Bingo is perhaps one of the most famous games in the history of mankind. The legend has it that it started in Italy as early as the 16th century, when people played a lottery game called “Il Giuoco del Lotto d’Italia”. Bingo is a nation’s favourite when it comes to the UK. It grew rapidly throughout the 60s and 70s and became somewhat of a national treasure – visit www.barbadosbingo.com.
Everyone is familiar with the iconic look of a large bingo hall filled with punters snug in their sports attire and smoking cigarettes as they await the winning number to be called. But what about Bingo in the US? In this article, we will look into the American version of bingo.
The game across the pond
The American counterpart of Bingo is called the 75 Ball Bingo, as opposed to the British 90 Ball Bingo. As the name suggests, the key difference here is the range of numbers in the game. What is also different is the layout of the tickets. The American bingo cards have 5 columns with 5 rows totalling in 25 squares, although the middle square is empty and can be marked off immediately. These cards also have an additional row at the top which spells out B-I-N-G-O. That allows for an easier way to identify squares (i.e. B1 or N4).
Another difference between the two versions is that the 75 Ball version has cards that are not linked together, which means that if you’re playing on more than one card, you might see numbers duplicate on your cards.
What is more, 75 Ball Bingo has unique winning patterns, such as a shape of a house, an arrow, a diamond and many more (see below). The “Full House” in 90 Ball Bingo equates to a “Cover all” in the American version.
Key differences?
According to what we know so far, we could sum up the 75 Ball Bingo in a few points:
- Playing numbers are between 1 and 75
- The tickets are independent from each other and do not link together
- Can be a slower game due to duplicating numbers
What do we have in common?
As we can see, there are quite a lot of differences between the two versions. Although both editions to the game are still undoubtedly bingo, the experience of playing might differ dramatically. Some suggest that the pace of 75 Ball Bingo is more welcoming to beginners than the quick as lightning 90 Ball Bingo.
What could we have in common with our fellow bingo lovers in the US? The competitive spirit that reigns in bingo halls is a given. That could also be the love for the game and the social aspect of gathering to play. You might prefer one version over the other, but one thing is for sure – you will be glad to be a part of the bingo community. Enjoy the game and play responsibly!
