How to Play Bingo
This is the familiar 75-ball version of bingo. Your card has five columns labeled B, I, N, G, and O. B holds numbers 1–15; I holds 16–30; N holds 31–45; G holds 46–60; and O holds 61–75. Each numbered square is placed randomly within its column, so a new game gives you a fresh card. The square in the exact center is FREE and counts as marked from the start.
Press Start Calling to draw a random, uncalled number every three seconds. Watch the large ball for the latest call or use the numbered board to review everything called so far. When a called number appears on your card, tap its square to mark it; tap it again if you want to remove the mark. Numbers that have not been called cannot be marked.
Your goal is to mark five squares in one horizontal row, vertical column, or diagonal line — or to mark all four corner squares of your card. The FREE center helps with lines that pass through it. When you think you have a winning pattern, press BINGO! to check your card. Each game calls at most 45 numbers. After the 45th call, you have one last moment to mark squares and press BINGO!; otherwise, the round ends and you can start a New Game.
A Brief History of Bingo
Bingo belongs to a long family of number-drawing games. One early ancestor was the Italian lottery Il Gioco del Lotto, which dates to around 1530. Related games traveled across Europe, including the French Le Lotto, whose numbered cards and drawn tokens resemble the play we recognize today.
In the United States, toy salesman Edwin Lowe helped popularize the game under the name “Bingo” in 1929. Its appeal was simple: everyone could follow the same calls, while the different arrangement of each card kept every player’s experience distinct. That shared suspense still makes a nearly finished line exciting, even when you play on your own screen.
A Few Tips for Your Card
- Scan the whole card after each call. The number board is handy if you miss one while looking elsewhere.
- Watch lines through FREE. The center already counts toward its row, column, and both diagonals.
- Mark as you go. With only 45 calls and no pause, daub each match right away.