Bingo is a game of chance played with randomly drawn numbers which players match against numbers that have been pre-printed on 5x5 matrices. The matrices may be printed on paper, card stock or electronically represented and are referred to as "cards." Many versions conclude the game when the first person to achieve a specified pattern from the drawn numbers. The winner is usually required to call out the word "Bingo!", which alerts the other players and caller of a possible "win". All wins are checked for accuracy before the win is officially confirmed at which time the prize is secured and a new game is begun. In this version of bingo, players compete against one another for the prize or "jackpot".
Alternative methods of play try to increase participation by creating excitement. Since its invention in 1934, modern bingo has evolved into multiple variations, with each jurisdiction's gambling laws regulating how the game is played. There are also nearly unlimited patterns that may be specified for play. Some patterns only require one number to be matched, up to cover-all games which award the jackpot for covering an entire card and certain games award prizes to players for matching no numbers or achieving no pattern. See "Variations" for more details.
Bingo cards
The most common Bingo cards are flat pieces of cardboard or disposable paper which contain 25 squares arranged in five vertical columns and five horizontal rows. In addition, Dual dab , or "double-action" cards have two numbers in each square. Each space in the grid contains a number, except there may be one or more "Free" spaces, which are considered filled. Typically the game is played utilizing 75 numbers. The letters B, I, N, G, O are pre-printed above the five vertical columns, with one letter appearing above each column. The center space may be marked "Free". The printed numbers on the card commonly correspond to the following arrangement: 1 to 15 in the B column; 16 to 30 in the I column; 31 to 45 in the N column; 46 to 60 in the G column and 61 to 75 in the O column. In U-Pick'Em bingo and other variants of bingo, players are issued three 25 number cards which contain all 75 numbers that may be drawn. Players then mark which numbers they wish to play and then daub those numbers according to the numbers drawn.
There are about 5.52*10 26 , (exactly 15 5 × 14 5 × 13 5 × 12 5 × 11 4 ) possible arrangements of the numbers on a bingo card.
The most chips one can place on a Bingo board without having a Bingo is 19, not counting the free space. In order for this to happen, only one empty cell can reside in each row and each column, and at least one empty cell must be in each diagonal, for instance:
O O _ O O
O _ O O O
O O F O _
O O O _ O
_ O O O ONote: in addition to a straight line, many bingo halls consider other patterns as a valid "bingo", usually in special games. For example, in the illustration above, the 2x2 square of marked squares in the upper right-hand corner would be considered a "postage stamp". Another common special game requires players to cover the four corners.
Equipment
The numbers which are called in a game of bingo, may be drawn utilizing a number of methods to randomly generating the ball call. With the expansion of computer technology in bingo, electronic random number generators are now common place in most jurisdictions. However, some jurisdictions require mechanical ball draws which may utilize a randomly shuffled deck of bingo calling cards, a mechanical ball blower that mixes ping pong balls with blown air or a cage which is turned to mix small wooden balls. All methods essentially generate a random string of numbers by which players match to their bingo cards.
Culture
Single games often have multiple bingos; for example, the players first plays for a single line; after that, play goes on until a full card is called; then, play continues for a consolation full card.
Players often play multiple cards for each game; 30 is not an unusual number. Because of the large numbers of cards played by each player, most halls have the players sit at tables to which they often fasten their cards with adhesive tape. To mark cards faster the players usually use special markers called daubers . At commercial halls, after calling the number the caller then displays the next number on a television monitor; bingo cannot be called until that number is called aloud, however.
Bingo is often used as an instructional tool in American primary schools and in teaching English as a foreign language in many countries. Typically, the numbers are replaced with beginning reader words (such as those drawn from the Dolch word lists), pictures, or unsolved math problems. Recently many teachers have taken to using software to automate the creation of bingo cards, as it is slow and laborious to do it by hand for large numbers of cards.
A system of etiquette exists in organized play. It is considered rude to carry on conversations with others or on cell phones during an active game. Making excess noises with daubers or allowing your cell phone to ring is also considered rude.
Terminology
Waiting/Cased – When someone only needs one number in order to complete the Bingo pattern, he/she is considered to be “Waiting” or "Cased".
Breaking the Bubble – The bubble is the minimum number of balls required to complete the Bingo pattern. This is the earliest point anyone could have a valid bingo. Example: Winning pattern is 1 hard way bingo, a straight line without the free space. The minimum number of called numbers is 5 although it is not considered “Breaking the Bubble” until 1 number in each column or 5 numbers in a single column have been called.
Jumping the Gun – One who calls bingo before having a valid bingo. The most common situation is someone calling bingo using the next number in the screen before it has been called.
