75 Number Bingo

In the conventional 75 number bingo, players are provided with bingo cards that have a grid of five horizontal rows and five vertical columns. The columns are lettered B I N G O across the top with each letter corresponding to each of the column. Each bingo card has five numbers in each row except the N column which has a “free space” in the middle square.

Bingo balls are individually numbered 1-75 and are mixed together; then, they are randomly selected one at a time. As each ball is selected, the caller announces the number to the players. Each player then dabs or marks the corresponding numbers on their bingo card(s) using a bingo ink marker or ink dabber.

At the beginning of each game or session, a predetermined playing pattern is announced along with the available prize. When a player dabs all of the numbers on the card in the correct predetermined playing pattern, that player yells out “Bingo!” Once the winning bingo card is verified as being correct, that player then wins the game and the prize.

In order to win the game in the conventional version of bingo, a player must dab five spaces in a vertical column, a horizontal row or along one of the two diagonals of the bingo card. The “free space” in the center of each bingo card is considered “wild” and can be used with other dabbed spaces to create other winning patterns.

There are many winning patterns that can be used in the game of bingo. For example, the winning pattern can be shaped to form a letter X, T or L. It is also popular to play “coverall” or “blackout” games in which the players must dab all 24 numbers on the bingo card in order to win the game.

It is the responsibility of the caller of the bingo game to clearly identify the playing patterns for that particular game or session. A flashboard and/or television monitors are commonly seen in bingo halls to assist the players by displaying this information during the game and/or session.

Many bingo halls also sell pull tab tickets during and in between bingo sessions. Pull tabs are similar to lottery tickets in that players can win prizes instantly. This extra game adds additional excitement to the bingo session while increasing the players’ chance of winning more prizes.

To play in a bingo session, players must purchase bingo cards. Usually, there is a “buy-in” amount which is the minimum to join the game. The purchase amount for each session creates a pool of money that funds the pre-announced cash or merchandise prize for the bingo sessions. Typically, a bingo session includes a number of individual bingo games concluding with a coverall game in which a large prize is awarded.