As playing bingo online becomes more and more popular, the range of sites and types of bingo is growing increasingly larger and more complicated. It's a daunting task for the new player to find a site and style of game that suits them, with a bingo site often seeming just too convoluted and scary to easily join and have fun. It may sound silly, and you may feel a bit foolish yourself, looking at all the bingo sites and being lost on what exactly each one does, and how online bingo differs from bingo offline. This guide should help all new players in recognising the key differences in online and offline bingo and what an online bingo site can offer in addition.
How do I play?
Find a bingo site that suits you - do you want fast paced or steady bingo?
Are you more interested in a chat than big prizes? Are you looking to spend nothing, pennies or pounds? A young scene or an old scene? Many sites specialise in a specific age group or style, and some even offer all these things on one site and more. Make sure to shop around before you settle somewhere you feel most comfortable with. After registering, find a bingo room and start playing - it's as simple as that! A bingo site should offer an easy interface with a clear step by step guide to getting started, and some even cross out the numbers on your card for you as they are called, so you can't go wrong! Many sites offer friendly customer support either via email or a freephone number, with operators standing by to talk you through every step of the way.
Surely it's lonely?
A common misconception of online bingo is that it is much less sociable than bingo in halls and clubs - sat alone at a computer clicking buttons on a bingo site doesn't seem a particularly good way to socialise and make new friends, but this is not the case. Most bingo sites offer chat rooms, so that players can meet up and chat, make new friends while playing bingo or even when not playing in themed chat rooms where you can find a vast and interesting range of people from all over the UK. When playing bingo online there is always someone you can chat to on many subjects, with people aged from 18-100!
Isn't it expensive?
Bingo is as expensive as you want it to be, many bingo sites offer a free play where if you wish you can play for fun, placing no cash on the table.
If you wish to bet with real money you can with merely pennies whilst still competing for the chance for pounds. If you are feeling lucky, then a bingo site can offer large jackpots into the thousands of pounds, either as a set cash prize or a progressive jackpot depending on how many people are playing
- a percentage of everyones' bet going into the prize fund. Don't feel that you have to spend a lot of money to have fun - you can buy a ticket for just 5p!
I heard it can be dangerous to give my card details online. Are my card details safe?
Be sure to check, as the safety of a bingo site will vary from site to site, but most online gambling sites including bingo use secure, encrypted sites, or third party servers through well-known and trusted banks.
Do I need a fast computer and Broadband?
It can depend on what you are looking for in a bingo site - do you want a flashy over the top experience with all the bells and whistles that would need a fast computer, internet, and graphics card? Most bingo sites are basic but attractive, designed to be easy and quick to load, so playing with an older computer or laptop should pose no issue at all. Some sites offer an announcer that calls out the balls as you play, so speakers are fun, but still not necessary as the numbers also flash up clearly on the screen as you play.
Do I need to download anything to my computer?
None of us like clogging up our computers with unnecessary programs, especially with the worry of trojans and spyware, as well as slowing the whole thing down. Often a bingo site is entirely online and on the site, where you log in and play in the browser window itself, or in a player that loads up from the internet without installing a thing to your computer.
Bingo? Isn't that for old people?
There is nothing wrong with old people! But no, bingo is more fun and exciting that you think, with a variety of websites to play on that can either offer a slow, relaxed pace with simple graphics and a very easy interface, to a flashy, fast exciting experience for big prizes, challenging side games and puzzles and a young vibrant community to chat to.
Play anytime day or night
Because of the nature of the internet, you can play online bingo on a bingo site when all the bingo halls are shut offline. You can even play in your pajamas at home or on your breaks at work. Day or night games run, and many people play at any hour of the day or night, so you'll never be lonely.