Bingo Glossary

Read our online bingo glossary to satisfy any bingo uncertainties you may have

The Expert Bingo online bingo glossary gives explanations to the technical terms that you may encounter during your online bingo experience. Our Bingo A-Z online bingo glossary also explains the most commonly used terms and phrases in both offline and online bingo so that you will be fully clued up when playing online bingo in the UK. If you feel we have left something out, please let us know by emailing info@expertbingo.co.uk

 

Bingo Glossary Terms

75 Number Bingo

75 number bingo is characterised by there being 75 numbers to call.

90 Number Bingo

90 number bingo differs from other types of bingo in the way that there are 90 bingo numbers to call. The bingo cards also differ from 75 number bingo in their appearance.

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 game played after the regular session of play.

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

The spring loaded plunger with a rubber tip used to launch the ball into the playfield area.

Barrier

A box section containing playing consoles and coin slots on both sides. A conveyor belt inside moves money from the coin slots to a cash box at one end of the barrier. Players face each other to play, across the barriers.

Basket Bingo

Bingo game where "basket" prizes are given.

Beano

A game in which players cover squares on numbered cards when corresponding numbers are called out. The aim is to cover a complete line. Beano predates bingo and is so called because beans were originally used to cover the numbers called out. Please see Origins of Bingo for further information.

Bingo Board

A display board (usually electronic) that lights up showing each number as it is called. 75 number bingo has 75 numbers on the board and 90 number bingo has 90 numbers on the board.

Bingo Booklets

A number of different coloured bingo sheet cards bound together in a booklet. They are usually bound in the order in which they will be played.

Bingo Card

In 90-number bingo a player's bingo card has 3 rows and 9 columns. Each row has 5 numbers and 4 blank spaces. There are thousands of variations of cards to choose from.

Bingo Marker

In traditional offline bingo, a crayon or ink dauber is used to cover the numbers on a bingo game card as they are called out. With most Online bingo sites you can choose to dab manually, or to use the Auto Dab function if available: all numbers called that match those on your tickets are automatically dabbed. This is ideal if you have purchased a large number of tickets.

Blackout or Coverall

A variation of bingo in which the object is to cover all spaces on your bingo card.

Blower

A forced-air device that mixes the bingo balls and dispenses them to the caller who announces the bingo numbers and displays them on a bingo board.

Bonanza Bingo

A progressive coverall jackpot that is usually played as the 13th game of the session in traditional bingo. Forty-five bingo numbers are drawn before the session and players mark them on separate cards. The countdown starts at 48 numbers or less and go up one number per week to 52 numbers or until won. The amount of the jackpot is determined by card sales for that particular game.

Book

A series of tickets for bingo games.

Break Open

A multi-ply card made from paper with perforated tabs. The play area of the card is covered to conceal numbers, letters or symbols, some of which have been designated in advance as prize winners.

Buzzword Bingo

A game played using buzzwords in place of bingo 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 as they are drawn.

Card

The playing card used to mark off bingo numbers as they are called.

Cash Ball

A progressive jackpot that pays off on the called bingo number, drawn before the session begins.

Cash In Prize

A bingo game in which the prize is a cash payout. The cash prize is taken from the money paid in.

Casino Night (Also Vegas Night)

An event held for a set period of time during which a qualified organisation holds casino style gaming events. Bingo is included, along with roulette, blackjack, poker, gin rummy and craps, to mention just a few.

Chat Games

Chat room games are offered as a way of providing additional chances to win for regular players and chatters. Bonus money is intended to enhance the online gaming experience.

Chat Master (CM)

The person in charge of online bingo chat rooms and chat games. Also called the chat monitor or 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. The Chat Master will also usually direct the chat games.

Chat Room

A section online to chat with other online bingo players, make friends and swap tips. You can chat to other players whilst playing bingo at the same time. A great opportunity to meet like minded individuals.

Consolation Prize

A prize sometimes offered if there is no winner in a predetermined number of calls.

Coverall

See Blackout.

Early Bird Game

An Early Bird game usually that starts before the session but sometimes it refers to the first game of the session. The first game of a session is more commonly known as a Warm Up.

Face

The individual bingo sheet containing 24 bingo numbers and a free space in the middle.

Flimsy or Flimsies

Bingo cards printed on thin sheets of paper. There are usually three cards printed on a single sheet.

Four Corners

A bingo pattern that involves covering the four corner numbers of the card in order to win.

