What online bingo is

Playing bingo on the Internet has become very popular over the past few years. Online bingo is a digital copy of traditional bingo, in which the players purchase tickets or accounts, and a system randomly selects numbers, according to these ticket purchases. The system will then award prizes to those customers who have matches on their tickets with the winning numbers when they have met specific criteria for the completion of their match. Online Bingo is played within a room format or a continuous lobby format and usually sells tickets in small increments and allows the purchase of several tickets per game. Most companies provide players with the capability to play online bingo at the same time as other forms of gambling at their location, allowing for one balance to be used in both games (bingo and others), under the same account.

The core of Bingo played online follows the same pattern. The game begins with room tickets going on sale. Tickets are locked at the time of shut off prior to the number being drawn. Once the numbers have been drawn, they are automatically displayed, and tickets are confirmed for winnings. Online bingo is played in two formats, 75-ball and 90-ball, with the variation in theme and different patterns awarded with different forms of prizes. In addition to the above, bingo has chat moderation, jackpot meters, and an option for auto-daub that will automatically mark drawn numbers on tickets.

How rounds run

Typically, the majority of online bingo rooms run according to a regular timetable. The ticket sale period occurs for a specific time, typically between one to three minutes. After the ticket sale, the actual draw occurs. Each game includes a call list and call board. The system will check each ticket against the correct numbers as they are called from the call list in order to find any matches.

Online bingo has a possibility of multiple winners if two players match the same number pattern with their tickets on a same call draw. In addition, some online bingo lobbies may operate a "rolling" room where the next game begins immediately after the previous game's conclusion. In this type of room, the use of chat features may be limited, and the overall tempo of the previously established schedule is significantly faster. Online bingo lobbies with larger player bases will usually have a fixed playing schedule, and their regular customers can schedule sessions around those types of scheduling.

Ticket types and patterns

The layout of tickets is determined by how many balls are being played. On a 90-ball game there are generally 3 rows with 9 columns and on a 75-ball game there is a 5x5 grid with a "free" (or blank) space in the centre. Online bingo games may provide single tickets for use, or they may provide bundles of tickets that can be purchased together and, in some cases, may also provide "strips" that contain multiple tickets as part of the sale.

The type of pattern required to win a game may consist of one line, two lines, a full house or a themed design that may change from room to room.

At times, there may be rounds in an online bingo game that are "coverall" in nature (only a cover all in will win) or "quick win". The rules from the specific room should indicate under what circumstances the winning pattern will be established prior to Ticket Sales closing. Establishing the winning pattern before ticket sales close will be useful in estimating an approximate amount of time that the Round will take to complete.

Auto-daub and manual play

Bingo online includes many players, who often have multiple tickets at the same time, so auto-daub is quite common, as auto-daub will automatically mark off every number called for each winning ticket, but the system will also verify that the ticket has won. This is the same outcome that would result from manual daubing, however, when players are using chat in the bingo online rooms, manual daubing will use up a portion of the player's ability to read chat and follow the game, where as auto-daub will still allow players to hold a larger volume of tickets, without missing any calls.

Room formats and variations

When selecting bingo, players will find that online bingo is generally divided into rooms (areas) based on ticket price, ball number, and payout pool size. There is a type of room that offers low-cost tickets with frequent small payouts, and another type that offers fewer rounds of play with larger payouts. Similarly, online bingo has different themes; they are based on seasons, brand themes, or special patterns (aka, called numbers that make a completed pattern). Even though there may be differences in the type or theme of the room, all rooms function the same by calling out numbers until a player completes a pattern. 

Another aspect of online bingo that players should be aware of is whether the room they are playing in is part of a networked pool or is standalone. Networked rooms share the same prize pool and draw, so they have multiple players in the pool; this increases the chance of having more tickets available in the pool, thus increasing the prize payout total and also, the chances for having a player share in a prize payout. Standalone rooms generally do not have as many players and shares in a prize payout.

Jackpots and side pots

In some cases, progressive jackpots are available in specific online bingo games that offer them; as part of this, each time tickets are sold in said games, a percentage of those ticket sales will be added to a meter until it fills up. Then, the progressive jackpot will trigger at the completion of a full pattern (the required number of calls for completion are predetermined).

Other variations of this type of game may also allow side pots (for example, a bonus awarded to the player who gets the first full line) and "lucky number" bonuses (awarded to players whose completed patterns contain certain called numbers).

