The game of bingo has become a popular pastime not just in America but in all over the world. This is because the game is easy to pick up and play; moreover, it gives an excitement like no other. Aside from its simplicity, it is also known by the fact that it is governed by chance. This means that there is no sure strategy to win, giving an equal opportunity to every player.

It is possible that all countries have some form of bingo games, and UK is probably one of the most bingo-crazed nations. An interesting note is that UK bingo has several differences to the bingo you are accustomed to. However, it is just as exciting.

How Different Is UK Bingo?

One thing that you would notice is that the card has a different orientation. American bingo cards have a five-by-five grid with all the boxes filled with numbers except the middle one. A column can have entries within a 15-number range. This means there is a limit of 75 numbers that will be randomly drawn.

UK bingo cards, on the other hand, have three rows divided into 9 columns. Each column can contain entries within a 10-number range, but each row can only have 5 numbers. Essentially, this means only 15 numbers are at play with some of the boxes left blank. Also, there will be 90 numbers that will be drawn.

Playing Bingo in UK

Because of the fixed numbers, UK bingo plays a lot like lottery combined with American bingo. The numbers are still drawn either manually or through an electronic number generator from the range of 1 to 90. The numbers will be drawn continuously until the winning pattern is called. However, there are no complicated patterns here. If all the numbers in a row are called, you already win. The two-lines patterns obviously mean a card has two matching rows. Mark all the numbers, and you get a full house.

How Popular Is It?

Because of its mechanics, it is very apparent that UK bingo is much easier to learn. The winning patterns are much easier to identify. Even if you had multiple cards, you can still catch up to what the bingo caller says. Nevertheless, though it is much easier to play, the fact that there are 90 numbers to be picked means that the chances of winning are slightly in UK bingo are lower than those of American bingo. However, this has not deterred thousands of people from playing UK bingo every day. It has become so popular that a national game has been organized for it.

Popularity

The fact is UK bingo has an easier learning curve than American bingo. This attracts a lot of people because it takes less than 30 minutes to learn the ropes of the game. The winning patterns are also simpler.

Nevertheless, despite what seems to be its simplicity, it still offers some form of challenge. Remember that 90 balls are being randomly chosen, which means it is harder for you to get some patterns in UK bingo.

National Bingo Game

UK’s National Bingo Game has two regular games every day. Players can win from £1,000 to £25,000 depending on the time or date. Because of the large jackpot, over 3 million people play National Bingo. The large jackpots become possible because a lot of bingo clubs had pooled together their individual prizes. The game can also be played online or through the bingo clubs that are participating.

Bingo cruises have been around for some time. In fact, they came in before the rise of online bingo websites. Moreover, even if there are already millions of people who decide to shift their loyalty from social halls to the Internet, there are still thousands who would like to go on a bingo cruise for the following reasons:

1. You get luxury with it. You are not just playing bingo, but you are also able to tour to different places. Simply put, you can have a grand holiday, where, in the end, you can bring home thousands of money with you.

Moreover, bingo cruises are always well-organized. When you are on board the ship, you will have your own accommodation, as well as have the opportunity to use the other facilities. You are not just tied to the bingo halls.

2. You can definitely win. Since the number of bingo players in bingo cruises is definitely fewer than those who are logging in to bingo websites, you have more chances of winning at least a round of bingo. The prizes do not come small as well. Some could even give you thousands, especially if you win the progressive jackpot.

Also known as bingo bonanza, progressive jackpot means that the pot would increase as long as there is nobody who wins a bingo round or once the time allotted is already over. By then, the amount would go back to the minimum, which, fortunately, does not go less than a thousand.

One of the highest prizes that you can win on board a bingo cruise is $80,000. That is onboard the ship known as Splendor. In here, you can participate in the world bingo championship. Every player will be given 9 cards all printed in one sheet. The title “grand prize winner” will be given to the one who can win the most number of bingo regular games. Along with the money, you may get free tickets for the next cruise schedule.

3. You still have time to roam. These bingo games are played when you are out in the open sea, perhaps as a way of having another alternative besides eating meals or looking out on the waters. This way, once you are already on your port of call, you can still have the opportunity to immerse yourself on the sceneries.

How to Become Part of a Bingo Cruise

You have to know that not all cruises have bingo games. Thus, check the ship first if they have one before you decide to book a ticket. You can also go to search engines or their respective websites to determine who among them has one. While you are at it, read reviews to know the best cruise ships these days.

You also have to confirm if their cruise schedule would include bingo games. Others do not have one. Lastly, know the schedule of tournaments, the potential winnings, and the ways on how to get your own cards. You do not want to miss out any of these engaging bingo games.

Almost every game now has its own online version. One of the popular games online would be what your grannies used to play the whole day down the old building in town: bingo. Online bingo players argue that traditional bingo halls are a thing of the past. Let’s take a closer look and see which of the two is better in terms of prizes and the experience of playing the game itself.

Convenience

Obviously, almost everybody now has access to the Internet at home or even in offices and cafes. Playing bingo is not synonymous to leaving the house anymore and catching a ride to the nearest bingo venue in town. For most people, playing bingo online is more convenient since you get to play it anytime and anywhere you want. One can find online bingo sites in just a matter of minutes. Aside from easy access, it also offers flexibility. A player can transfer from one site to another. Options are not limited as compared to games played in bingo halls where one is stuck in the game until one shouts “Bingo!” This is also beneficial for some people who can’t go outside the house like the chronically ill and elderly but still want to play bingo.

