Yes, you can play bingo online for money, but only in select locations where it is legal. It also depends on the online platform that you use.
Bingo has entertained millions of players for ages, but newbies can be instantly confused by the calls. That’s why every player should know the bingo numbers’ meaning. It not only helps to play like a pro, but you also get to enjoy this quirky game. Our guide is here to chase away your confusion about all the bingo numbers names. Once you know them, all that’s left is to play your heart out. But first, let’s clear the basics.
Bingo’s history dates back to 1530 in Italy, where it started as Il Gioco del Lotto d’Italia or the Italian lottery. This early version used numbered cards and drawn numbers, laying the foundation for modern bingo and many other European lottery and raffle games. Surprisingly, a descendant of this original game is still played every week in Italy.
Bingo rapidly spread from Italy to France in the 1770s (as Le Lotto) and then to Germany, where it was repurposed as an educational tool. By the 1800s, it took off in the UK, where players invented the famous “Bingo Lingo” or the bingo calling numbers. It reached North America as “Beano”, but in 1929, toy salesman Edwin S. Lowe renamed it “Bingo” after hearing a winner shout the word.
Lowe commercialised the game, standardising the cards and even hiring a mathematician to design thousands of unique cards, ensuring its massive popularity in the United States. However, the origin of the bingo call numbers is quite intriguing. It is said that some of these nicknames were used to send secret messages in London during the mid-20th century.
The phrases caught on quickly because they made it easier for players to differentiate between numbers that sounded similar in a noisy hall. While many calls are historical, others were invented more recently. In 2003, a Professor of Pop Culture wanted to make the game more exciting, so he devised a few of these names to rekindle its glory.
In any modern version of bingo, the basic goal is to cross off all the numbers on your ticket as they are called out. You win if you complete your ticket or line first. The specific version you play, like 90-ball or 75-ball, determines the total number of bingo calling numbers, the number of spaces on your ticket, as well as the duration of the game.
The term “ball” in the game’s name simply refers to the tradition of drawing physical balls printed with numbers. However, in modern games, especially those played online, the numbers are now typically generated electronically. Although online bingo is played more frequently than in halls, the popularity of bingo calls remains intact. In fact, these calls make the game more fun and lively.
You might have noticed that many of the bingo sayings for numbers are rhymes. Well, there’s some linguistic and social history behind it all.
Playing the game in a crowded hall was utter chaos back in the day. Imagine missing out on a win just because you misheard 13 as 30. That’s how the need for bingo lingo arose, so unique rhymes and phrases were made. This helped players clearly distinguish between similar-sounding numbers. The distinct phrases helped eliminate confusion, especially before the invention of good sound systems.
The bingo names for numbers drew inspiration not just from military references, but also from films, songs, and politics. Some were even based on the shape of the number. However, a key inspiration is Cockney Rhyming Slang. It’s a style of speech that originated in London’s East End in the 19th century and replaced a common word with a rhyming phrase.
Early versions of bingo were very popular in Victorian London. It’s only natural that this local slang had a major impact on bingo’s unique, quirky, and sometimes even cheeky vocabulary.
Well, that was all the basics about how and why the bingo lingo came into being. Moving on to the actual list, here are all the UK bingo calling numbers 1-90.
Now that you are familiar with all the bingo numbers’ meaning, you can check out our guide on how to win bingo with helpful tips and strategies.
Depending on the year and place that folks play bingo in, the calls keep evolving. That’s probably one of the reasons why it has such a universal appeal.
Considering how popular bingo is in the UK, some of the calls naturally drew inspiration from British phrases, culture, current events, music, and movies, while the rest are based on pure tradition. Some of the most popular British alternatives include:
Irish alternatives are also found in the bingo calls. If you ever play in a bingo hall in Ireland, these funny phrases might instantly give a whimsical touch to your unique, Irish gaming experience. Some of the popular ones are:
As we mentioned before, these calls keep evolving with age. In the modern era, they have been changed to make it lucrative for the new players of this time. Let’s look at the most popular modern alternatives:
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Yes, you can play bingo online for money, but only in select locations where it is legal. It also depends on the online platform that you use.
Before playing online bingo, you must know the variant that you are playing, familiarise yourself with the calls, know the required winning patterns, and play responsibly by setting a budget.
No, you don’t need to know all the bingo numbers phrases by heart. They are used to drive away confusion and enjoy the game, but every number is also called out separately.
Online bingo is more convenient, as anyone can play it from anywhere, and the automated features provide game variety. However, in a traditional bingo hall, you get an in-person experience with a fun social atmosphere.
Depending on the site that you are playing, new online bingo players get welcome bonuses like deposit match bonuses, no-deposit bonuses, and free bingo tickets or free spins for associated slot games.
Yes, playing bingo online in the UK is generally considered safe. However, make sure you only use sites that are licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), which enforces strict standards for fair play and player protection.
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