Bingo, a fun game that you can play both offline at your home with friends as well as online with other players on the Internet, is available in two primary versions: the 75 Ball Bingo game and the 90 Ball Bingo game. There is also another version nowadays called the 80-ball bingo game. In this article we will discuss about the 90-ball bingo game.
The game of 90-ball bingo is popular mostly in the United Kingdom, and that is the country this game is primarily identified with. This game is different from the 75-ball bingo game, which is popular in the United States and Canada, in more ways than one.
Difference Between 90 Ball Bingo and 75 Ball Bingo
There are a few basic differences between 90-ball bingo and 75-ball bingo. The differences are not that great, but still noticeable. For instance, when you play 90-ball bingo the maximum number that the bingo caller can call is 90, which is why the game is called 90-ball bingo. This is different from the maximum number you can call in 75-ball bingo, which is actually 75.
A more significant difference is the fact that the bingo cards in 90-ball bingo come in strips, with one card split into six tickets. You can play all the six tickets at one shot, which is one way of looking to maximize your chances of winning.
Another significant difference is that 90-ball bingo involves lines. The 75-ball bingo game, on the other hand, involves formation of specific patterns to determine the winner. 90-ball bingo is therefore also easier to play as all you need to look out for is to ensure you are able to cross out the called numbers line by line on your card.
90-ball bingo can have up to three different winners, as there are three prizes involved. We will discuss this further in the next section. The game of 75-ball bingo has just one winner, as there is only one prize on offer.
90 Ball Bingo Rules
The rules governing 90-ball bingo are simple. The first step is to buy a 90-ball bingo card. A standard 90-ball bingo card will have three rows and nine columns, unlike the 55 matrix that characterizes 75-ball bingo. In all the card will have a total of 15 numbers on a ticket.
Once you have the card, you should also have a pencil or a pen handy. The game starts with the bingo caller calling out numbers between 1 and 90 at random. You need to check whether a number that the caller announces exists on your card. If the number is there, you need to cross it out. If the number is not there, wait for the caller to call out the next number, and repeat the process.
90-ball bingo, as mentioned in the previous section, involves the lines in the card and not patterns, unlike in 75-ball bingo. This gives you more opportunities to win, as the game carries a total of three prizes in all.
Basically, the bingo caller calls out the prizes on offer and then also lists out the line that you should look to complete. The official call to kick off the game is ‘eyes down’, and is made by the announcer after he has announced the prizes and the line combination.
There is a prize awarded to the first player who is able to cross out all the numbers in a horizontal line on his or her card. There is another prize for the first player to complete two lines. This prize is understandably bigger than the prize for completing one line. The biggest prize is reserved for the player who completes all three lines, a feat that is recognized by the name ‘full house.’ In 90-ball bingo, there can be multiple winners, as there are three prizes in all; however, it is also possible, if luck is on your side, for you to win more than one line category.
