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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.
There are also a great
variety of games to play to suit just about
every interested bingo player Including FREE
bingo. Most of the top
sites offer several bingo games. Some
inexpensive game rooms appeal to the player who
may want to play for just a 10 cents or 10
pence. Some bingo games only allow players to
purchase the same amount of cards so you are not
constantly competing against the "high rollers"
out there who buy many cards for the same game.
Attention, bingo
enthusiasts! There are dozens of bingo and bingo-related games on the
Internet, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. What you'll need is a
reasonably updated computer with a modem (a device used to connect your
computer to the Internet), Internet access, and a Web-browsing software
program. In this article, we'll discuss general rules on how to play
online bingo, and some tips to help you keep up with other players and
safely collect your winnings. We'll even familiarize you with online
terms so you can communicate quickly with other players.
Online bingo games are a lot like games at real bingo halls, but they
come without the smoke and the noise. The main bingo card is a pop-up
window that contains information such as:
-
your card faces (usually three)
-
the current number and a tote board of previously called numbers
-
a list of current players
-
a "chat room" where players can type a few quick words to each other
between games. To chat during the game, players type into the chat box
under their cards and press the 'Enter' key on the keyboard.
But, there's more to online bingo than the card. Most Web sites that
host bingo games include a bunch of fun stuff online, including bingo
news, pictures and comments from past winners, news about upcoming
special tournaments and events, and a list of prizes or places where you
can redeem gift certificates you win online.
While many of the online games themselves are free, most do come at some
price. You'll have to wade through ads plastered next to the game cards
or in pop-up windows. Plus, you'll need to pay the monthly fee for
Internet access. Die-hard online enthusiasts might even choose to invest
in a second phone line so they don't tie up the only line.
Some for-pay online games (which require a virtual buy-in using a credit
card or check) promise to award big prizes.
How to Play
Each bingo player is
given a card marked with a grid containing a
unique combination of numbers. The winning
pattern to be formed on the card is announced.
On each turn, a non-player known as the
caller randomly selects a numbered ball from
a container and announces the number to all the
players(in the online version it is a random
number generated from a computer).
The ball is then set
aside so that it cannot be chosen again. Each
player searches his card for the called number,
and if he finds it, marks it. The element of
skill in the game is the ability to search one's
card for the called number in the short time
before the next number is called.
The caller continues to select
and announce numbers until the first player
forms the agreed pattern (one line, two lines,
full house) on their card and shouts out the
name of the pattern or 'bingo!'. One of
the most common patterns, called full card,
blackout and cover-all simply
consists of marking all the numbers on the card.
Other common patterns are single line, two
lines, the four corners, centre cross, L, T, Y,
postage stamp (2x2 and in a corner) inner square
(4 × 4), roving square (3 × 3), and roving kite
(a 3 × 3 diamond). Lines can be made
horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Inner
and roving squares and kites must be completely
filled; roving squares and kites may be made
anywhere on the card.
Socializing: If you spend long enough on Internet bingo games, you will
start to recognize the user names of certain regulars. Some games are
downright chatty, while others are uncomfortably silent (or peacefully
quiet, depending on your perspective). Socializing is not mandatory. You
may choose to just sit at your computer and play. If you don't like a
particular person's chatter -- you may find them to be rude or annoying,
perhaps -- you can just click on their name and hit the "Ignore" button,
and they're history.
Also, you can click on the "Private Chat" button to send a confidential
message to another player. You may not find that you have a whole lot of
time to socialize, however, because the online "caller" (basically just
a little box where the current number appears) may churn out several
numbers seemingly as fast as you click the mouse. After just a few
games, though, it becomes easier to keep up with the caller.
Potential pitfalls: Sometimes online bingo doesn't go as smoothly as it
would at the local bingo hall. The card face may not fit on the screen.
The game could get terribly slow, depending on your connection speed,
the quality of the Internet service provider, the amount of traffic on
the Internet, or problems with the Web site itself. A player may get
disconnected from a game because of heavy Internet traffic, or because
the Web site itself is so busy that it can't handle all the requests. A
heavy dose of patience may be required.
Online bingo players also should be careful of other potential pitfalls,
like false bingo sites. All bingo sites listed on our pages have been
fully tested so there is no need to worry.
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