Table of Contents
Introduction
Invented as early as 1530 and popularised in 1929, Bingo is a household name and is played by people from all walks of life. Bingo is an extremely popular casino game, and for a good reason — it has the highest number of jackpot wins. While Bingo is mostly based on luck, there are still good bingo sites to play at and some strategies you can use to maximise your chances of winning.
Choosing casinos
The first thing to check when you are choosing casinos is their reputation. The casino should be trustworthy enough for you to give them your personal and banking information. Of course, the bingo site should also have a license and be completely legal. You should also double-check the methods of withdrawal offered to ensure that you can actually withdraw your winnings. Visa and MasterCard are generally the safest methods recommended, and the security is well worth the 3-5% commission fee.
Finally, before you settle on a reputable casino with secure withdrawal options, read the terms and conditions carefully. Make sure you understand every clause before depositing any money to protect your finances.
Bonuses and prizes
Bonus features may not be as important as legality, but they are still a significant feature when it comes to choosing casinos. Different sites have different features and playing methods, so be sure to compare them beforehand and select the one that best suits how you play. Even if you have been playing on a site for a while, it is still important to check the features regularly. Gambling sites are updated frequently, and features that you liked may be removed and unfavourable ones may be added. You should also read the bingo sites’ reviews every so often to ensure that the site is still as reputable and appealing as when you first started playing.
You should also check the prizes offered by the bingo site. Some sites offer less enticing rewards, which can be disappointing if you only found out about it when you have finally won. Knowing exactly what you stand to win allows you to set your expectations.
Budgeting
Before starting a game, be sure to decide on your budget. Remember to stick to it no matter how much money you won or lost. The moment you have hit your budgeted amount, call it a day and play another time. There is no harm in spending below your budget as you can save the extra money for a future game, or spend it on other living expenses.
Time of play
The prize pool for bingo usually stays the same regardless of the number of players. This means that the more players are in a single game, the lower the wings will be per player. Hence, it is better to play when there are fewer players to increase the amount of money you win. The best time to play bingo is during off-peak times. Peak times include weekends, meal times, and evenings.
Number of bingo cards
You can purchase as many cards as you want to maximise your chances of winning. The more cards you buy, the more numbers and combinations you have. However, more is not always better. This is especially true for novices, as it can be difficult to keep track of multiple cards. The last thing you want is to miss a number or a win because you were looking at the wrong card.
If you are just starting out, it is best to start with one or two cards. Once you have gained more experience and are better at keeping track of all your cards and records, you can gradually increase the number of cards you use per game. If you struggle with keeping track, though, you do not have to worry about it too much if you play bingo online. Most online games have an automatic marking system, also known as auto dab, which saves you the trouble of marking the cards manually.
Bingo Strategies
Since online bingo is purely luck-based and uses random number generators (RNGs), there are only a few strategies that can increase your chances of winning.
Tippett strategy
This strategy is developed by Leonard Tippet, an English statistician. This strategy uses simple maths, specifically medians, to predict the numbers that are more likely to be called. The median is the number in the middle of the range. To get the median, divide the highest number by two. For odd numbers, round up the decimal to a whole number.
Tippet theorised that as more numbers are called out, their values are more and more likely to be close to the median number. To illustrate, let us assume the bingo game has 75 balls. 75 divided by two is 37.5, which we round up to 38. At the start of the game, the numbers are more likely to be closer to 1 or 75. As the game progresses, the value of the numbers called should be closer to 38. Hence, when you are choosing your cards, select those with more numbers that are around the range of 38.
Granville strategy
The Granville strategy is developed by Joseph Granville, a stockbroker and final expert from America. He analysed the frequency of number sequences and determined the financial numbers a good bingo card should have. The card should have an equal number of even and odd numbers, or as close to equal as possible. Numbers with differing last digits should be prioritised. For example, it is better to choose a card with 32, 54, 40 and 9 than a card with 33,43 63, and 73.
Conclusion
Bingo is a fun and easy game suitable for people of all ages and backgrounds. While it is an enjoyable way to pass the time and maybe even earn a bit of cash, it is still important to protect yourself financially. Be sure to set and stick to a budget, exercise caution, and carefully check the legality and the terms and captions of your casino. There are ways to improve your chances of winning and enrich your experience, from picking the right bingo cards to playing at the most optimal time. Above all, remember to have fun!
