How to play online bingo: A complete beginner’s guide (2025)

How to play bingo online?

If you want to get started playing online bingo, follow the steps laid out in this handy guide below:

Step 1: Sign up with an approved bingo site

The first thing you will need to do is register with your preferred online casino. Bingo is widely available at top UK online casinos, and there are also several popular bingo sites, as highlighted throughout this guide.

All of the bingo sites in this guide boast a wide range of excellent bingo options and are fully licensed and regulated by the UKGC.

When you have selected your operator, you can sign up by following the link we have provided. You will then need to enter your personal details and complete the sign-up process. If available, make sure you claim the welcome bonus.

Step 2: Select your Bingo room

When you have signed up with your preferred UK Bingo site or online casino, you can then choose the bingo room you want to play in.

Games will be scheduled, so you’ll need to check what’s available and when the games start. Rooms will have different ticket prices, themes, and social features, depending on the site you have signed up for.

Step 3: Buy your Bingo tickets/cards

The next thing you will need to do is purchase your bingo tickets. Each bingo card will have a price, and you will be able to purchase multiple bingo cards for each game.

Step 4: Let the games begin

Once you have bought your tickets and entered the game, all you need to do now is wait for the games to start. Numbers are called automatically, and unlike in-person bingo games, you do not need to frantically swab away at your cards, with online games marking your numbers off automatically.

Step 5: Collect your winnings

If you have been lucky enough to secure a win, your winnings will be automatically credited to your account. At this point, you can either withdraw them using one of the provided methods or buy more tickets and play again. If you opt for the latter option, it is important to remember not to get carried away and always practise responsible gambling habits.

Popular games at online bingo sites

As we have already mentioned in this guide on how to play online bingo, bingo games can come in all shapes and sizes. The following are the most popular games you will encounter at UK bingo sites.

90-ball bingo

90-ball bingo is the most popular version of the game in the UK. Bingo tickets will have a 3×9 grid with 15 numbers, with players able to land wins by securing one line, two lines, or a full house. This is the slowest of all of the bingo games, making it the easiest to keep up with, and a great starting point for new players.

80-ball bingo

80-ball bingo has become increasingly popular in recent years, with the game’s fast-paced and engaging style providing a nice alternative to 90-ball bingo. The game is often played on a 4×4 grid with 16 numbers. There are more winning patterns available, letting players win with single lines, corners, and a full house.

75-ball bingo

75-ball bingo is the most popular version of the game in North America, and it has become increasingly popular in the UK in recent years. The game uses a unique format, with a 5×5 grid that has 24 numbers, with the middle space being left empty.

One of the reasons for its popularity is that it has a variety of different paylines compared to other versions of the game, ensuring the gameplay remains engaging and that there are more winning opportunities.

30-ball bingo

If you want a fast-paced version of the game, then look no further than 30-ball bingo. The game uses a smaller 3×3 grid with numbers 1 to 30. It is a much faster version of the game, with the aim being to fill your ticket.

Jackpots in online bingo

Bingo is all about getting that full house and being in with a chance of landing the big jackpot win. The following are the most popular types of jackpots you will encounter in online bingo.

Fixed Jackpots

Fixed jackpots are set prize amounts that players can win. For example, you might win a £500 jackpot if you get a full house. These jackpots never change. A lot of games will have multiple fixed jackpots available for different accomplishments.

Progressive Jackpots

Progressive jackpots are one of the most popular types of jackpots in any sort of online casino game, not just bingo. These are jackpots that increase in prize, taking a tiny percentage of every stake and building until they pay out. They will then reset and start again.

Community Jackpots

Community is one of the key elements of online bingo, and community jackpots are a key part of this. Community jackpots are ones that are shared among all contributing players. For example, a jackpot may go 50% to the winner, then the other 50% is split between all of the other players in the game.

How we chose the best bingo sites

With so many top UK bingo sites available, knowing how to find one that suits your needs can be tough. Fortunately, our team of casino experts have strict criteria that we use to determine what sites we are going to recommend.

