Online
bingo is the game of bingo (US|UK) played on the
Internet. Online bingo is a multi billion dollar
business.
Unlike balls used in regular bingo halls, online bingo
sites use a random number generator. Online bingo halls
usually offer online casino games as well as the bingo,
but the actual bingo play works almost exactly like
playing online poker or online casino games, with
everything being virtual. One notable feature of online
bingo is the chat functionality. Successful online bingo
sites foster a sense of community and interaction
between players.
Getting started
Some operators require players to download free software
to play their games. Other operators use Java or Flash
based games that allow you to play immediately online
after registering a player account.
To win the largest prizes, users must fund an account,
but free bingo games are also available offering players
a way to win smaller amounts of money with no risk of
gambling. Some online bingo sites offer no deposit bingo
with sandbox play. This will allow the player to get the
hang of the system without a cash investment, but no
monetary value can be gained.
Most sites accept a standard range of e-wallet funding
options, such as Neteller, Firepay, Citadel, and
PrePaidATM. Sites often provide a number of incentives
to deposit, including matching bonuses where the site
will reward depositing players by matching a percentage
of their deposit.
How to play
Bingo is one of the easiest games to play and the
online version is no different. Playing bingo online,
players can make use of optional features which make
playing the game easier, such as auto-daub. Auto-daub
automatically marks off the numbers on cards as they are
called, so players don't have to. Most software
providers support other gaming features as "Best Card
Sorting" and "Best Card Highlighting" where players
cards are sorted and highlighted by closest to bingo.
Some of these features are designed to free players to
enjoy the communal pleasantries of the chat features.
Chat
The Chat application brings a different dimension to
gaming. This is where all the players of a game can meet
and chat during games of bingo. Whereas in land-based
bingo where talking is strictly forbidden during a game,
it is actively encouraged in online bingo. Chat
functions as an effective retention tool, aimed
especially at the predominantly female audience.
It is customary for players to congratulate winning
players with comments like "WTG," or "Way To Go." Much
like instant messaging, online bingo chat communities
have their own acronyms which are often used in replace
of often repeated sentences.
CM stands for "chat monitor". The CM works for the bingo
site as the host of a chat room and plays a role in
welcoming players and creating a friendly and communal
atmosphere in the room. This includes, but is not
limited to, congratulating players when they win a game
as well as playing chat games in-between bingo. Most
sites have a chat protocol known as chat etiquette or
chatiquette.
Popular chat games include Odds and Evens, Dodgeball,
Roulette, At the Races, Birthday Bingo, Lucky Gem and
Bullseye. On a busy site you can expect to win roughly
four to eight times the amount it costs to buy a bingo
ticket if you win one of these games.
90 Ball versus 75 Ball
There are two types of bingo played around the
world. North America plays 75-ball bingo on a 5x5 card
with the centre square usually marked 'free'. In the UK,
parts of Europe, Australia and parts of South America
they play a 90-ball game, marked on a 9x3 card. Both
types of bingo are prominent online.
The desired pattern which players aim to achieve in 75
ball can vary dramatically, from a simple single line to
more complicated themed patterns. The aim of the game,
however, is always the same: to mark off the numbers to
achieve the desired pattern. Speed Bingo is a variation
played exactly the same, but numbers are simply called
much quicker.
In 90-ball bingo, each card has three horizontal lines
and nine columns. Each line contains five numbers,
meaning each card has 15 numbers. The first column
contains numbers from 1 -10, the second column contains
numbers from 11-20, all the way through to the final
column which contains numbers from 81-90.
A game of 90 ball bingo will normally be played in three
stages: one line, two lines and Full House. In a "one
line" game players need to mark a complete horizontal
line across one card (i.e. 5 numbers marked). The aim of
a 'two lines' game is to complete any two marked lines
horizontally across one card (i.e. 10 numbers marked).
Finally a "Full House" means all the numbers marked off
on one card (all 15 numbers), as in a regular coverall
game. The prize split differs for each stage of the
game. The Full House is always the largest prize in any
one game.
Bingo networks
There are a number of sites that will have the same
promotions, similar graphics, the same bingo rooms and
the same CMs. This occurs because they are part of a
bingo "network".[1] In simple terms, this means a number
of different sites (or "front ends") are playing with
the same numbers for the same jackpot (ie the same back
end). Multiple sites act as doorways to a single game,
leading to larger pools of players in chat rooms and
more sizeable pots to win, in an arrangement known as
White Label Gaming. While the bingo software is the
same, the brand owners are responsible for the look and
feel of the site, together with any promotions they wish
to offer.
Online bingo in the UK
Bingo is now the most popular leisure activity in
the UK for women between 20 and 25 years old.[2] The UK
market has seen an influx in big brand names launching
bingo games on their already established websites. Huge
brand names such as Yahoo!, Virgin, AOL UK and most
recently MSN UK are all now associated with the UK
online bingo market.[3] Gala Bingo the biggest land
based bingo operator in the UK is also now online, this
is as well as other brand names such as:
Online Bingo Stats
Some 50,000 of the estimated 3 million land-based bingo
players now play bingo online. 90% of these are below
the age of 50, dispelling the myth that bingo is for the
older generation. 85% of online players are women.
A recent survey commissioned by St Minver Ltd, showed
that the UK was third in a list behind the US and Japan
of countries with the highest propensity playing online
bingo.[citation needed]
One of the biggest bingo software providers, Parlay
Entertainment undertook a survey of the bingo market
together with UK bingo players. It derived from its
product that of the $150 million global market, the US
provided 85% of revenues, whereas the UK was the fastest
growing online market.[citation needed]
While the market is growing fast, still only 1% of UK
land-based players played online, showing that many have
still not made the transition to online bingo.
Bingo Players
According to Parlay, the current age demographic of
bingo players is as follows:
18-34 = 29%, 35-44 = 29%, 45-54 = 28%, 55-64 = 12%, 65+
= 2%
Women spend 50% more time each week playing bingo than
men. 28% of 40+ females play between midnight and 5am.
The average amount spent online per player per month is
around £120.
