Summary:
75-ball bingo is a popular variant of the game, especially in the United States, alongside the more widely known 90-ball version found in Europe. The game's origins can be traced back to an Italian lottery game from 1530, evolving through various forms until it was standardized in the U.S. in the 1940s. A typical 75-ball bingo card features a 5x5 grid with numbers ranging from 1 to 75, organized under the letters B, I, N, G, and O. The gameplay involves a caller randomly selecting numbers, which players mark on their cards according to specific winning patterns such as single lines, letters, or blackout.
Everything You Need to Know About 75-Ball Bingo
Among the plethora of bingo variants, two have emerged as the most popular: 90-ball and 75-ball bingo. While the former reigns supreme in the gaming scene of the United Kingdom and Europe, the latter has a special place in the hearts of American players, although both variations have plenty of fans worldwide. In this guide, we'll delve into the fascinating world of 75-ball bingo and its unique features and explain why it is becoming an increasingly popular variation of the much-loved game.
The roots of bingo can be traced back to Il Gioco del Lotto d'Italia, an Italian game dating back to 1530. Over the centuries, the game evolved into various forms across Europe, including the French game Le Lotto. In the 1920s, Hugh J. Ward standardised the game at Pittsburgh carnivals. The game's popularity soared through Edwin Lowe, who introduced it as 'Beano.' By the 1940s, American Bingo (75-ball bingo) had become a widespread pastime across the United States, marking a significant milestone in the game's rich history.
This guide will help you gain an understanding of 75-ball bingo, its rules, variations, strategies, and payouts so that you are fully prepared the next time you load up a bingo game at LeoVegas.
Understanding the Basics of 75-Ball Bingo
In a 75-ball bingo card, you’ll come across a 5x5 grid with a total of 25 squares marked with random numbers ranging from 1 to 75. The columns on the card are labelled with the letters B, I, N, G, and O, and each column contains a specific range of numbers as follows:
- B Column: 1-15
- I Column: 16-30
- N Column: 31-45 (with the centre square marked "free")
- G Column: 46-60
- O Column: 61-75
Let's break down the gameplay of 75-ball bingo into simple steps. A bingo caller randomly selects numbers from 1 to 75 and announces them. Players then check their cards to see if they have the corresponding number. If they do, they mark it off. In online games, players can manually mark numbers or use the auto-daub feature for automatic marking.
The objective of bingo is to mark off numbers according to specific patterns, which can vary from game to game. Common winning patterns in 75-ball bingo include completing a single line (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal), forming specific shapes such as letters or symbols, or achieving a blackout by marking off all numbers on the card. The first player to complete the predetermined pattern and call out "bingo" wins the round.
The Rules of 75-Ball Bingo
Below is a step-by-step guide detailing how to play 75-ball bingo. Please note that when playing online, any numbers called will be automatically dabbed or marked for you.
Buy a Ticket
All you need is a bingo ticket to join in the fun of a 75-ball bingo game. Each ticket is uniquely arranged, ensuring every player has an equal and fair chance of winning.
Familiarise Yourself with the Winning Pattern
Before the game begins, take a moment to familiarise yourself with the winning pattern or patterns for that particular round. Winning patterns can vary, including completing a single line (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal), forming specific shapes such as letters or symbols, or achieving blackout by marking off all numbers on the card.
Listen to The Caller
Once the game starts, a designated bingo caller randomly selects numbers from 1 to 75 and announces them to the players. Players must listen attentively to the caller and pay close attention to the numbers being called. Missing a called number could lead to missing out on a win (this is not a problem in online bingo, however).
Mark the Numbers
As each number is called, you must check your bingo tickets to see if you have the corresponding number. If you have the called number on your ticket, mark it off using a dauber, pen, or the auto-daub feature available in online bingo games. You must mark the numbers accurately to avoid any confusion later on.
Complete a Winning Pattern
Continue marking the numbers on your ticket until you complete the winning pattern. Hopefully, you will be able to do this before anyone else.
Call Out “Bingo!”
When you complete the winning pattern on your ticket, you must call out "bingo!" to signal your win. However, you will automatically be notified of your success in the online version.
Verify Your Win
When you win at a physical location, the caller will double-check your card to ensure you've completed the winning pattern correctly. If everything looks good, they'll declare you the winner, and you'll receive your prize. Alternatively, the platform automatically checks your card when you claim a win in online bingo. Your prize money is immediately added to your account if it's a valid win.
Common Marking Methods
In traditional and online bingo, players use varying methods to mark off called numbers on their cards. Here are details for two of the most common ones:
Daubing: Daubing, also known as dabbing or dobbing, is a marking method used to mark off called numbers on the bingo cards. When a number is called, players locate it on their card and mark it with the dauber, a special ink marker with a foam tip in different colours. Daubing ensures that players can easily track which numbers have been called and which ones they still need to mark.
