Online Bingo Articles
Strategies to improve Bingo odds
Bingo is a game of chance and like any other game enthusiast people always look for ways to improve their chances. While theoretically it is possible to calculate one’s odds, when one considers the complexity of progressive jackpots it becomes a very difficult task. In theory the odds of a player is the number of cards being played by the player over the total number of cards at play. So if the player has 5 cards and there are 100 cards at play, then the odds of winning the game are 5/100 or 5%. Calculating the total number of cards at play is easy in small bingo parties but becomes progressively difficult in online games and large bingo halls. Similarly the odds of any number being called, is also slim as there are 75 numbers generated randomly.
Therefore the only way a player can actually increase his/her chances is by following some simple strategies. One of the more simple ways of increasing one’s odds is by playing at non-peak hours. When one plays the game with fewer people competing for the prize the odds of winning the prize is more than otherwise. Therefore bingo players often try to visit halls when there are fewer players, either due to weather, or the time or the day.
Another simple tactic used to improve odds is to play more cards, however this depends on the ability to pay for the cards and also to keep track of the multiple cards. But the fact remains that just as in winning a lottery, the chances of one winning increases when one buys more tickets, the more cards being played in bingo can also increase the chances of win.
Choosing non-similar cards, or in other words cards with different numbers also helps in increasing the odds of a win. Some players playing in bingo halls choose to hold on to the same cards over multiple games. While this may not help in creasing their odds, it helps because the players are very familiar with the layout of the cards and are therefore faster at spotting numbers and patterns.
The most important skill in increasing odds is to remain alert and also to have a positive attitude. The simple fact is that if one cannot hear the number being called or spot the pattern, one misses the opportunity for a win. A positive attitude helps in keeping the game enjoyable and some players also believe it is their attitude that attracts the luck! Playing at quality bingo websites like Littlewoods Bingo should also help improve your luck.
Online Bingo special strategies
Playing bingo online can be a daunting experience for those unfamiliar with technology or the complexity offered by the playing patterns online. Many people are afraid of online predators, hackers, identity theft and cheating. The anonymity of the online environment proves to be the breeding ground for predatory characters.
One of the first tips for those new to online gambling is to always choose well-known established websites to play on. Since the legislation to control online theft and cheating is still not as developed as in the offline environment, choosing known brand names helps in reducing chances of cheating.
Starting to play in the free mode is always helpful when one is yet to become familiar with online playing environment. There are well known websites that offer players a chance to play bingo for play money. Since no money is involved there is relatively very small chances for damage to be done. Most of the online websites require setting up of accounts with the website. Choosing a password that is difficult to hack is the next line of defense against online theft. Using common sense online such as not revealing passwords, identities, numbers, addresses and other sensitive personal information is also an absolutely necessary step to play safe games.
Free games allow one an option to familiarize with the online environment. Some features are unique only to online games, such as the chat feature and the auto daub feature. In offline games it is considered rude to talk while playing bingo, but the reverse is almost true for online games. Many players choose to chat, and exchange congratulatory messages in the online environment. There is also a chat monitor that monitors the chats. The auto daub feature proves to be very useful to players especially in blackout or speedy bingo games. This features automatically daubs the numbers called, leaving the players free to chat.
After a player becomes familiar with the online bingo games, it is easier then to play for actual money. Money games involve setting up accounts with the websites, and transferring funds either through the bands or the credit cards using agents such as Neteller. Again care has to be taken to see that the web site has adequate security, and is encrypted. Many bingo players who play exclusively online tend to avoid websites that advertise unreasonably big prize money. The prize money is used to lure the players and to coax them to give their credit card numbers. This is not to say that all websites that offer big prizes are not legitimate, but the reputable ones also have adequate protection in place. Reading website reviews before giving them the money is also a useful tip to avoid getting cheated.
The Seven Wonders of the Bingo World!
We are all huge bingo fans and all try to play the game we love as often as possible, but what is it about bingo that we love SO much?!
1. The Chat Room & The CM
The chatroom is the hub of online bingo! This is where it all happens. It’s where you meet your roomies, it’s where you play chatgames, it’s where you share a laugh and a giggle with your fellow players ...and don’t forget the CM! What would a chat room be like without a host? A lively chat room and good CM are vital to the success of a fun bingo game and the first Wonder of the Bingo World.
