A Beginners Guide to Online Bingo

A decade ago, online bingo simply did not exist in the mainstream. However in the past few years, the game has become increasingly popular in the UK, with thousands of people logging onto online bingo websites every evening to place their bets. The world of online gambling can be confusing, but when it comes to bingo - which is generally regarded as a fairly simple game - you might be surprised to find that things are extremely complicated. Here, then, is an attempt at a beginner's guide to playing online bingo.

Weigh up the first-timer bonuses

Radio adverts are always telling you that their bingo site will offer you a cash reward to play with for signing up, so make sure you compare the bonuses that you will be offered. Before you enter any card details, remember to read the small print to identify if there is a minimum you need to add to your account before the bonus is applied, whether you are able to withdraw your winnings, and whether there is a subscription fee for playing.

The types of game you can play

For those unfamiliar with the types of game offered when playing bingo online, this section might be especially helpful. There are three main types of game offered:

• Cover-all (Black-out) - This is the most common game, and by far the simplest to understand. You simply have to cover (black-out) the entire card you are playing with numbers which have been called. Once your card has no numbers left to call, you are finished playing.
• Line - As the name suggests, a game is won simply be filling in an entire line of your bingo card. Make sure you note which directions are allowed - for some bingo games the line must be horizontal, whereas others allow vertical and diagonal.
• Shape - Whether it is an arrow, square or smiley face, this game requires you to fill in a predetermined shape to win.

Things to consider

Although it may not seem to make sense, you want to play on a website which has a limited number of users. This means that you are more likely to win, as you are always playing against other people in the virtual room. Also bear in mind that there are different card designed for people who want to risk (and win) different amounts of money; as always, do careful research before committing to any game.