, or two lines.
- The program will automatically tell you if you’ve won. You’ll then be able to collect your winnings.
Online bingo at Mecca Bingo
To play online bingo with Mecca Bingo, register with us and follow these steps to get started:
- Log in to your account and deposit some money to play with.
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- The bingo rooms will be displayed with ticket prices and the prize on offer for the next game.
- Find a game that takes your fancy and join the room.
- Before the next game starts, choose the number of tickets you want to play with. The maximum amount you can buy will vary from game to game.
- Wait for the next game to start and see if your numbers come in!
- Once the game has started, your numbers will be marked off automatically on your tickets. We’ll let you know if you get a win.
If you want to try another game, just head to the lobby to see what else is on offer. There’s plenty to choose from, so feel free to take a look around. Have fun!
🏆 How does bingo work?
Imagine enjoying the same great game you play in-club, but being able to do it on the go, at home, or even in your pyjamas. You can play online or via our award-winning app on Android and iOS devices. You can pre-purchase tickets for scheduled games, or jump into the action as part of our live schedule. Just pick a room and head into the lobby. You’ll be able to chat to friends, play a fab selection of mini games or get straight into the fun in the current live bingo games. Or, if you fancy bit more of a face-to-face social, you can find your local Mecca Bingo Club and make it a night out to remember.
🏆 How to play bingo?
Bingo is a fairly easy game to pick up and start having fun with. The rules are simple and it’s easy to get involved. If you’re new to bingo, be it online bingo or in-club, you can learn how to play bingo using our basic guide. It’ll tell you all you need to know to pick up a dabber with confidence!
🏆 What are the bingo rules?
The rules of bingo fairly simple to understand, but can vary slightly depending on which version of bingo you’re playing – 90-ball, 80-ball or 75-ball bingo.
Large Bingo Game Set
75-ball bingo is the most traditional format of bingo you’ll play online or in-club. You’ll be dabbing off the called numbers on a single card containing a grid of 5 numbers across and 5 numbers down. You’ll have to mark off a whole row to win – usually in any direction across the grid.
80-ball bingo is great for players who deem 90-ball to be a little too slow. Developed with online bingo players in mind, during 80-ball games you’ll be dabbing on a colour-coordinated 4x4 grid, with different winning patterns to play for. You can choose to manually dap your own grid, or can select the auto-dabbing option for a more laid-back game.
90-ball bingo is epic, and the world’s most loved way to play. This massive game includes grids of 9 columns and 3 rows, with 5 numbers in each row. Complete a horizontal row and you’ll win. Two horizontal rows, you’ll win. And the final winner is the lucky roomie who marks off a full house for a grand prize.
Bingo Game Set For Sale
We’ve got loads of great online bingo games on offer at Meccabingo.com. Grab your dabber and join us for a game!
🏆 What are bingo calls?
From the obvious to the outrageous, bingo calls have been part of British bingo history since the dawn of this great game. Some are well known and make their way into common slang; others are built on rhymes and humour. Each one is different, and it can pay off to have them memorised before you grab a dabber. Here’s our full breakdown of brilliant bingo calls.
🏆 Can I play online bingo with friends?
Bingo Game Sets For Large Groups
Of course! It’s what we know and love at Mecca – playing as a community. You can join fun games with friends, or simply chat with no obligation to buy tickets or play. Whether you’re playing bingo online or in-club, it’s always more fun to play with friends.