2. Emot-icons
Can you imagine chatting in a chatroom or submitting a post to a forum and not being able to sign off with your favorite smilie :”( Emot-icons are a great, colorful way to express yourself and make sure you are understood perfectly!
3. Progressive Jackpot
The almighty pound!!! This is where the real money is won. Thanks to the progressive jackpot players get the chance to win HUGE amounts of cash. The jackpot just keeps on growing until it gets won and with that the excitement in the room grows game after game. Great fun for all!
4. Chat Games
Fun, Fun, Fun! Having a fun time in chat with your roomies is probably the best things about online bingo. Every week there’s new and more exciting chat games being played. Chat games are a great way to get to know new roomies - they’re a great ice-breaker! Even if you don’t win, you can still have a great time getting to know the newbies.
5. Auto Daub
Can you remember life before auto-daub? What would online bingo be like without auto-daub… numbers would be missed, bingos not called and jackpots not claimed? THE HORROR…….
6. The Sign-up Bonus
Let’s be honest, when you’re searching for a new bingo home, the first thing you want to know is what sign-up bonuses will I receive?!! Whether it’s free cards, free money or deposit bonuses - the bigger the bonus, the better!
7. Our Fellow Roomies
There’s no need to explain this one. Bingo without your roomies would be a bit like a blunt pencil...pointless!!!
Ten good reasons to play Bingo online
Online Bingo is one of the most enjoyable forms of entertainment available online. The variety of games exceeds anything to be found at land based Bingo halls. Players can meet and socialize locally, nationally or with players from players from around the world. Transactions are secure and the internet Bingo industry has a reputation for honesty and fairness.
1. With online Bingo there is a winner every game. In the land based version there are games with no winner.
2. Playing Bingo online is completely secure and private. There are many reputable e-wallet companies that provide players with deposit and withdrawal services in a timely manner.
3. Online Bingo is less expensive. There are no expenses associated with travel such as gas. The cards are generally cheaper too.
4. Bingo is a game of chance and online Bingo is no exception. Every player has the same chance to win. Almost all online bingo sites are honest and fair. When we hear about rogue sites we will be sure to inform our readers.
5. Players should read the policies of the sites they visit. Some are better than others and careful research can turn up some incredible bonuses.
6. You can try before you buy at most sites. Most Bingo websites have a free play option and some even offer free Bingo for cash. Unlike a land based Bingo hall, you can leave at any time if you feel uncomfortable with the games.
7. Many online Bingo sites offer Slots games like video slots, online Fruit machines . Players who get bored playing Bingo have several options unlike land based Bingo. Most online Bingo sites allow some form of auto play. Players can play online while pursuing other activities. For example you can play while cleaning house or watching the children.
8. Studies show that playing Bingo (especially the online version) helps to keep the mind sharp and train the memory.
9. When signing up for online Bingo sites players can choose a name that is unique to each player. Imagination is the only limit.
10. Many online Bingo sites have programs in place to identify compulsive betting patterns. This means that the industry is looking out for the players. Many online Bingo sites have their own blogs where they address a variety of issues including compulsive gambling.
With all the major Bingo sites offering more features than land based Bingo halls there is no reason not to play online. Prospective online Bingo players can access a Bingo portal to find information about the numerous online Bingo sites. It’s safe, it’s secure, And best of all, it can be very lucrative!
Bingo Strategies
The lively atmosphere, fun chat rooms and friendly people are not the only reasons why people play online Bingo. Of course, the Bingo winnings and Bingo Jackpots play an important role. Many a player will ask regulars the age-old question: are there any methods that online Bingo players can incorporate into their game strategy in order to improve the chance at a Bingo win? Some people might say you can only rely on good old-fashioned luck, but others believe there are certain strategies and skills involved in winning Bingo games. We have come up with a handful of tips that could just increase your chances of winning next time you decide to play your favourite online Bingo game!
Read on carefully and make some mental notes – you never know when they may come in handy!
1. The more players there are, the more difficult to win. Try to play when there are less people playing Bingo.
2. If there are only a handful of players, try to buy more cards than there are players. You will see your chances of winning will improve!
3. Use chat rooms to your advantage! Ask the other players if they have any tips to win, or go more underground and find out how many cards the other players are using. If you buy more tickets than the others have, you stand a better chance than the rest.
4. Choose the website where you go to play Bingo carefully. Select a site where the number of players is balanced. Over-crowded sites decrease your chances of winning.
