If you’re a fan of bingo or if you’re just getting into playing bingo, you might be wondering why it continues to grow in popularity when other games seem to fizzle out and be forgotten.
Something is definitely brewing with irish bingo right now. The Irish bingo game guide will show you exactly what’s making this classic game experience so special.
Here’s the truth:
Slots are flashy. Slots are loud. But no slot experience can match the community and strategic play you can find in bingo.
Get a Bingo community together. Play with friends. Keep each other company between games. Three ways to win in every game.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- Why Irish Bingo Beats the Spinning Reels
- Understanding the 90-Ball Format
- How the Game Actually Works
- Getting Started Tips
- And the Things That Make Irish Bingo Stand Out
Why Irish Bingo Beats the Spinning Reels
Slots are meant to be played alone. Press spin. Watch reels tumble. Repeat.
Bingo is different.
The entire experience shifts when you add a social element to a game. Chat rooms are filled with lively conversations. Players will be in each others’ games congratulating each other on wins. Friendships start between people who have never met in real life.
And here’s something else you may not have realized…
The Statista data shows that bingo halls were the only gambling establishment sector to show any growth since 2016. Every other category has seen visitor numbers decline. Betting shops have gone from nearly 9,000 to less than 6,000 in that time period.
If you want proof that there’s staying power in this game, there you go.
The demographic has been slowly changing too. Players in the under-35 group have been discovering just what their grandparents and great-grandparents have known all along. It’s not a game just for the pensioners anymore.
Understanding the 90-Ball Format
Irish bingo game follows what is known as the 90-ball format. This is the traditional bingo style you will find played in Ireland, as well as in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
Why do you need to know this?
Because with 90-ball bingo you get three distinct chances to win in every game. And that’s more chances than you’ll see in many other bingo variants.
This version of bingo uses balls numbered 1-90. Each ball is called once per game, and the numbers are randomly selected until all the required winning patterns are filled.
Pretty simple so far, right?
How the Game Actually Works
Every ticket comes with a 3×9 grid. This grid is three rows deep, with nine columns wide.
Let’s break that down:
- Each row has five numbers and four blank spaces.
- The numbers are set out by column (balls 1-9 in column 1, balls 10-19 in column 2, etc.)
- A full strip contains six tickets. Together these cover every number from 1-90
Three ways to win:
One Line: Fill out any horizontal row first for the first prize.
Two Lines: Complete two full rows on the same ticket for the second prize level.
Full House: Mark off all fifteen numbers on the same ticket for the jackpot. This is the ultimate goal every player is waiting for.
The genius of this setup is the tension that builds throughout the game. Each section has a larger prize. The later the game goes on, the bigger the rewards.
As the balls get called, mark them off of your ticket. Online games have an auto-daub feature to do this automatically, but many players like to mark the numbers manually.
The Social Side Nobody Talks About
Here’s a little secret that most of these guides gloss over in favor of fast facts and feature breakdowns…
Bingo creates real bonds between people who play.
The Grand View Research reports that the online bingo games market size is expected to register a CAGR of 6.6% from 2023 to 2030. That growth isn’t just about better prizes.
Players keep coming back for the community.
Online bingo chat rooms aren’t lonely spaces where you silently focus on your own numbers. Chat rooms are filled with regulars who know each other by name. Chat hosts keep conversations flowing. Mini-games are held in between the main bingo sessions.
Contrast this with slots. Spin the reels. Wait. Spin again.
Just you and the machine.
No conversation. No community. Just gambling.
Tips for Getting Started
Thinking of giving the Irish version a real shot? Here’s what you need to know before you jump in.
First, try the free games. Most online rooms offer practice rooms where new players can learn to play and even get used to numbers. They’re great for getting the hang of speed and pattern play.
Buy strips not singles. The standard is to buy a strip of six tickets. This guarantees every number from 1-90 is called on at least one of the cards. Each call is a chance for every number on a strip.
Track your spending. Set limits before you play. Know exactly how much you’re willing to spend on each game session.
Learn the calls. Bingo numbers have nicknames that callers shout. “Two fat ladies” is 88. “Kelly’s eye” is number 1. Get to know the bingo calls, they make the game fun.
Find quieter times. Smaller numbers of players means better chances to win. Off-peak times are quieter and bingo rooms still run the same prize pools. Weekday afternoons have thin crowds.
What Makes Irish Bingo Different
Traditional bingo has players sitting down for the duration. Irish bingo often starts with players standing up.
Here’s how that works:
Numbers on your card are called. Mark them off. The last person who has not sat down is the winner. A simple physical addition to an already mental game.
Irish halls will also include some traditional calls that are a part of the local culture. You can hear pieces of the emerald isle’s folklore and traditional stories worked into the gameplay. It helps set an Irish atmosphere.
The 90-ball format is still the same. But these little cultural additions help make Irish bingo different.
The Odds Conversation
There’s no strategy that guarantees a bingo win.
It’s a game of chance.
But you can stack the odds in your favor:
Playing more tickets at a time increases your coverage of numbers. Six tickets means every number works for you. Twelve tickets doubles that chance still further.
Bear in mind though that more tickets means higher game price. You need to work out the right quantity to match your budget.
The average payout in online bingo is around 87%. That’s not only competitive with most casino games, but it’s better than some slot machines.
Why Players Are Making the Switch
Slots provide instant gratification. Press the spin button and you know immediately if you’ve won or not.
Bingo approaches tension building in a different way. The game is stretched out. Nervous energy builds as each number comes near one of your patterns. Anticipation is saved for the last possible moment. The excitement builds slowly, and then it explodes at just the right point.
It’s a more patient burn, and players are drawn to that in this increasingly instant world.
The chat and the community is what really cements it for bingo players. Chats, conversations, in real life bingo halls, online bingo rooms. Laughing with your fellow players, patting each other on the back on big wins. Bingo builds genuine connections between people playing the game. It’s what transforms this from an activity that people do alone to something they can enjoy with friends.
Wrapping Things Up
Irish bingo has things that slots can never match.
Three chances to win in every game. An active and vibrant community of other players. And that very special feeling of winning that comes when you mark your final number.
The 90-ball format is what’s stood the test of time for so long. It’s simple rules and a straight forward game make it easy to understand. Social features have grown over time, adding more connections to a classic game.
Ready to find out for yourself?
Grab a reputable platform and some tickets and give it a try for yourself.
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