Wild numbers – Many bingo halls will have certain games with a wild number. Wild numbers allow bingo players to start with multiple called numbers. Typically the first ball drawn is the determining factor.
Standard – All numbers ending with the second digit of the first number. Example: First ball is 22. All numbers ending in a 2 including B2 is considered a called number.
Forwards/backwards – All numbers beginning or ending with the wild number. Example: First ball is 22. All numbers beginning or ending with a 2 is considered a called number. If the first ball ends with an 8, 9 or 0, another number may be drawn as there are no numbers starting with a 8 or 9 and only 9 numbers starting with a zero. Some halls will also redraw a number ending with a 7 as there are only 5 numbers beginning with a 7.
False Alarm - Term used when one calls bingo but is mistaken. This could be because of mishearing the caller or stamping the wrong number by mistake. If one calls a falsie, they genuinely believe they have a bingo. Also known as a "social error". Another term used for this is a "bongo."
History
The game of bingo can be traced back to a lottery game called "Lo Giuoco del Lotto d'Italia" played in Italy in c.1530. By the eighteenth century, the game had matured, and in France, playing cards, tokens, the reading out of numbers had been added to the game. In the nineteenth century, Bingo was widely used in Germany for educational purposes to teach children spelling, animal names, and multiplication tables.
At a traveling carnival near Atlanta in 1929, Beano was being played with dried beans, a rubber stamp, and cardboard sheets. Edwin Lowe, was watching this game and noticed how engaged the players were. Lowe took the idea with him to New York where he introduced the game to his friends. He conducted bingo games similar to the ones he had witnessed, using dried beans, a rubber numbering stamp and card board. His friends loved the game. It is said that one of his players made bingo history when he was so excited to have won that he yelled out “Bingo” instead of “Beano." The Lowe Bingo Game had two versions; the first a 12-card set for $1.00, the second a $2.00 set with 24 cards. Bingo was a wild success. By the 1940s Bingo games were all over the country. Lowe had many competitors and all he asked was that they pay $1.00 a year to conduct the games and to use the name Bingo.
Word origin
The word bingo (referring to a lotto) has its earliest recording from England in 1776.
The business of bingo
In the US, the game is primarily staged by churches or charity organizations. Their legality and stakes vary by state regulation. In some states, bingo halls are rented out to sponsoring organizations, and such halls often run games almost every day. Church-run games, however, are normally weekly affairs held on the church premises. These games are usually played for modest stakes, although the final game of a session is frequently a coverall game that offers a larger jackpot prize for winning within a certain quantity of numbers called; a progressive jackpot may increase per session until it is won.
...
Craft Ideas Card Stock Tear Art instructions from WorldWin Papers
Cardstock Leaf Pattern. Card Stock Petals . 1. Trace five (5) petals onto Pretty Pink DoubleMates card stock using the pattern ...
Envelopperinc.com: Card stock (Cover)
Card stock (Cover) Gala Collection Card stock (Cover) Stardream Metallic Card stock (Cover) Translucent Card stock (Cover) Pattern Card stock (Cover)
homeschool patterns
Before class print out the pattern (Large file or small file) and make copies onto card stock. If you have children 2nd grade or younger you may want to cut the patterns out ahead of ...
Primitive Fall StitcheryEmbroidery Patterns
#FA106 Fall Block Collection. Click on to see the finished item stitched by Barb Wilson . Pattern Type: E-Pattern $2.25 Card Stock $1.99: Qty:
Making Christmas Cards - Let it Snow - Homemade Card Ideas
1 piece 8-1/2" by 11" or 12" by 12" double sided pattern card stock ; 6 blue mini brads/mini eyelets/snowflake punchies ; 1 half-inch snowflake shaped brad/eyelet/punchie
North Coast Medical :: Jumbo Pegs & Pegboards/Pattern Card Set
Jumbo Pegs & Pegboards/Pattern Card Set ... In Stock items ship immediately. Out of Stock and Special Order shipping times vary.
Primitive Patterns SamplersPrimitive Stitches
#CH114 Deck the Halls. Pattern Type: E-Pattern $2.25 Card Stock $1.99: Qty:
Pumpkin Yarn Bug
Craft Foam and Foot Pattern; Craft Foam and Hand Pattern or Bug Hands and Card Stock; Bug Eyes and Card Stock; Try our bug part kit.
Card Making @ CircleOfCrafters.com
To stitch the pattern, place the printable pattern onto the front of the pink card stock and temporarily tape it down using either blue painter's tape or masking tape, you will ...