Bingo Glossary
LuckyDust wants to make sure you are not left in the dark. Here you can find a full explanation of all the terms commonly used in Bingo.
75 Number Bingo
75 number bingo means there are 75 numbers that can be called.
90 Number Bingo
90 number bingo means there are 90 numbers to can be called. The bingo cards have a different appearance from the 75 number bingo game.
Admission
To be eligible to enter a bingo hall and play in a bingo game.
Admission Packet
Players usually have to purchase a minimum number of cards to participate in a bingo game. Admission packets will vary with different bingo providers.
After Game
The game played after the end of a regular session of play.
Ball Gate
Within the ball dispencing machine there will be a one way flap located at the top of the 'ball runway' which the ball passes under to enter the main playfield area. This is called the ball gate.
Ball Lifter
The Ball lifter is the mechanism used to raise the ball from beneath the playfield to the ball shooter tip.
Ball Runway
Ball Runway is the passage from which the ball is launched up by the ball shooter to enter the main playfield area.
Ball Shooter
The ball shooter is a spring loaded plunger with a rubber tip which is used to launch the ball into the playfield area.
Basket Bingo
A the term used when a Bingo game offer the chance to win "basket" prizes.
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 is used to show 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 usually in the order they are to be played.
Bingo Card
A card which players purchase in order to play a bingo game. There are thousands of variations of cards to choose from. The bingo cards used for a 75 ball bingo game have a different format from those used in a 90 ball bingo game.
Bingo Marker
In traditional offline bingo, a crayon or ink dauber is used by players 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 with covers the numbers as they are called automatically. This automatic function is ideal if you have purchased a large number of tickets at it ensures the player doesn't miss any numbers.
Blackout or Coverall
A variation of the traditional 75 ball bingo game. Instead of making a particul pattern as the numbers are called the object of the game is to cover all of the spaces on your bingo card in order to win.
Blower
The Blower is the air device which forces the bingo balls to mix before dispensing them to the caller who announces the bingo numbers and displays them on a bingo board.
Bonanza Bingo
In traditional bingo 'Bonanza Bingo' usually has a progressive coverall jackpot that is usually played as the 13th game of the session. 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 goes up one number per week to 52 numbers or until the jackpot is won. The amount of the jackpot is determined by card sales for that particular game.
Break Open
A multi-ply card is used and is usually made from paper with perforated breakopen 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
Instead of bingo being played with numbers they are replaced with buzzwords. Players mark words and phrases on their card as they are called in the same why they would of done with numbers. The first player to mark five phrases or words in a row calls "bingo".
Caller
The caller is the person who calls out the bingo numbers as they are drawn.
Cash In Prize
The prize is a cash payout. The cash prize is taken from the money paid for the bingo cards.
A casino night is a special event which is usually held by which a qualified organisation and they hold a casino style gaming events. Bingo along with roulette, blackjack, poker, gin rummy and craps is usually played.
Chat Games
Chat rooms are intended to provide interactive fun for players. Chat rooms normally offer participants the chance to play games as a way of providing additional chances to win.
Chat Master (CM)
A chat master is a person who monitors chat room activity and is in charge of the chat games. They can also be called the chat monitor or chat moderator, the CM will usually type in capitals or bold font to differentiate themselves from other players. The aim of having a CM is to ensure everything in the chat rooms run smoothly.
Chat Room
Online bingo sites usually offer a chat room where bingo players can chat, make friends and swap tips with each other online. Players are able to chat to each other whilst playing bingo at the same time.
Consolation Prize
If there is no winner within a predetermined number of calls some games may offer a consolation prize.
An Early Bird can either be the game that starts before the session starts or sometimes it refers to the first game of the session. The first game of a session is however more commonly known as a Warm Up.
Face
Is the name given to an individual bingo sheet containing 24 bingo numbers and a free space in the middle.
Bingo cards that are printed on thin sheets of paper. There are usually three cards printed on a single sheet but other formats are also sometimes used.
Four Corners
In order to win a player must get numbers that are in the four corners. All numbers in the corners must be covered in order to win
Free Space
A free space counts towards a winning patter in 75 ball bingo. The blank square in the centre of the card and players should covere the square at tge start of every game.