For a newbie, online bingo is also much better since one can register for free and play for a couple of days as a trial. There is no such thing in traditional bingo halls, where one really needs to shell out some cash to play the game.

The Bingo Experience

One cannot argue, though, that some people play bingo to experience the fun in meeting new people and interacting with them in person. The idea of playing bingo in a large hall with hundreds of people shouting for their numbers to be drawn is thrilling. Winners are cheered, and those who are on the verge of winning are joined by friends in chanting for their numbers. The social aspect of the traditional bingo game is limited, however. With online bingo, the possibility of meeting other people from all parts of the world is limitless. Chat rooms are also now available, making it possible for players to interact from all parts of the globe.

Jackpot!

Due to the increased number of players in online bingo, sponsors are also taking advantage of the audience, resulting to large jackpots as compared to prizes in the bingo halls that depend on the entrance fees of the number of people who participate. Prizes in online bingo may range from lots of cash, trips abroad, and some other exciting freebies. With traditional bingo halls, everybody in the venue knows you won, and some may ask for money from you in the process. The danger of being mugged as well is possible once you leave the premises. With online bingo, no one knows your real identity when you win, and you don’t have to leave home to cash in your winnings.

Online bingo may be popular nowadays, but it does not mean that traditional bingo halls will disappear just like that. They would still be present, but their numbers will probably decline as the years go by.

Bingo and charity fundraisers have been linked for as long as people can remember. Bingo games were seen as great opportunities to earn money for various causes. There are various ways to earn money for a cause, of course, but these age-old methods, such as bake sales or car wash fundraisers, do not always work. In fact, at this day and age, they do not work as well as they used to, mainly because of the competition they face. Obviously, this competition isn’t direct-because who competes with a charitable cause? However, the competition pertained to her is not direct. People now have a lot of other things they can do, a lot of other places where they can buy the things available at a fundraiser? Why go to charity event if this is the case? Sadly, the prospect of helping other people is no longer as important as it was.

The same can be said for charity bingo. Before, bingo halls are packed with people during these events. Today, this is no longer the case. There are several reasons for this. Those who would usually play bingo are now hooked in online bingo games. Those who would play bingo wouldn’t because charity bingo games offer very low jackpot.

This is why many institutions have hooked up with online bingo companies so they can take their business to the Internet. Obviously, this step can improve the charity event’s success rate immensely. For one, when the event is held online, more people can access the games. This way, the charity is not only a community-based activity but something that has a far reaching event. Although online bingo charity events do not try to get the same crowd that online casino targets, online bingo charity events can still make a huge improvement on the traditional bingo.

This innovation in charity bingo is important because many see bingo as an old game. Younger people shun it because they see it as something their grandmothers and grandfathers would play. They avoid bingo charity games because they imagine the bingo hall halls to be filled by people old enough to be their grandparents, playing a game that is just as slow as the movement of their grand folks. Online bingo changes this since the Internet features of the game allow some innovations and changes that are not possible in physical bingo games but would make the game so much better and faster.

Also, some online bingo companies give part of their earnings to charity. This is perhaps a nod to the connection between bingo and charity that has been forged over the years. Many companies give a percent of what their members pay to charitable institutions. This is something that you just do not hear with other online casinos and online games.

Of course, you do not need to play bingo just because of the charity factor. Bingo, even charity bingo, should be played and enjoyed as it is. Regardless what kind of bingo it is, it should be fun and exciting.

Bingo Nation prides itself on being part of the best bingo community network around and values its players  highly by providing the kind of entertainment and support that has been a key ingredient to the sites popularity.

Bingo Nation offers six bingo rooms in which to play for huge jackpots, as well as daily promotions including Penny Bingo and BOGOFs and big monthly competitions where prizes have included holidays and home makeovers! Here are a few of the offers players can look forward to at Bingo Nation:

1GBP FREE welcome bonus (no deposit required)
Exclusive FREE Bingo Nation Shopping Trolley Coin Key-ring when you register
100% deposit match bonus up to a whopping 250GBP
7,000GBP worth of Guaranteed jackpots every day & monthly 10,000GBP jackpot
Massive ‘Cash Cow Jackpot’ – currently over 11,487GBP and still growing
Regular competitions. We’ve given away holidays, mobile phones, hair straighteners, digital radios, DVDs & much more!
Prebuy specials
Innovative community games, such as ‘Team Bingo’ and ‘Quiz Nights’
Award winning Chat Masters – including the renowned Tunaman!

July Player Promotion

This month, Bingo Nation is going retro! We have themed our days around some great retro prizes with something to win every day!

• Monday – satisfy those memories and cravings of tuck shops, and play for the chance to win some delicious retro sweets!
• Tuesday – a whole day dedicated to those old movies we love, but probably don’t even own! We have such greats as Jaws, Breakfast Club, Saturday Night Fever and many, many more to give away!
• Wednesday – Pre-buy day prizes will take you back to times of holiday parks and holidays at home, with holidays on offer to Butlins, Haven, Hoseasons and Blackpool!
• Thursday – Bingo Nation will be bringing you the t-shirts you wish you could have bought at the time, but didn’t have the pocket money to afford them!
• Friday – we’ll have you smelling gorgeous with two retro Lush Gift Sets to be won!

And finally – the weekend will bring you all of the games and toys from your childhood. We have some fantastic treasures to give away including Ludo, Solitaire, Slinky and Space Hoppers!

And as always, players can pre-buy for the massive 10,000GBP jackpot to be won on the final Sunday of the month!