Clicking: This method is used in online bingo to mark off called numbers by clicking on them on their digital bingo cards using a computer mouse or touchscreen. Many online platforms, including LeoVegas, also offer an auto-daub feature, where the platform automatically marks off called numbers for players, eliminating the need for manual clicking.
What Variations and Special Features are there in 75-ball bingo?
In different online casinos, you will find various patterns of 75-ball bingo. Below are some variations available across multiple bingo halls and their details:
Single Line
This is the most common pattern in most bingo variants. To win, a player has to mark off a single line horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Bingo games with single-line wins end earlier than other variants.
Double Line
In this pattern, the player has to mark two complete horizontal lines in any of the rows in the grid. This makes it more challenging than single-line bingo, and thus, it usually has a higher payout.
X (or Cross)
In this variant, a player has to mark off a cross on the grid so that two diagonals cut each other in the middle of the grid.
Letters
To add a fun twist, specific variants of 75-ball bingo require you to mark off specific letters on the bingo ticket. Common letters include S, Z and L, but almost all letters can be a pattern in 75-ball bingo.
Numbers
Just like letters, numbers are winning patterns in some variants of 75-ball bingo.
Blackout
This is the most challenging and longest-lasting variant of bingo. In it, a player is expected to mark off all numbers on a bingo card to win the game.
Fun Shapes
Bingo is no longer limited to lines, numbers, and alphabet patterns. Expect to find acceptable patterns in bingo halls online in the shape of a witch’s hat, a pyramid, a teardrop, a frame, and a wine glass.
Strategies and Tips to Win 75-Ball Bingo
Now that we have explored the salient features of 75-ball bingo, let us discuss how specific strategies can help you maximise your wins. The online casino game is ruled mainly by a random number generator, but following these strategies can help you make the most out of the game. It is also essential to note that no strategy guarantees a winning formula. The top three strategies include:
Choose Different Numbers
The most common tip you’ll hear from every bingo enthusiast is to buy bingo tickets with different numbers. The more spread out your numbers are, the higher the chance of success. There’s no use purchasing multiple tickets if the numbers are similar, as the odds of winning would remain low this way. This is because the odds of hitting bingo for all 75 numbers are the same initially but change as numbers are called out.
Buy More Tickets (If Your Budget Allows It)
For example, choosing tickets with different numbers is effective, but having more tickets increases your odds of winning. This way, you will have more numbers on your cards and thus have more chances of shouting bingo! Please ensure the number of tickets you buy is suitable for your bankroll.
Granville’s Method
The Granville strategy is based on the principle that, over time, there tends to be an equal distribution of high and low, even and odd numbers, and ones ending in each digit from 0 to 9 in random number selection processes like that used in bingo. This strategy advises players to select tickets with a balanced mix of numbers to increase their chances of winning.
What Does the Prize Structure for 75-Ball Bingo Look Like?
For every pattern a player marks on the grid, there is a specific prize. This way, if multiple patterns are marked, each winning pattern will have its own reward. Factors that affect the payout in 75-ball bingo include:
- Bonuses and Jackpots: The winning prize is increased by bonuses and progressive jackpots
- Price of Tickets: The higher the price of tickets, the higher the payout will be as you match different patterns on the grid
- Complexity of Bingo Pattern: Simple patterns like single-line bingo pay less than complex patterns and longer games, e.g., blackouts
FAQs
Below are some commonly asked questions related to 75-ball bingo:
How do you mark numbers on a 75-ball bingo card?
Two standard marking methods are daubing and clicking the number. Some online casinos, like LeoVegas, mark the cards automatically for players.
Does Bingo go up to 75?
Yes, you should expect to hear all numbers from 1-75 to be called out.
What are the winning patterns in 75-ball bingo?
Winning patterns in 75-ball bingo include a single and double line, a cross, a blackout, letters, numbers, and shapes like a witch’s hat and a wine glass.
Can you win with multiple patterns in 75-ball bingo?
Yes, it is possible to win with multiple patterns. In most cases, there is a separate prize for every pattern you end up matching.
What should you do if you have a winning ticket in 75-ball bingo?
Call “Bingo” immediately and inform the caller. In some online variants, the software automatically declares your win.
Is there a time limit for claiming prizes in 75-ball bingo?
Yes, players are notified regarding the time limit before the game or is mentioned in the rules and regulations. They must stick to it to claim their prize.
What are some common etiquette rules for playing 75-ball bingo?
Standard etiquette includes being quiet when the bingo numbers are called out and being mindful of other players.
Are there any special features or bonuses in online 75-ball bingo games?
Yes, you can find multiple bonuses, progressive jackpots and bonus cards in different variants of 75-ball bingo.