Progressive jackpots are dependent on both number of calls and room rules. It can take 42 calls to complete a full house and trigger a jackpot or if you complete a specific pattern before a specified number of calls, you will also trigger a jackpot.

All conditions regarding triggering progressive jackpots in online bingo are usually posted near the room lobby and may change from session to session.

Payments and account flow

A bingo game offered online uses an account system that keeps track of deposits, ticket purchase, and withdrawals. Many customers utilize separate mental budgets for bingo tickets and all the other casino games offered at the same site. In addition, how quickly funds are processed have a significant impact on planning for sessions; particularly if there are pending payments through withdrawals while also maintaining a schedule for ticket purchases.

European online casinos generally offer players the convenience of depositing on their accounts with local bank or eWallet options in addition to the more traditional credit card option but with varying processing times depending upon the deposit method used, whether or not the player has verified their identity after signing up, etc. In some cases though, depending upon the deposit method selected, online bingo operators may use different minimum withdrawal limits; thereby potentially impacting how frequently players cash out from playing bingo on an online casino.

• Visa
• Mastercard
• Skrill
• Neteller
• PayPal
• Apple Pay
• Google Pay
• Bank Transfer
• Trustly
• Revolut
• Paysafecard

Bonuses and wagering

Bingo promotions can come in many different ways, such as offering ticket codes for playing bingo online, matched deposits up to a certain dollar limit, or offering time-limited entry to specific rooms. Casino bonuses may also apply to the overall online lobby. Some online casinos have a program where one promotion may be used for both bingo and certain selected casino games in one account. 

Bingo bonus terms generally outline the eligible rooms where the promotion can be used, the maximum amount per ticket can be  purchased with a bonus, and the conversion of bingo winnings to cash balance will be determined.  A no-deposit bonus will typically be offered in the form of free bingo tickets or a small credit amount, and generally, these types of bonuses have wagering requirements, maximum cash-outs, and restrictions on the types of bingo games that may be included in the wagering requirements. When there is an offer that combines bingo and other casino games, the contribution rate will generally be different; this means that playing bingo will have a different count when fulfilling the requirements of the bonus than playing slots. 

Online bingo promotions for casinos in Europe are generally listed in the promotions section, and their terms and conditions will include the expiration date of the bonus and any restrictions on the payment method used to fund your account. For example, someone who makes a deposit with a paysafecard will be unable to use that deposit for a no-deposit bonus.  Secondly, another common restriction when using bonus funds to purchase bingo tickets is the maximum number of tickets that may be purchased in one round, depending on the promotion.

Software and game providers

A bingo online platform will be completely dedicated for use by players involved online. In effect, this platform will manage everything from scheduling rooms, to ticket inventory, to managing chat, and certifying draws. Most providers will have integrated their bingo platform with an online casino lobby, enabling a single account to give players access to both online bingo rooms and other games or content. The stability of the platform with respect to missed calls, lag, or delayed room loading can affect the continuity of the player’s opportunity to buy or redeem tickets, even though all results are confirmed by the system.

Various types of bingo- and casino-specific software that will be commonly seen in online European casinos include Pragmatic Play, Relax Gaming, Playtech, Microgaming, and Evolution. While several of these brands may have greater branding awareness for slot or live table games, they can be located in the same lobby where online bingo games are played. As a player moves through the various online bingo games and other casino games; there may be an obvious difference in the user interface, session history, and timing of when transactions occur in the player’s account.

• Playtech
• Pragmatic Play
• Evolution
• Microgaming
• Relax Gaming
• NetEnt
• Play’n GO
• Red Tiger
• Blueprint Gaming

Chat, community, and moderation

Chatting is a major part of many online bingo rooms, and usually takes place at the same time as the number drawing. The host will sometimes use the chat for reminders of when the game starts, how the patterns work and when special games will take place. There are tools available to help control chat and spam, so that it is easier to see messages in the room. Also, many of the online bingo sites will not allow you to use chat until you purchase your first ticket in that specific room.

In addition to chatting, bingo online has some other smaller features that you can use to enhance your playing experience during a game that involve using chat, such as emotes, mini-competitions, and random spot prizes that are given away at random times throughout the session. All of these features are normally optional, and do not change the chance of winning based on ticket play. However, many of the online bingo available features that offer options for private messaging and muting users are very useful, especially when there are many players in the room and chat is occurring very rapidly.

