Bingo is simple. Here's all you need to know
If you’re new to the game, arrive early so you have time to relax, ask questions and go over the basics. You’ll find the clubs have plenty to keep you entertained, like interval games and more.
Three ways to win
You’ll have a caller, your bingo book and a dabber. A sheet has six panels numbered 1 to 90, and each number appears only once. Each panel has three rows of five numbers, arranged in nine columns: 1 to 9 in the first, 10 to 19 in the second, and so on.
Step by step
Buy your bingo books and pick up a dabber from the book sales area.
When the game begins, use your dabber to mark off the numbers called out by the caller.
Call “Check!” out loud if you're first to get one line, two lines or a full house.
What if I win?
Congratulations! If you’ve marked all the numbers correctly, shout “Check!” straight away and a team member will come to you. Don’t wait for the next number to be called, or you might miss your win.
Press call to start the game.
A practice game with three panels, just for fun. In the club, a book has six panels and every number from 1 to 90 appears once.
Electronic bingo
Play on a Bingo Bee
Playing on a portable electronic terminal is fun and easy. You can play more cards effortlessly because it marks the numbers automatically as they’re called. It moves to the next game for you, tells you whether you’re playing for one line, two lines or a full house, and shows the number you need when you’re one away.
The terminal can’t do all the work for you: you must still shout “Check!” when you have a win, before the next number is called.
Pongo
Drop a coin in and you’re in play
Each board has coloured numbers from 1 to 80. Change is available from team members on the floor. Make sure the board you’re marking matches the slot where you dropped your coin.
The main winning combinations
The callers
The caller clearly states the cost to play, the winning combination and the prize. The prize grows as more players join, so listen out for special games and jackpots.
Pongo on a Bee
Watch your electronic ticket on the tablet. Numbers are marked off automatically as they’re called, so there’s no need to dab them.
You’re a winner!
The caller will know when you have a check and announce your board number. On Pongo you don’t need to shout. A team member will bring your winnings to your table.
Bingo lingo
From “Two little ducks, 22” to “Top of the shop, 90”, bingo lingo adds a dash of humour and tradition to every game. It’s the bingo language everyone loves to shout.
- On its own
- Little duck
- Lucky three
- Knock on the door
- High five
- Half a dozen
- Lucky seven
- Almost there
- Perfect ten
- Double trouble
- One dozen
- Unlucky for some
- Fourteen's fun
- Fifteen and keen
- Sweet sixteen
- Dancing queen
- Now you're legal
- Last of the teens
- Twenties plenty
- Blackjack!
- Two little ducks
- The big two-three
- Two dozen
- Quarter century
- Pick & mix
- Lucky twenty-seven
- Great at 28
- Almost thirty
- Flirty thirty
- Fun at 31
- Jump & jive
- Double three
- Knock at the door
- Halfway there
- Three dozen
- Steps to heaven
- Choco-late
- Feeling fine
- Life begins
- Time for fun
- Answer to everything
- Feeling free
- All the fours
- Halfway house
- Up to tricks
- Four and seven
- Nearly there
- Rise and shine
- Half a century
- I love my mum
- Pack of cards
- Here we go
- Clean the floor
- Snakes alive
- Pick up sticks
- Heinz varieties
- Make them wait
- Brighton line
- Grand slam
- Bakers bun
- Tickety boo
- Almost retired
- Time to thrive
- Clickety click
- Sunset strip
- Saving grace
- Dinner for two
- Lucky seven-oh
- Bang on the drum
- Six dozen
- Queen bee
- Strive for 75
- Over the sticks
- Double seven
- Heaven's gate
- One more time
- Eight-oh
- Stop and run
- Straight through
- Time for tea
- Seven dozen
- Staying alive
- Between the sticks
- Two fat ladies
- Top of the shop
Still confused?
You’re not alone. Ask any of our friendly staff and they’ll take you through the game step by step.