Games can be very entertaining and offer a pleasant sense of relief from the real world. However, all it takes is one person to mess up the fun and flow of a game to ruin it. This is why it is so important for individuals to make themselves aware of bingo etiquette, both offline and online. These tips regarding etiquette provide a suitable guideline for how players should interact with each other during the course of the game. The rules are very similar between offline and online games, so they are ground rules suitable for both situations and environments.
First, it is important to note that official Bingo etiquette may vary from site to site when players are taking part in online Bingo games. This is discussed in detail from site to site in their rules and regulations. Some of the most common rules and regulations include the age of players (typically Bingo players must be over the age of 18 years) and the players on the site must take part in and follow website protocol. However, these types of regulations may be worded slightly differently from site to site. This is why it is so important when playing online that players carefully review the rules and regulations for each and every website, as well as for each and every offline Bingo hall. Especially online, it can be easy for players to just click the box agreeing to the rules and regulations without actually reading the terms and conditions of play on such a website. In order to make the most of the experience, players need to be responsible and review the rules and regulations.

As we discussed yesterday, there are many different styles of Bingo game which may be played, including 90 Ball Bingo, 75 Ball Bingo and 80 Ball Bingo. For the most part, specific variations are more or less popular in particular regions. For example, 90 Ball Bingo is primarily popular in the United Kingdom, while 75 Ball Bingo enjoys great success in the United States. Each game has their own patterns for winning and their own rules for winning at the game. Some patterns may be different, but because of the differently styled cards, they have subtle reflections of varying implementations of such patterns.

Patterns are the numbers marked off on one’s card. Players need to achieve a certain pattern to win, based on the game and based on the individual round being played. All of the games offer a winning pattern of a straight line, although this can be performed to varying degrees. For example, 75 Ball Bingo allows for diagonal straight lines, but 90 Ball Bingo does not. Full House patterns, where the entire card is filled up and marked, can be a winning pattern for all three games as well. However, 75 Ball Bingo also boasts of letter and diamond patterns. Dealers will explain what each player is looking for as the round starts and the game begins to help players know what patterns they should be aiming to get. When playing online, this can be followed automatically by implementing the autodauber, which takes care of marking off one’s card on its own and notifying the player and the website if and when bingo is achieved.

Bingo is a very fun and popular game which has enjoyed success all over the world for many centuries. The game started in Europe almost 500 years ago and has traveled all around the globe, earning new participants and followers. The game can be played offline, online, in the United States, in Europe – all over. The game has been played, reinvented, reinterpreted, and played once more. It has always been extremely popular.

One of the most interesting facts about the game of Bingo is that it is not just one game. Perhaps in part due to the fact that the game is cultivated in so many different areas and regions all over the world, there are a number of different versions people can play. Three of the most popular versions are Traditional 90 Ball Bingo, American Style 75 Ball Bingo and 80 Ball Bingo. All of these games are available at online casinos.

In 90 Ball Bingo, the winning formats are one filled in line, two filled in lines or a completely full card, known as a full house (for obvious reasons). 75 Ball Bingo and 80 Ball Bingo offer a variety of Bingo patterns and winning formats, including one straight line, diagonal lines and a full card.

In the United Kingdom, Bingo play was connected to the cinemas in the region. Cinemas were converted so that on certain nights of the week Bingo would be played and on other nights the movies would be played. It offered a wide variety of entertainment for the residents in the region during the twentieth century. However, over time the cinemas were converted into Bingo halls as Bingo play became more popular than the movie options and nights.
Offline today, the UK bingo halls use paper sheet. On the sheets are the bingo numbers. When the numbers are called, they are marked off on the players’ paper sheets with an ink dauber. Numbers are called in a similar manner to the way lottery numbers are called in the United States. The numbers are on balls and sealed in a unit. Air flow is blown in on the bottom and then it is suctioned at the top. There are also some offline bingo halls where video bingo machines are used. For these, the numbers are called and automatically posted on the video machines participants utilize for play.
However, technology has improved and one does not have to go to physically located bingo halls to play bingo. Now, players can go to online gambling and casino sites and play bingo on the World Wide Web. Some of the games are free and do not use real money, while others do use real money and offer real cash prizes.