5. If possible, play early or late, as the bingo sites will be quieter. While the prizes may be smaller, your chance at success is higher. Rather win less than not win at all!
6. Play at sites that offer incentives such as free cash on your initial deposited amount, bonuses on deposits and affordable bingo cards. Remember the money you save you can use to play Bingo games more often!
We hope that these tips will help you win big! But remember, overall you need Lady Luck on your side! So squeeze your lucky clover and smile as the Bingo Jackpots roll in!
BINGO'S THE BEST WAY TO SCOOP £1M
Forget the Lotto, says University expert, BINGO is the best bet to win £1million in time for Christmas, according to a mathematician. Researcher Dr Oliver Johnson looked at different ways of scooping the cash. He calculated that, with odds of 200,000-1, punters staking £10 would have about eight times more chance of hitting the jackpot on Sunday's National Bingo Christmas game than if they gambled the same amount on the Lotto.
The National Lottery draw was way down the list, with odds of around 1.4 million-1. ITV's Who Wants To Be A Millionaire fared even worse, with odds of just over 1.5 million-1. Losing out to Bingo by a nose was sports betting, which provided punters with 247,596- 1 odds of becoming a millionaire. The 28-year-old Cambridge University expert said his research ignored the effects of skill or judgment that might be present in sports betting or quiz shows. He added: "Certain assumptions have to be made to arrive at these results, but they are broadly accurate. "For example, in relation to sports betting you have to look at what a typical spread is and what odds are usually out there.
"Bingo represented the best value among all the bets, giving a better chance than all the others." The National Bingo game takes place when the country's bingo clubs share an evening link- up. Bingo organisers estimate that 200,000 tickets will be bought for the draw and a million pounds is on offer. The calculations for Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? were a lot easier as there had been 38 million calls, 600 people in the seat and three winners. As for winning a million himself, the mathematician said: "I've given up gambling on the grounds of being very unsuccessful. "All these games are based on chance and nothing you will do can ever guarantee success."
Online Bingo Top 5 Tips
With thousands flooding online to play bingo, many gamers are starting to play without really understanding what the game is all about – which is ‘fun and friends’, coupled with the chance of random cash prizes and bonus promotions! Here are some of the top tips to make sure you get the most from online bingo……
Tip 1 - Bingo Budget
Bingo is a leisure game - so as with any form of leisure you choose, set yourself a budget. Bingo games start from just 5 pence per game, so if you’re planning on playing the maximum 10 games per hour, you’d need to set aside a minimum of 50p. The best strategy is to decide what card value you’re going to use, and stick to it. In addition, decide how much cash you want to spend playing bingo each week – be it 50 pence, £1, £5, £10 or more. The great aspect of bingo is you can essentially decide how many hours of play you want per week, and know the maximum expenditure you will require. Use this strategy to enjoy long-term bingo fun.
Tip 2 - Don’t Expect to Win!
Here is a great piece of advice – bingo is a game of luck so never expect to win or think the game ‘owes you something’. If you haven’t won for weeks, chill out and smile – bingo is really about fun and being happy whatever the result – take a break if you’re not enjoying it. In fact, most lucky players are the people who never thought they’d win!
Tip 3 - Never Chase Bingo Losses
Because most bingo games have small wager prices and strict limits (in addition to the fact you should always have a gaming budget), it’s not easy to rapidly drain a gaming bank. However, some bingo gamers like to progress to higher value cards after a losing game. Because Bingo is random luck, you have no power over the result, meaning this strategy will probably not work ‘99.9%‘of the time.
Tip 4 - Make Bingo Buddies
Now this is the big reason to head online and play bingo – forum fun! As soon as you’ve picked a fun (keep it clean) bingo name, sign-up and head straight for the bingo forum and chat features (often available in-game and as a standalone chat facility). Many new bingo gamers hide in the background and never ‘buddy-up’, and they tend to leave disappointed with their experience. Think of playing bingo as your ‘first day at school’ – how much more fun was it once you’d plucked up the courage to join in? With a group of professional bingo hosts to keep things in order, you’ll be amazed at how much fun bingo becomes.
Tip 5 – Grab the Bingo Bonus
While frequent bingo wins come and go (you’ll find people who seem to win every game!), the Bingo bonus is a guaranteed payout if you choose the right one. You should be able to search around and bag yourself up to £5 in 100% free Bingo credits, which gives you hours of free play.
