There’s a reason why online bingo is one of the most popular forms of online gaming in the UK. It’s easy to play, but it’s an intense game! With the promise of fun, excitement, and a strong sense of community, online bingo is a great way to spend an evening.
From free play to real money bingo, we’ll introduce you to the best games, the best UK bingo sites, and everything else you need to know about online bingo.
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Online bingo is the next evolution of the game that started bingo halls. But with brick-and-mortar bingo halls still being popular, how do they compare? Let’s take a look at the 5 Cs: Cost, Convenience, Community, Choice, and Cashing out.
? Cost: A bingo game at an online casino is likely to cost around £5, with a full night of games often going up above £20.
? Convenience: Bingo halls have their charms without a doubt, but they involve getting dressed, leaving the house, travelling there, and travelling home. Not a lot of work, granted, but considerably more than online bingo requires.
? Community: However, much online bingo offers the sense of community we all love about bingo; some people do miss the physical part. Playing alongside friends and other bingo enthusiasts is something many players love.
? Community: Bingo halls offer certain games at specific times with set ticket prices, and your choices are limited to these. While some bingo halls do offer raffles and other games, the choice is comparatively limited.
? Cashing Out: Most bingo halls allow you to collect your winnings immediately.
? Cost: The price of online bingo is yours to control. You can play free games, cheap ticket games, or premium games.
? Convenience: When it comes to convenience, online bingo takes it by a distance. Games can be played from the comfort of your own home, and refreshments are available in your kitchen. Online bingo sites also offer bingo 24/7.
? Community: Online bingo maintains the social aspect that many love about the game. This relies on the quality of the chat rooms available, which is why this is an important factor for an online bingo site.
? Choice: As mentioned above, there is always a bingo game to play at a UK site. Not only that, but you can select by price of a ticket and variation of bingo. There are often slots and other games available too.
? Cashing Out: Depending on the bingo sites you are using, cashing out your winnings can take a few days. So, we always advise you to look out for fast-paying UK sites.
We are very picky with the sites we recommend. To be one of our favourites, a bingo site must provide the following:
Bingo sites that make our shortlist need to be licensed by the UKGC and use state-of-the-art encryption technology and firewalls. That way, you know you and your money are kept safe.
We expect a wide range of payment methods from bingo sites. All the sites we recommend offer eWallet, credit card, and numerous other banking methods.
Competition is high, and bonuses often make all the difference. Our favourite bingo sites are those offering a wide range of bonuses. This includes welcome bonuses and regular promotions for existing customers.
It’s nice to have choice, and we only recommend sites that offer it. Free bingo, tournaments, and multiple variations of bingo games feature at all our recommended sites.
The best sites offer a range of other games for when you take a break from bingo. Slots, scratchcards, and casino games are some of the other games you can play at our favourite bingo sites.
Whether you prefer playing from your desktop, or on the go from your phone, we believe bingo sites should accommodate you. We only recommend sites with excellent mobile platforms.
The social aspect of bingo is important. The best sites offer high-quality chat rooms that allow you to make friends and enjoy social bingo play.
Just like free online slots, free bingo is an excellent way to get used to the game before risking any money. But how do free bingo games match up to the real thing?
? Risk: For beginners, free bingo is a risk-free way to practise. You’ll get to learn the ins and outs of bingo without the chance of losing any money.
? Prizes: Real money prizes can be won in free bingo, but they are relatively rare. Usually, free bingo winnings will be paid in bingo tickets or bonus money.
? Community: There are chat rooms available for free bingo, but the options can be fairly limited. As with free bingo itself, it’s a good place to start, but offers fewer benefits than real money bingo.
? Accessibility: Many UK bingo sites offer some form of free-play bingo at this stage. However, not all sites do.
? Variety: While most sites offer some variation of free bingo, there normally isn’t much choice in terms of the type of games you can play.
? Risk: The risks of online bingo are as high as you choose. With many very affordable bingo games costing pennies, you can play with minimal risk.
? Prizes: Most real money bingo games offer cash prizes to winners. The size of the prize depends on how big the game is, and the price of tickets.
? Community: This is a huge part of real money bingo. The chat rooms are as important as the games itself. This means you can have fun chatting while you play and make some new friends along the way.
? Accessibility: There are countless sites offering real money bingo games. You’re spoilt for choice!
? Variety: The best online bingo sites have an impressively wide range of different bingo variations. The choices are far better with real money bingo.
Playing bingo online is a simple and swift process. Here’s a handy step-by-step guide to get you started:
Pick an online bingo site from our recommended list for UK players.
Sign up and make your first deposit using your chosen banking method. Remember that Brits cannot use credit cards for casino deposits or other gambling-related transactions due to UKGC rules.
Check out the selection of available bingo rooms. Pick the bingo variation, theme, and ticket price that best suits what you’re looking for.
Buy tickets for your chosen bingo room. Wait for the game to start.
Play the game as you would at a bingo hall. The rules are the same as regular bingo: mark all the numbers on your card that come up in the game. Your aim is to win by hitting a line, a pattern, or a full house.
TIP: For online bingo, we recommend you set the game to auto. Auto will mark your numbers off for you, so you don’t miss anything.
If you win, celebrate. Your winnings will be credited to your account. Return to step 3 and go again.
There’s no shortage of choice when it comes to bingo games. The most popular, and therefore most common variations at UK bingo sites, are 75-ball, 80-ball, and 90-ball bingo.
