Is Bingo a Game of Chance?

Bingo is very much a game of luck as the players cannot influence the outcome of the game in great ways. But how much skill is involved?

is bingo a game of chance?
Is Bingo a Game of Chance?

Bingo is a wholesome game played in charity events and socials. Skill is not the key to winning but rather your luck at getting a good card. Bingo is a great past-time game for people who loves the thrill of winning out of luck. People also love to watch games unfold and see how they will turn out.

Continue reading to find out whether bingo is truly just a game of chance.

Principles of Bingo

In Bingo, the more cards you have, the more chances for you to win. And the more cards are at play in a Bingo event, the lesser your chances are of winning.

To play, you need a Bingo card, which is a card with 24 random numbers. The card is divided into five columns, one for every letter of the word BINGO. At the B column, five random numbers from 1 to 15, the I column from 11 to 30, the N column from 31 to 45, the G column from 46 to 60, and finally, O from 61 to 75.

In small events and socials, the traditional ping-pong balls in a cage are used to pick the various numbers. Each number is printed on a ball, and the cage is turned to mix the balls inside it.

A host draws number after number until there is a winner. A pattern is usually followed to determine the winning card. The pattern may range from simple shapes like diamond, large frame, small frame, circle, or square/squares or letters such as C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, L, M, N, O, P, S, T, U, V, X, Y and Z. A blackout game is when all the numbers in a card must be called to win.

See our bingo glossary for more terms and definitions!

Players compete at being the first to complete a given pattern. A player shouts "Bingo!" to signal that he has completed a pattern. There could be more than one winner in a game, and usually, the final winner is decided by drawing numbers from the cage. The player who gets the highest number wins the game.

The key concepts of Bingo.
The key concepts of Bingo.

Why Is Bingo a Game of Luck?

Bingo is a game of luck as you place your money on a Bingo card. In some Bingo outlets or events, you can choose your cards, and therefore you put your chances on luck.

You increase your chances of winning at Bingo by having not just one card but two, four, or more cards. This is why some players in Bingo socials buy a lot of cards and spread these on a table. However, doing so is not advisable if you're a novice player, as you may become confused in minding your cards. You won't be able to play well if you have too many cards to check on!

Experienced players believe that choosing a Bingo card with their lucky numbers will bring success. Players may select a card with their birthdays, house numbers, social security numbers, or their children's birthdays, believing that they will eventually win.

In a Bingo social event, some pros use lucky items or charms, also thinking that these will lead them to more luck. They may believe in using lucky Bingo marker pen colors, lucky shapes, and letters, and even wearing lucky shirts to attract success.

But of course, Bingo is purely a game of chance. The more numbers are drawn by the host, the more chances you have of winning. Also, the more cards are used for the game, the less your chances of winning. This means you are more likely to win a local Bingo or a small social event from a large community Bingo charity event.

increase chances of winning at bingo
The more bingo cards you get, the likelier you are to win.

Why Is Bingo Also a Game of Skill?

In some ways, Bingo is also a game of skill. You must possess specific skills to help you win, such as a good sense of hearing. You must be able to hear the numbers called by the host. You need to be able to focus for hours without missing a call. This is why most Bingo players prefer to sit near a speaker or sound system or in front of a stage or host table.

You must concentrate and place all your attention on your cards. The more cards you play, the more you need to pay close attention to the numbers called. Usually, the host calls out numbers, and an assistant writes the number on a board. Sometimes, an electronic board is used, and the numbers that are called are lit up.

You must also know the rules of the game and how a pattern is formed. If you fail at this, you will end up with improperly marked cards and miss your winning chances. It is also crucial to have multitasking skills as you need to listen to the number called by the host and mark your cards at the same time. You must also take a quick peek at the board and see if you haven't missed any numbers!

A Bingo player must also be patient and must give the host full attention as often; a Bingo event can become very noisy and sometimes rowdy. If you can't stand the noise and the bickering, you might as well play Bingo online.

Bingo events and socials may be played differently, and thus, a good understanding of the house rules is necessary if you want to win. Give Bingo a try if you want to test out your luck and multitasking skills.

This article was published on February 28, 2021, and last updated on October 26, 2022.