Free Space

The blank square in the centre of the card with no number assigned to it. The free space counts towards a winning pattern in 75 number bingo and should be covered at the start of every game.

Full House

A winning pattern in which a player has marked off all the bingo 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.

G.T.I

An electronic dauber system which enables a player to play multiple packs at one time. Usually only one is allowed per person and for a small fee.

Hard Ball

The first bingo number drawn at the start of the bingo session.

Hard Card

A bingo card printed on heavy cardboard material with shutters to cover each bingo numbers as it is called out.

Hardway Bingo

Bingo in a straight line without the use of the free space.

House

A gambling property or establishment, such as a casino or bingo hall.

Inlaid Card

A pre-printed card with black discs used to cover the bingo numbers as they are called out.

Inside Square

A bingo pattern in 75 number bingo in which players must cover all the numbers in the I, N and G columns surrounding the free space, in order to win.

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 prize usually awarded for achieving a difficult pattern (such as a blackout) within a specified number of balls. One type is the progressive bingo jackpot, where the jackpot increases as you play, and the winner is the first person who gets bingo within a set amount of calls (usually 40-50).

Lucky Jar (or Cookie Jar)

A jar containing cash, of which the contents can be won by the player who gets “bingo” on the lucky number. The lucky number is usually the first bingo number to be called out at the beginning of a session. Money is added to the jar every time the lucky number is called or if the caller makes a mistake in announcing the game.

Main Stage Bingo

The main event of a session of bingo.

Minimum Buy-in

The minimum amount that players must spend to play 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.

Multiple Winners

If two or more players achieve “bingo” at the sale time, the prize is divided equally between them.

Mushroom

Bingo displays grouped together in a mushroom-like shape, with a narrow tubular base, and a wider top. 6-8 players can sit around the mushroom to play.

Nine Pack

Nine bingo numbers in a block; on one card.

On

A player is ‘on’ if one or more of their cards is missing only one bingo number to achieve bingo.

On The Way

The game played prior to the blackout on the same card.

Parti

Short for participation bingo, parti is a type of slot or cash bingo in which the prize is cash and depends on the number of players (the prize has to be a minimum of 50% of the money paid in).

Pattern

The pattern players need to make on their card, by covering corresponding bingo numbers when called out, in order to win. For 90 number bingo the patterns include single line across (line), two lines across (two lines) and full house.

Payout

The percentage of sales paid out by the house.

Pod Top

The unit on top of the barrier that contains all the mechanisms used in the game, such as coin mechanisms, credit displays and claim buttons.

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.

Prize Bingo

A game of bingo in which a set prize, vouchers or cash can be won.

Progressive Jackpot

A jackpot that increases continually over time if not won in a set number of calls.

Quickie

A bingo game in which the bingo 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.

Reno Night

An evening of casino games such as blackjack and roulette which are often held in bingo halls, restaurants or hotels.

RNG

RNG stands for Random Number Generator and is the electronic machine used to pick the numbers for a game of offline bingo.

Serial Number

The minimum five-digit number printed on each set of charity game tickets or cards. Each ticket in a set has the same serial number.

Series

The number of unique faces that a single set will contain. For example: a 5000 series will have 5000 unique faces.

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.

Shutter Board

A hand held reusable plastic board with pre-printed numbers, usually in a 4x4 format. Bingo numbers are marked off when called with shutters.

Single Line Across

A pattern in which a player has marked off all the bingo numbers on one row of their card.

Six Pack

Six bingo numbers in a block on one card.

Special

Games played with a set of cards different to those purchased at admission.

Speed Bingo

A variation of bingo in which bingo 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.

Table Board Bingo

A lottery scheme in which players purchase a table board card. To win the player must complete specified arrangements or patterns of numbers on the Table Board from bingo numbers selected at random.

Throwaways

See flimsies.

Tickets

Printed pages on which the main bingo game is played. The pages are laid out in grids and usually come in booklets. Tickets are seen on screen in online bingo.

Two Lines Across

A pattern in which a player has marked off all the bingo numbers on two rows of their card.

Ups

The number of bingo sheets used to make up a book.

Vegas Night

See casino night.

Warm Up

See early bird.

Wild Number

A wild number is usually played on a double bingo that leads into a triple bingo. The first bingo number drawn usually determines the wild number. For example if 43 is drawn, all numbers ending in 3 can be marked off.

Wrap Up

The last game of a bingo session.