KYC process: Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols are a key aspect of the online gambling experience. While some players might find these intrusive, they serve a very important purpose, and that is to make sure you and your personal information are kept safe online. When reviewing UK bingo sites, we analyse all of the stages of the KYC protocol to see how thorough it is.
Legislation: We strictly only recommend operators that are licensed and regulated by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC). Our readers’ safety and security are our top priority, and that starts with ensuring an operator is properly licensed.
Bingo bonuses and promotions: Bonuses and promotions are a big part of the online gambling experience, and bingo is not excluded from this. All of the bingo sites we have recommended in this guide offer a wide range of different bingo promotions and bonuses for new and existing customers.
Terms and conditions of bingo games: Unlike games like slots and table games, bingo games come with their own set of terms & conditions. As such, you should read through all of these before playing. We check them thoroughly before recommending a site to players.
Mobile experience: Mobile gameplay and bingo apps go hand-in-hand, so we make sure all of the bingo sites we recommend offer an excellent mobile experience. We will test the sites out on Google Chrome and Safari, and, where possible, download their apps and test those.
Withdrawal speed & payment options: If you’ve been lucky enough to hit a big bingo win, then you will want to know you can get your funds out of your account as efficiently as possible. When selecting the bingo sites to recommend, the available payment methods are factored in, as well as the operator’s processing and withdrawal speeds.
Customer support: Being able to have easy access to customer support is an essential part of playing bingo online. When we review a site, we check to see what customer support options are available and how accessible they are.
User reviews and reputation: Finally, it is essential that we look at a site’s reputation among the wider bingo and gambling community. We will check reviews on other sites, including TrustPilot and AskGamblers, while also checking app reviews on the Google Play and App Stores.

Online bingo payment options in UK

If you want to play at online bingo sites in the UK, you will need safe and secure methods for getting your funds in and out of your account. The following are the most common bingo payment methods available:

Payment method	Deposit	Withdrawal	Processing time
Visa	Yes	Yes	Instant-five days
Mastercard	Yes	Yes	Instant-five days
Visa Electron	Yes	Yes	Instant-five days
Maestro	Yes	Yes	Instant-five days
Bank Wire	Yes	Yes	Up to five days
PayPal	Yes	Yes	Instant – 24 hours
PaysafeCard	Yes	No	N/A
Skrill	Yes	Yes	Instant – 24 hours
Neteller	Yes	Yes	Instant – 24 hours
Entropay	Yes	Yes	Instant-three days

Welcome bonuses explained

Bonuses are a key part of the online bingo experience. You will encounter a range of different bonus types when playing at online bingo sites in the UK. The following are the most common:

No deposit bonus

A no-deposit bonus does as it says on the tin: it provides you with a bonus without the need for you to deposit your own funds. These are typically either cash funds or free bingo tickets to play on selected games.

Deposit bonus

Deposit bonuses are rewards that require players to make a deposit to claim them. For example, an online bingo site might offer 25 free bingo tickets if you deposit £10 or more.

Cash match bonus

A cash match bonus is a type of deposit bonus where the operator will provide bonus funds when you make your first deposit. For example, a top UK online casino might offer players £10 in bonus funds when they make their first £10 deposit.

How to play bingo online for money: Tips and tricks

While there is no guaranteed way of winning at bingo, there are steps you can take to maximise your experience playing online. The following are the best tips for beginners playing online bingo in the UK:

Understand the different games: Before you start playing, familiarise yourself with all the different game types and ensure you understand the differences between them. While they might both have the same core gameplay, 90-ball bingo and 30-ball bingo are very different games. We also recommend trying each game out to find the one that works the best for you.

Utilise bonuses and promotions: Bonuses and promotions are an excellent way of enhancing your online bingo experience. Claiming free tickets or boosting your account with cash match bonuses can really help you get the most from the game.

Play with multiple cards: Once you are comfortable with the different game types, you can increase your chances of winning by purchasing multiple bingo cards. This can be a bit of a headache when playing in person because you need to dab off your numbers yourself, but when you are playing online, the pressure of this is removed, allowing you to play with more cards.

Gamble responsibly: The most important piece of advice we can provide is to always gamble responsibly. Set yourself a budget and stick with it, and if you feel you are overspending, playing too much, or need some help, then do not be afraid to reach out for support.

Online bingo FAQ

Still got questions about how to play bingo online? The following FAQs should help clear those up:

1. How do I buy online bingo tickets?

Online bingo tickets can be purchased at top UK online bingo sites. These need to be purchased before entering the game.

2. How to play online bingo with friends?

Online bingo has an extensive community around it. You can play online at the same time as your friends and enter the same games together.

3. Is there a cost to play online bingo?

Yes. You will be required to purchase online bingo tickets before you can play any online bingo game.

4. What are the age requirements for playing online bingo?

All UK-based players need to be 18 years or older to play online bingo. You will need to verify your age when you create an online bingo account.

5. What are the basic rules of online bingo?

Online bingo works the same as physical bingo. Players purchase a bingo card and then numbers are removed as they are called out. To win, you need to secure lines across your bingo card or a full house.

About the author

Daniel Smyth

Daniel Smyth has seen the online poker, casino, and betting industry from every angle. He previously played poker semi-professionally before working at WPT Magazine as a writer and editor. From there, he transitioned to online gaming where he’s been producing expert content for over 10 years.

Follow Daniel on Twitter @DanSmythThePoet

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the casino offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
Never chase their losses
Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
GambleAware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.