British Bingo - Guide To 90-Ball Bingo

When you think of bingo, the first thing that comes to mind is the UK. Brits are known to enjoy bingo the most, and the most popular type of bingo that is played there is the 90-ball bingo. The 90-ball bingo was invented in Britain so that’s why it’s called the British Bingo. So, what is British Bingo and how to play it? This is our guide to 90-ball bingo.



Posted: 23/11/2020

Bingo is one of the most sociable games that can be played both in bingo halls and online. For hundreds of years, bingo was and still is the favourite pastime for people of all ages, all over the world. When people play bingo, they gather together to have fun, communicate with each other, meet new friends, and potentially win some excellent prizes.

To play bingo, you need to purchase bingo tickets that include different numbers. Then, the person known as bingo caller will call out the winning numbers that you have to mark off on your bingo ticket. When a player marks off all of the called numbers, they are the winner. The same process is happening in online bingo, where people buy virtual bingo tickets and join virtual bingo rooms to play their favourite game. What’s more, the popularity of online bingo resulted in launching hundreds of bingo sites, offering numerous bingo rooms and bingo games. Don’t worry if you haven’t played online bingo before, as you can become a smart bingo player in 10 minutes!

When you think of bingo, the first thing that comes to mind is the UK. Brits are known to enjoy bingo the most, and the most popular type of bingo that is played there is the 90-ball bingo. The 90-ball bingo was invented in Britain so that’s why it’s called the British Bingo. So, what is British Bingo and how to play it? This is our guide to 90-ball bingo.

British Bingo

British Bingo, or 90-ball bingo, is the game that is played in Britain the most. The British Bingo uses 90 balls, numbered from one to 90, and the bingo cards are arranged into nine columns and three rows. Each row contains five numbers and four empty spaces.

To play 90-ball bingo, you have to buy at least one bingo ticket. Usually, players buy six bingo tickets to increase the chances of winning, as it allows them to cover every single number from one to 90 to appear on the squares. Still, bingo is a game of luck and chance so this won’t guarantee you a win.

Each 90-ball bingo game has three levels of a win per ticket - one line, two lines, and three lines. A three-line win on the same ticket is called Full House. When playing British Bingo, it’s possible for more than one player to win so the prize will be divided by the number of winners.

In line with the 90-ball bingo, bingo callers often use bingo lingo, alternative slang terms for the different numbers.

Are you a fan of Irish Bingo? Learn more about it here.

History of British Bingo

Even if bingo is so popular in the UK, its history doesn’t start there. In fact, the origins of bingo start in Italy way back in 1530. Then, bingo appeared in the form of a national lottery called “Lo Giuoco Lotto Italia”. The most interesting fact is that bingo still runs every Saturday in Italy. The 1530s Saturday Night Lotto was very similar to the popular 90-ball bingo that people play today. Players had cards with rows and numbers, and winning numbers were pulled from a sack, so they had to match the numbers to reveal the winners. By the late 1770s, bingo has become so popular that it crossed borders and spread to other countries, including the UK.

It is not very clear on how bingo came in the UK, but it is known that bingo made its way to Britain through France. It is believed that bingo came in the UK in the 18th century and was widely playing around British towns and cities before moving into other countries. After it was introduced in the country, bingo quickly became popular. People started opening bingo halls to play and bingo became a great way for people to socialise and have fun. Every town in the UK had a large bingo hall where drinks were served apart from the game. 

In the past few years, online bingo has grown in popularity and the number of online bingo sites is growing on a regular basis. Online bingo has a lot of advantages. For example, you won’t need to spend money to travel to bingo halls, because you can play from your home. Plus, most of the online bingo sites are optimised to work on any desktop and mobile devices and there are bingo games available 24/7. It all depends on you how and when are you going to play bingo. Finally, the online bingo community is even bigger than the community in bingo halls, as you can meet people from all over the world.

Where To Play 90-Ball Bingo

Today there are hundreds of bingo sites online and that may make it difficult for you to make a choice of where to play 90-ball bingo online. So, how do you pick a great bingo site? This is why Bingo Scanner exists - to connect you with verified bingo sites that have excellent rooms, jackpots and provide bonuses regularly. 

Start Playing Online Bingo Today

Online bingo in the UK has become so popular that each week there are more and more UK bingo sites launched online. With so many bingo sites present online, it can be hard deciding where to play and which bingo site has the best offers. Luckily for you, here at Bingo Scanner, you can find the most popular and trustworthy UK bingo sites that offer many generous promotions. 

So go through our list of the best new bingo sites in the UK, make your choice and start playing. Good luck!

Top Blog Stories
What you need to know about the National Chocolate Ice Cream Day

What You Need To Know About The National Chocolate Ice Cream Day

Spring Bank Holiday - How And Why Are We Celebrating It?

Spring Bank Holiday - How And Why Are We Celebrating It?

The History of the Bingo Game

The History Of The Bingo Game

Bingo vs Lottery - What's the Difference?

Bingo Vs Lottery - What's The Difference?

How online bingo leverages new tech advancements

How Online Bingo Leverages New Tech Advancements