Side games and cross-lobby play

The majority of the online sites will put online Bingo next to instant win games and slots so the player can use them between their next scheduled round of Bingo. These side category titles will usually go by the names of Scratch Cards, Wheel Spins, or Quick Number Games and will resolve instantly rather than having a room timer. Online casinos typically list separate entries for each ticket and each spin for bingo and other casino games in the player's balance and transaction history.

Some of the common examples of games that appear in the same lobby are Starburst, Book Of Dead, Gonzo's Quest, and Sweet Bonanza. Live Dealer games from Evolution like Lightning Roulette or Crazy Time can also provide game options that appear in the player's online Bingo menu. The player may use their Bingo balance and subsequently play other types of games in the casino; however, if they spend all the funds that they had allocated to bingo, they will most likely only play these games at a slower rate and with a smaller stake amount when playing other casino types of games because of the different rates and levels of stakes between each type of game.

Mobile play and usability

Many people play online bingo using their mobile devices because the rooms are available at scheduled times, and the short game sessions fit into smaller pockets of time. Generally, mobile interfaces will focus on allowing the user to quickly buy tickets, have a clear view of the bingo-based game board, and have a compact view of their tickets. Some application interfaces will provide split views, allowing the user to see both the chat window, and the numbers that have already been called along with the status of their tickets.

The performance of online bingo games on preaplaced mobile web browsers is dependent upon both the device being used and the optimization provided by the platform. One common element of a good mobile interface is how the lobby provides “filters” for room selection, specifically filters based upon ticket price, ball count and start time. A good online bingo game that is mobile-optimized offers the user a clear warning when ticket sales are about to close so that the user does not lose an opportunity to enter a game due to navigating slowly through the lobby area.

Rules that affect outcomes

While ticket inventory in play and the draw are the two main factors that determine the outcome of online bingo, the rules set by the room regarding how winnings are paid out will also affect how your winnings are calculated. In most cases, the number of tickets per player is capped which may mean you cannot cover as many cards as you might wish within one round. Some rooms may also limit the number of players that can win based on a certain side prize by limiting the number of players eligible or splitting a fixed pot of funds among all those players who have achieved the required winning pattern from the same call.

There are also timing rules in some rooms which may prohibit you from checking on your tickets after the draw has started. In most instances, you will not be able to register late for the draw and if you disconnect while playing, the system will still continue to track your tickets. In general, the purchase of each ticket and any prize awarded will typically be retained on your account which will allow you to verify the outcome of your ticket after you finish playing in your room.

Licensing and player protection

Gambling regulators license online bingo operators and dictate requirements for:

• Reasonable gambling tools
• Fair play
• Identity verification.

Most of the European online casino operators have a gambling licence from an authority such as the Malta Gaming Authority or the UK Gambling Commission; some may have cross-jurisdictional approvals in more heavily regulated jurisdictions. Gambling frameworks also dictate how disputes are settled, how to segregate funds, as well as how to determine deposit or session limits on time.

Responsible gambling tools within an environment that contains online bingo include time-outs, deposit limits, loss limits, and self-exclusion options. In addition, confirming a player's identity will also create an impact upon the speed with which the player is able to receive payment; this is particularly true for an initial withdrawal of funds. Many online bingo games created by regulated providers will allow players to check their game history and transaction history for reviewing ticket purchases for a game; the game history and transaction history will be based upon the games and schedules occurring in the room.

Payments, withdrawals, and account records

Most online bingo sites provide the same cashier page to deposit into their games that they do into all other games on the platform; however, possible methods of payment like debit or credit cards, electronic transfers, and other alternatives will be determined by each given country’s regulations. The time it takes for you to receive your cashout may be longer if you need to provide proof of identity, or if the process used to make a deposit requires an additional level of approval before cashouts are processed. Sites typically have minimums for cashouts and some specify that you cannot cashout by the same method used to deposit funds into your player account when permitted by law.

It is common to find on your player account homepage sections containing where tickets are purchased, whether they were winning tickets, and bonuses won. For example, you may be able to view the room’s name, starting time, quantity of tickets purchased, and winning pattern associated with each winning ticket. In the event of a dispute over missing winning tickets, you will not be required to submit a screenshot as the online platform can reference its draw log and the serial number of the ticket for validation purposes.