Full House
A winning pattern in which a player has marked off all the relevent bingo numbers on their ticket.
Game Board
An electronic display board is used to display the pattern needed to win that particular game. The game board displays a bingo card and shows the pattern players need to get on there own bingo card in order to win.
Game Room
Some online bingo sites divide the games into different 'games rooms'. Players can enter the different rooms to play different games or to chat.
G.T.I
A G.T.I is an electronic dauber which enables automatically covers the numbers as they are called. This makes it easier for players to play multiple games at one time.
Hard Ball
The first bingo number that is drawn and called at the start of the bingo session.
Hard Card
A bingo card that is printed on a heavy cardboard material with has shutters to cover each bingo number as it is called.
Hardway Bingo
Bingo is played in a straight line without the use of a free space.
Inlaid Card
Inlaid card is a type of card which is normally pre-printed and is played with the use of black discs to cover the bingo numbers as they are called out.
Inside Square
Is a type of winning pattern in 75 number bingo. Players must cover all the numbers in the I, N and G columns which surround the free space to be deemed the winner.
Instant Bingo
In 75 number bingo a break open ticket is used which contains the letters B I N G O, bingo card faces and bingo numbers. Players must incorporate letters spelling the word B-I-N-G-O or complete a predetermined designed pattern (vertical, horizontal or diagonal line) in order to win.
Jackpot
The jackpot is the largest prize which all players will be hoping to win.
Lucky Jar (or Cookie Jar)
The lucky number is usually the first bingo number to be called at the beginning of a session. Everytime the lucky number is called money is added to the jar. The contents can be won by the player who gets "bingo" on the lucky number.
Main Stage Bingo
Is the main event at a bingo session.
Minimum Buy-in
Some games means that players have to purchase a minimum of tickets to be eligible to win prizes.
Money Ball
A number is drawn before the bingo game begins and offers double winnings to the who achieves "bingo" on that number.
Multiple Winners
Where there are more than one person achieving "bingo" at the sale time, the prize will be divided equally between them.
Mushroom
Players play bingo sitting around a mushroom shaped display.
On
If a player needs only one more number in order to achieve bingo they may be refered to as 'on'.
Parti
Short for participation bingo. The prize money depends on the number of players (the prize has to be a minimum of 50% of the money paid in).
Payout
The percentage of sales that is paid out by the house.
Postage Stamp Pattern
In 75 ball bingo it is a pattern that covers four numbers in a postage stamp formation (a 2 x 2 grid) within any of the four corners.
Prize Bingo
A game of bingo which is played in order to win a set prize, vouchers or cash can be won.
Progressive Jackpot
A jackpot that increases continually over time if not won within a set number of calls.
Quickie
A bingo game in which the bingo numbers are called as quickly as possible.
Rainbow Pack
Players are able to win 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.
Random Number Generator (RNG)
Is the electronic machine which randomly picks numbers for the game bingo.
Serial Number
The minimum five-digit number is printed on each set of charity game tickets or cards by the manufacturer. Each ticket in a set has the same serial number.
Series
The number of unique faces that a single set may 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 decided by the player and is simply the amount of time they choose to play for.
Shutter Board
A shutter board is a hand held reusable plastic board with pre-printed numbers. As the numbers are called they are marked off with the shutters.
Single Line Across
When 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 that are usually played with a set of cards different to those purchased at admission.
Speed Bingo
A type of bingo in where numbers are called very quickly and players can achieve bingo in as few as three numbers.
Split Pot
The winner splits the sales of the game (the pot) with the bingo hall or house.
Table Board Bingo
Table Board Bingo is a lottery scheme where players purchase a table board card. To win the player must complete a predetermined pattern of numbers on the Table Board from bingo numbers that have been selected at random.
Tickets
Printed pages on which the main bingo game is played. The pages are laid out in grids and usually come in booklets. Tickets will be seen on screen in an online bingo game.
Two Lines Across
Player must marked off all the bingo numbers on two rows of their cards.
Wild Number
The first bingo number that is drawn usually determines the wild number. For example if 23 is drawn, all numbers ending in 3 can be marked off.
Wrap Up
The last game of a bingo session.
