Bingo goes back centuries as a fun party game that forces you to be on your toes. Whether you’re playing Bingo at home with a group of your closest friends or you’re in a grand hall playing with a hundred other people, this board game will have you on the edge of your seat. With simple rules and countless possibilities for switching things up, Bingo is a party game that works for all occasions.

Marking Your Card

Bingo is incredibly easy to play, as all it requires is a small board and a marking device. Players will be given boards in a 5×5 grid that they’ll have to mark each round whenever a new combination is called. Depending on what version of the game you’re playing, you can mark spaces on your board with a pen, a pencil, or something temporary such as a bean or a chip.

The board is set up with five columns of the letters B-I-N-G-O. Each column then has five rows, with a different number in each row. Every player has a different board, so the numbers in the five rows vary based on each board. However, there are usually 15 different numbers that can possibly be within each column. This means that column B uses the numbers 1-15, column I uses the numbers 16-30, and so on and so forth.

The game of Bingo designates one person to call out a number and letter combination each turn, usually using a roulette wheel or by drawing random cards. This gives everyone else the opportunity to see whether or not they have that space on their game board. 

For example, the caller may say “B5”, in which case each player will see whether or not there is a number 5 underneath their B column. If they do have the space, then they mark it. If not, they wait until the next combination is called out.

Ways to Win

The standard rules for Bingo require you to have five spaces in a row marked out before you can win. This can be five in one row, five in one column, or even five diagonally. The center space of the board is also marked as a free space, which can help people win more easily. Once you’ve successfully made a row of five, you have to call out “Bingo!” in order to win. The caller will then check your board to make sure you marked everything correctly.

Bingo has a few different criteria for winning that you can choose from to make it a little bit harder. For example, players may need to make a “T” on their board by filling all of the spaces in the top row and middle column. Or, you may play what’s called a “blackout”, where players have to fill every space on the board in order to win. Just make sure you call “Bingo!” in a timely manner, as someone else may call it first and beat you to the punch.

Bingo Variations

There are quite a few variations of the board game Bingo that you can play. One of the most adorable is Dog Bingo, which uses different breeds of dogs instead of letters and numbers. Under five columns filled with pictures of different dog breeds, the caller will hold up one card at a time for you to mark. There are three patterns for you to choose from in order to win (P, A, and W). Once you win, instead of calling out the classic “Bingo!” you’ll call out “Woof!”

There’s also a Marvel Avengers Assemble Bingo game that features illustrations from the world of Avengers on one side with differently colored shapes on the other. This board game is perfect for children to practice their Bingo skills and enjoy their favorite Marvel characters at the same time.

That’s a Bingo!

Bingo is playable by 2 or more players, with no upper limit on the number of people who can play. It’s suitable for ages 5 and up, as young children can easily follow along and mark their boards. Playing time lasts around an hour, but it depends on how many rounds you choose to play.

Buy Bingo today and enjoy the thrill of this classic party game!