Bingo originated in the United States around the year 1929 as a game called Beano and was played at county fairs. Callers drew numbers from a cigar box. Players were able to mark their playing cards by putting a bean over the number that was called. When they won, they would yell “beano!”.
However, the game did not originate in the United States. The earliest establishments of the game were found to be in Italy, around the year 1530. At this time, the game was called Lo Giuoco del Lotto D’Italia. From there, the game moved on to France around the 1770’s. In France, the game was played by those who were the most wealthy. When the game transferred to Germany, it was used for educational purposes.
When making its way to the United States, the game became known as Bingo. This occurred when, at one particular county fair, a player yelled out “Bingo!” rather than the correct name for the time, “Beano!”. Still, the name caught on and the game was eventually marketed as Bingo.
It was Edwin Lowe who transformed the game of Beano into the marketable and widely popular game of Bingo. In order to develop the game more thoroughly, the assistance of Carl Leffler was inquired of. This worked to increase the capabilities of the game and more than 6,000 different cards were developed to use during the course of play. Bingo gained especially wide popularity when it began to be used by church halls as a way to increase funds for their parishes. In the year 1934, it was estimated that each week about 10,000 games were played. It is estimated that now, today, more than $90 million are spent on Bingo each week. This number is for the United States’ bingo players alone and does not include any other countries or their players.

Understanding online Bingo phrases and abbreviations may help players make the most of the game and the social aspects of the game and the forums in which they are held. Have fun! Private chats and room contributions are possible at online bingo forums, as we started to discuss yesterday, and here are some more of the most common abbreviations and their meanings:
IRL – In Real Life
IYKWIM – If You Know What I Mean
JK – Just Kidding
JMO – Just my Opinion
JTLYK – Just to Let You Know
KIT – Keep in Touch
L8R – Later
L8R G8R – Later, Gator
LMAO – Laughing my Ass Off
LOFTING – Talking in Private – Loft
LOL – Laughing Out Loud
LTNS – Long Time No See
NETUA – Nobody Ever Tells Us Anything
NP – No Problem
OIC – Oh, I See
OMG – Oh My God
OTOH – On the Other Hand
PITA – Pain in the Ass
PM – Private Message
POOF – I Have Left the Chat
PPL – People
QT – Cutie
ROFL – Rolling on the Floor Laughing
ROFLMAO – Rolling on the Floor Laughing My Ass Off
RTF – Read the FAQ
RTSM – Read the Stupid Manual
SAC – Sorry All Close
SPAM – Stupid Persons’ Advertisement
SRY – Sorry
SWL – Screaming with Laughter
SYS – See You Soon
TC – Take Care
TPTB – The Powers That Be
TTFN – Ta-Ta For Now
TTYL – Talk To You Later
TX – Thanks
TY – Thank You
TYVM – Thank You Very Much
WB – Welcome Back
WTG – Way to Go
WTH – What The Hell
YVW – You’re Very Welcome
YW – You’re Welcome

The virtual environment of online bingo halls promotes their own, exciting lingo and chatting experience. Much how cell phones and text messages have their own abbreviations and slang terms, so too do the chat rooms of bingo halls online. There is no room for verbal exchange at online Bingo halls, but this does not mean that the rooms are devoid of social experiences – quite the contrary in fact. Private chats and room contributions are possible and here are some of the most common abbreviations and their meanings:

(((name))) – Hugging the other player (name)
*G* – Indicative of a giggle or a grin
*H* – Indicative of a hug
*K* – Indicative of a kiss
*S* – Indicative of a smile
*W* – Indicative of a wink
AFK – Away from Keyboard
AFK2P – Away from Keyboard to Pee
AKA – Also Know As
ASAP – As Soon As Possible
BBIAM – Be Back in a Minute
BBL – Be Back Later
BBS – Be Back Soon
BDT – ‘Bout Damn Time
BF – Boyfriend
BLNT – Better Luck Next Time
BRB – Be Right Back
BTW – By the Way
CYA – See Ya
CYAL8R – See Ya Later
EMSG – e-mail Message
FAIK – As Far As I Know
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
FWIW – For What It’s Worth
FYI – For Your Information
GF – Girlfriend
GG – Good Going OR Good Game
GL – Good Luck
GLA – Good Luck All
GLE – Good Luck Everyone
GM – Good Morning
GMTA – Great Minds Think Alike
GN – Good Night
GTSY – Glad to See You

Understanding these phrases and abbreviations will help players make the most of the game and the social aspects of the game and the forums in which they are held. Have fun!