Bingo Crazy Britain
Bingo has always been seen as an old smokey club filled with older ladies and grannies but not anymore. Bingo is going through a cultural change due to the internet. Online bingo has now become a socially acceptable form of gambling and is one of the main past times for many women, young ladies and a new following of men. Bingo is seen as a low risk money winning game, with added thrills and a strong community base to meet like minded people.
It has come out of the shadows of the gambling world to steal the limelight and is becoming as popular as the main leader poker. A recent study showed that 53% of all online games are played by women who are helping to increase online gambling. Online bingo is surely taking off in Britain in a big way, so big that some top UK named companies are jumping on the bandwagon to get a slice of the action. Names like Littlewoods, Blackpool, Virgin, Butlins, NewWoman, Mother and Baby magazine, Magic 105.4 one London's most listened to radio station, MSN and Yahoo to name a few.
Who will be the next major name to start a bingo site, will we be seeing names like " BBC Bingo" , "M & S Bingo" or even "GoogleBingo". Bingo has even attracted big named stars such as Robbie Williams, Daryl Hannah, Denise Van Outen, Scott Mills, Shane Richie, Russell Crowe and Kian from west Life. Bingo is set to really take off over the next few years so it will be interesting to see where it goes.
BINGO 'BOOSTS THE BRAIN'
Playing bingo may enable people to safeguard a "full house" of mental faculties. Southampton University psychology researcher Julie Winstone is running tests to investigate whether playing the game has long-term psychological benefits. Bingo - a favourite game of many pensioners - needs visual skills and memory. Three million people play the game in the UK every year. Players have to be able to check numbers off quickly and need rapid hand-eye co-ordination.
But, says Ms Winstone, those are exactly the skills which were thought to decline as people get older. Chess and bridge playing have been examined in the past, but they require "stored" skills and moves that can be learned and remembered over time - unlike the "on-line" reactive mental abilities required in bingo, according to Ms Winstone. She is hoping to recruit people from young adults upwards, to track how mental skills change. Nine out of ten Bingo players are over 70 and many play two cards or more at once. Many even bring knitting to keep them occupied while they play, or play the cards upside down to make the games just that little more difficult.
Mental decline 'inevitable' Ms Winstone said her research could mean the optimum number of bingo games needed to keep minds alert could be determined. She said: "If we can find out an amount of practice that people can do to maintain these abilities, it could have serious implications for how these facts can be used. "I know its often played in nursing homes and residential homes. If we can pin down how much it needs to be played, it would help a lot." Ms Winstone is conducting the research single-handed as part of her PhD studies. She said: "Age-related decline in mental abilities may be partly due to lack of use. "Mental decline is inevitable, just like physical decline. However just as keeping physically active helps ward off the signs of physiologically ageing, it may be that keeping mentally active helps to maintain mental alertness."
Mental skills She said people who played those games often used their mental skills in many other situations too. But she said: "A lot of people who go to bingo have said it is one of the only times they leave the house. Kelvin Stacey, spokesman for Rank Group Gambling Division, which owns Mecca Bingo, said: "For those people who play bingo, it gives them a great deal of interest and a great deal of excitement. "People go and have a bit of fun. but they have to concentrate too. "It's good for people. It stops them becoming a couch potato."
Feel good factor
Brush up your Bingo lingo and enjoy the biggest online gaming craze – putting smiles on the faces of thousands of players everyday. Bingo online has risen from its humble origins into the perfect game to utilise the unique social power of the internet.......giving you hours of endless fun and laughter.
Among dark office corners and in warm homes up and down the country, bingo's popularity is at an all time high - thanks to online Bingo's re-launch, delivering a feel-good gaming and social experience.
First up, the big bingo bosses have come up with a way to make the game affordable for just about anyone, with a range of ticket prices from a few pence up to several pounds per play. In fact, find the right site and you'll be able to game constantly for about 30 pence per hour, if you select the 5p cards!
Online bingo combines low ticket prices with a tasty range of prizes – usually comprising 3 win levels for the traditional one and two column bingo lines and for the Full House. In addition, progressive jackpot bingo sky rockets the prizes, with million pound jackpot pools.
But forget about the great value gaming and the lovely cash prizes, because when you play online bingo you're playing for much more than tangible rewards.....you get the chance to make new friends, chat away during games and enjoy the concept that makes online bingo so cool – the bingo forum. If you think you'll get a little excited waiting for one more ball to win, just wait until you're battling against your bingo buddies and enjoying the banter that's intrinsic to the game.