There are two main differences between these variations: the number of balls, and the grid shape. 75-ball is played on a 5x5 grid with the middle square free, whereas 80-ball is played on a full 4x4 grid and 90-ball on a 3x9 with five numbers per row.
Wins are made by filling lines, with the highest prize awarded for a full house (filling the grid).
Less common versions of bingo include 30-ball, 50-ball, pattern bingo, and various themed games, often based on popular TV shows.
Bonuses are available at most, if not all online bingo sites. Bonuses come in a variety of forms but claiming them follows the same pattern. To claim your bonus, simply click on the bonus or input the relevant code.
Welcome Bonus
The most common form of bingo bonus, welcome bonuses are usually deposit matches. For example, a 100% deposit bonus would see you deposit a certain amount, for example £20, and receive an additional £20 (or the amount of your deposit) in bonus money.
No Deposit Bingo Bonus
No deposit bonuses are less common, offering you bonus money before you sign up to a bingo site. This is usually a small amount of bonus money or a few free tickets that allow you to try out the available bingo games before making your first deposit.
Cashback Bonuses
These bonuses see an online bingo site returning a percentage of your losses in bonus funds. The percentage changes between sites, but it is normally a small amount of your losses over a set period.
Refer a Friend Bonus
Simply put: refer a friend, get a bonus. These bonuses are normally around £20 in bonus funds.
Social Media Bonuses
Social Media Bonuses are amongst the smallest, yet easiest to claim bonuses. You just need to follow the bingo site on certain social media pages, and you will be given some bonus funds to play with.
Holiday Bonuses
Many UK sites will offer special promotions around Christmas and Easter, and some may also provide some bonus funds for your birthday.
The social aspect of bingo is important in bingo halls, and online bingo sites maintain this too. Chat rooms give you a chance to talk to other players. This adds an extra dimension to the bingo, offering a sense of community between players.
Using chat rooms is easy. Each bingo room will have a chat option attached, simply open the chat box and get chatting! But what’s worth noting is that features offered at top UK bingo sites may vary. Some chat rooms will let you change the colours of your chat box, while others may even allow you to send virtual gifts to people. This makes the experience a lot more fun and personalised.
But one thing you’ll find common to all chat rooms is the emphasis on etiquette and respect toward other bingo players. Bingo chat rooms are always moderated, either by a chat host or somebody behind the scenes. You are always asked to be courteous and a good sport. After all, everyone in the chat room is there for the same reason: to have fun!
Now we’ve got through the basics, you’re almost ready to take your first foray into the exciting world of online bingo. But before you do, here are a few tips to take with you to make your bingo experience that little bit better.
Be sure that the bingo site you’re using is safe, secure, and licensed by the UKGC. All our recommended bingo sites and best UK online casinos tick these boxes and more.
Bingo is probably the politest form of online gambling. It is a friendly game where players chat with each other and lifelong friendships are made. Be aware that etiquette is expected in chat rooms. Be nice to everyone, and they’ll be nice to you.
The more cards you play with, the higher your chance of winning. However, this also means you will lose more money if none of your cards pay off. Pick a sensible amount of cards for your budget.
There is a balance to be found when playing online bingo. While the community aspect is great, the more players in a room, the lower your chances of winning. Pick times where fewer people are playing, and check rooms to see which have the smallest number. Simply put, the fewer people that are playing, the higher your odds.
Even the smallest ticket prices can build up if you buy multiple cards and play multiple games. Always be aware of your budget, and never bet money you can’t afford to lose.
Now you have the knowledge necessary to start your online bingo journey, you’re ready to go. Take this information and check out the best UK bingo sites. We’ve done the research for you, so you just have to pick your favourite from our list and get playing!
What are the best bingo sites in the UK?
You can find the best bingo sites online in our guide to playing bingo in the UK. These are the sites that offer the best games and bonuses and are 100% safe for you. Not only have we listed the best bingo sites for you, but we’ve also included useful tips to follow on your bingo journey.
Can I play free bingo at VegasSlotsOnline?
Yes, you can! We offer free play bingo games and slots to allow you the chance to practise before you spend real money. Our selection of online bingo games includes some of the major bingo varieties. To play, just verify you’re over the age of 18 and you’re good to go!
Is online bingo safe in the UK?
Online bingo is as safe as the bingo site or casino you are playing at. Check out our list of trusted UK casino and bingo sites to make sure you stay safe while playing bingo. We look out for licensed, audited sites with games that are independently tested for fairness. We also make sure that the payments on offer are reputable and safe to use.
Can you win money on online bingo?
Absolutely! Just like with any other gambling game online, if you choose to play bingo for real money, then you can win cash. Real money prizes are awarded in bingo for lines, patterns, and full houses. Sign up with a trustworthy bingo site that offers fast withdrawals so you can get your winnings out quickly.
Is online bingo better than real bingo?
Though we would happily spend the night at a bingo hall, we think that online bingo is by far the better way to play nowadays. Of course, there are perks to both online and land-based bingo. However, the lower cost, multiple variations, accessibility, and community of online bingo give it the edge.
Which UK bingo sites have no deposit bonuses?
Some of the best bingo sites provide no deposit bonuses to get a taste of the games before you deposit any money of your own. With a no deposit bonus, you can play online bingo games and keep any money that you may win. See our list of the best no deposit online casinos for more information.