Bingo Probabilities The game of bingo is one of the most popular games of chance in the world. Games can be found in almost every corner of the globe. The first origins of the game were in Italy in the 16th century. By the 18th century the game had already started to spread across the continent of Europe. Each country in turn added something new and different to the game. The French were the first to use playing cards, tokens/daubs, and number calling, all of which are still used in today’s version of the game. The Germans as well as other cultures used it to teach their children counting, spelling and mathematics.
If you think back on your days in grade school you can probably recall at least one instance in which the game was played in the classroom. Can you think of any other game of chance that is played in schools across the world? Most definitely not! The reason the game is played throughout classrooms is because it teaches kids important lessons that are helpful throughout life. In fact even mathematicians and statisticians have studied the game trying to come to conclusions on the probabilities of winning. However, before we get start talking about the probabilities, let’s first talk about the gameplay.
The Game
The game of bingo is most commonly played on a 5×5 card made of paper, cardboard, plastic or if you’re playing online, pixels. There are a total of 25 boxes on a card, each of which has a number, except for the box in the middle which is known as the FREE space. Elements of the Game The Bingo Card The cards that you play with are organized in a very specific way. Each of the 5 columns is labeled from left to right with the word B.I.N.G.O. across the top. The squares in the first column, “B” contain 5 numbers in-between 1 – 15. The second column, “I”, contains 5 numbers ranging from 16 – 30. Column “N” has a total of 4 numbers between 31 – 45 (since the FREE Square is in the middle).
The “G” column contains 5 numbers from 46 – 60. Finally the last column, “O” also has 5 squares with numbers, all ranging from 61 – 75. As you can see above, the bingo card is made up of 24 boxes that have a corresponding number and 1 box that acts as a free space, which is always in the middle. Bingo Balls The bingo card has random numbers ranging anywhere from 1 – 75 because during the gameplay there are a total of 75 balls that are drawn at random. The balls are drawn a few different ways, depending on where the game is played. In land based bingo games the balls are selected by a randomly shuffled deck with bingo cards, a mechanical blower which mixes the bingo balls in the air, or a rotating cage that mixes the balls. In online bingo there is an electronic random number generator that draws numbers at random. When the balls are drawn and called out, players then need to check their cards to see if they have matching numbers. Winning Talking about the probabilities of winning at bingo depends on where you’re playing the game, and what pattern you need to match. The common way to win bingo is by completing an entire horizontal row, vertical column or diagonal of 5 boxes. There are a totally of 12 winning combinations. This style of play is found in land based bingo games.
When you play online the game changes because there are different ways that you can win. Rather than using the conventional 5-box match to win, online halls create their own patterns. Bingo Hall’s different rooms have different games with different patterns; many times the pattern is tied to a promotion or theme. A player wins the game if he/she has a card that has matched the pattern. A lot of players enjoy playing with different patterns because it adds variety, making the game feel different each time it’s played. One of the most popular gaming patterns, which can have some huge prizes, is the “coverall”. The coverall is a pattern in which all 25 squares of the bingo card must be called in order to win. There can also be jackpots that are tied into online games. For example, if the jackpot is on call 17, a player must then match the exact pattern and call Bingo on or before the 17th ball drawn. If they complete the pattern within 17 balls, the jackpot is theirs. As you can see there are a lot of benefits to playing bingo online . The game of bingo holds an aura of anticipation because it’s practically unknown when somebody will win. It’s a mystery how long a game can last, which is the element of suspense and excitement that attracts so many players. Winning Probabilities The probabilities and chances at winning at bingo increase with the more experience you have. We recommend that you try playing as many different types of games as possible so that you understand the gameplay and the
different patterns that you need to win. Like any game of chance, you’re chances of winning will go up the more times you play because with experience also comes knowledge. Bingo Hall has some great bingo games for every type of player, from beginner to seasoned veteran. So what are you waiting for? Visit www.bingohall.ag and get in on the bingo action! After all, the only way of increasing your chances is by playing. We hope you found this article helpful. For more article such as this one, be sure to check BingoHall’s blog!