Tomorrow we will continue our discussion of these terms.

There are a number of enticing terms which have been used in Bingo games in order to add some excitement to the numbers which would be called throughout the game. Yesterday, we discussed a number of the terms and in today’s post we will continue to look at a selection of bingo terminology.
17-Dancing Queen: This phrase comes from the Abba song of the same name. It could also refer to being over-ripe. 17 is the opposite of tender. The ages of 14 and 17 straddle Sweet 16.
23-Lord’s My Shepherd: This is taken from Psalm 23.
26-Bed and Breakfast: Traditionally the cost of a nights’ lodging was two shillings and a sixpence, (2 and 6).
26-Half a Crown: Half of a crown is equivalent to 2′6d (2 and 6).
39-The Famous Steps; All the Steps: This is taken from the 1935 Hitchcock film.
59-The Brighton Line: The London-Brighton Service was number fifty-nine.
65-Old Age Pension: The age for accepting pensions in the UK is 65.
76-Seven ‘n’ Six – Was She Worth It?: In the UK, the price of a marriage license was seven shillings and six pence. It has also been speculated that, more recently, this was estimated to be the cost of a “short period of time” with a lady of negotiable affection.
78-Heavens Gate: This term rhymes: Heaven rhymes with seven, gate rhymes with eight.
83-Ethel’s Ear: This number can be a symbol of a fat lady ( 8 ) beside the ear-shaped three ( 3 ).

We have been going over the popular Bingo terminology of yesteryear, which is rarely used online at today’s virtual Bingo halls. However, sometimes these neat key phrases are used in such games and learning about the meaning of such terms can be fun and make you the history buff of the game!
1 – Kelly’s Eye – This term is in reference to Ned Kelly – the one-eyed Australian gangster.
2 – One Little Duck – The number 2 looks a little bit like a swan, doesn’t it?
3 – One Little Flea – To some, this number looks a little bit like a flea.
7 – One little Crutch – Again, the number looks a bit like the term – a crutch.
8 – One fat Lady – The number looks quite a bit like a robust woman, no?
9 – Doctor’s Orders – Doctors used to prescribe the number nine pill during the Great War. It was used to treat virtually everything.
10 – Downing Street – This number gets its name from the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom’s address – 10 Downing Street.
13 – Baker’s Dozen – In the old days, bakers added one extra item, a cookie or a piece of bread or what have you, to every dozen that was ordered. This was done so that the clients could do a taste test on the food before they purchased and took home the entire dozen – A great idea for early quality control!
Tomorrow we will continue our discussion on the meaning of these alluring little keywords and phrases used in bingo halls and – rarely – in the online world of Bingo.

Previously, we discussed modern bingo calling trends and specifics. Today, we will be looking at some of the most common old bingo calling names. This is helpful for individuals who play bingo games online, but who may hear some of the old calling styles. While this type of calling is not used often, it still may be used and players can still benefit from understanding these types of phrases.
71 may be called in conjunction with Bang on the drum
72 may be called in conjunction with A crutch and a duck or Par for the course
73 may be called in conjunction with Crutch and a flea or Queen B
74 may be called in conjunction with Candy store
75 may be called in conjunction with Strive and strive
76 may be called in conjunction with Trombones
77 may be called in conjunction with Sunset strip or All the sevens or Two little crutches
78 may be called in conjunction with Heavens gate
79 may be called in conjunction with One more time
80 may be called in conjunction with Gandhi’s breakfast or Blind 80 or Eight and blank
81 may be called in conjunction with Fat lady and a little wee or Stop and run
82 may be called in conjunction with Fat lady with a duck or Straight on through
83 may be called in conjunction with Fat lady with a flea or Time for tea
84 may be called in conjunction with Seven dozen
85 may be called in conjunction with Staying alive
86 may be called in conjunction with Between the sticks
87 may be called in conjunction with Fat lady with a crutch
88 may be called in conjunction with Two fat ladies or All the eights or Wobbly wobbly
89 may be called in conjunction with Nearly there or All but one
90 may be called in conjunction with Top of the shop or Top of the house or Blind ninety or End of the line