However, the online bingo mayhem doesn't stop there, because just like the famous bingo halls, online bingo showers gamers with weekly and monthly promotions – meaning you could find yourself walking away with a range of cool give-aways such as televisions, music systems and games consoles or a big bonus bingo cash win.
Online bingo delivers an instant hit of fun and laughs and a range of cool themed games to boost the intrinsic feel-good factor. There are free bingo cash promotions available at many online bingo destinations......so what are you waiting for?
Online Slots
Video slots (otherwise known as: Pub slots, Fruit machines, online slots, Reel slots) have added a whole new dimension to online Casino games. Not only are the graphics and animations visually impressive, but the games also maximize your chances of winning. Online slots are very popular in UK Casinos, thousands of people log on daily for their recreational pastimes. The design of slot machines, often include pay lines that extend across as many as nine “reels”.
The difference between playing Reel slots and video slots is that video slots can have lines that are criss-crossing and zig-zagging the nine symbol panes. However, these additional pay lines will cost you! Many video slot machines have a scale of descending jackpots and payouts. Some of them don’t pay out these jackpots unless you insert the maximum number of coins. In short, video slots are much more expensive then reel slots. On a Reel machine you may only have to insert three or four tokens or coins in order to receive the payout. In a video slot machine you might have to insert anywhere from 45 to 90 coins to play all of the lines.
Even though it is very tempting to play all nine lines and try to hit the primary or secondary jackpots, you might blow your bankroll gambling this way. To stay in the game longer avoid the temptation of all of the flashy lines and bet a couple of coins per spin. You will save money because your chances of hitting the big jackpot are actually quite slender.
Another difference between video slots and reel slots is that they take a longer time to complete their spin. This is why video slots are so much more expensive than the Reel slots. To make up for the slow spin of video slots, the online Casinos increase the betting amount required for you to get a payoff to maximize their own profits.
In the last few years the slot makers have been adding more pay lines to their games and have been increasing the number of coins that can be played on each line. Most of the new video slot machines have a minimum of nine lines and you can play any number of coins from one to ten on each line as well as the criss-crosses and zig-zags.
The latest gaming trend is toward the design of glitzy, graphically loaded video slots. These are often Casino bonus video slots that are branded by a big media or film company. These types of bonus slots, which can also include some animation, can be based on such brands as Marvel characters, Elvis, Monopoly, Wheel of Fortune and the Addams Family. These super video slot machines can sometimes offer a schedule loaded with as many as 25 payouts.
Just as in playing standard slots, when you’re playing the big flashy video slots the goal is to select a game to play with the highest payout rate and opportunity for winning. You’ll find lots of these opportunities on many of the online Casino gaming sites.
Bingo History
The first bingo games can be traced back to 1530 in Italy. It originated as a "lottery" game called "Lo Giuco de Lotto". This type of lottery migrated over to France in the 1700s, it took the form of the Bingo we all know and love today. The French were the first to play with Bingo playing cards, tokens . and what we all love most -- reading those numbers out loud! Throughout the 1800s Bingo spread quickly in Europe. Typically, the "Caller" would draw from a bag full of wooden chips numbered from 1-90. The object of the game was to be the first to cover a vertical, horizontal or vertical row. In 1929, a game called "Beano" was played in a carnival near Atlanta, Georgia. Dried beans, a rubber stamp and a cardboard sheet were all that these Americans need to get their minds off the sting of the Depression.
It wasn't until a New York toy salesman named Edwin Lowe, observed how players shouted the word, "BEANO!" after winner was the modern game of Bingo born. Mr. Lowe introduced the game to his friends in New York where one of them mistakenly yelled BINGO!" for the first time in her excitement, and "Lowe's Bingo" was soon the talk of the town. Lowe asked players to pay him $1 per year to allow them to call their games Bingo as well . By the late 1940s, Bingo games sprung up all over the country with thousands of games being play every week.
Today, Bingo games are found everywhere, even on the internet! The gene real objective of bingo is to cross out all of the numbers on your card before anyone else does. In online bingo, a player first purchases a card as in the traditional game. Random numbers are then displayed or called. You either check off numbers on your card if they match or, in some cases, the numbers are displayed on screen and crossed off automatically. When your card is full the player shouts "house" in a traditional game or clicks "house" online to win the game.
