In these unprecedented times, more and more people are turning to online gaming as a form of entertainment. And while the high-octane action of CS:GO, FIFA and Fortnite are not for everyone, there are other, gentler forms of gaming that people of all ages and experience levels can enjoy.

Titles such as Farming Simulator – yes, you read that correctly – are immensely popular, and act as the perfect antidote to our chaotic lives.

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Also filed in this category can be online bingo, a relaxing and stress-free way of passing the time and, perhaps, winning a few prizes along the way. Even Matthew McConaughey has the bingo bug!

It’s really easy to get started, and whether you are a complete newcomer to bingo or a more experienced ‘dabber’, you will find the online version to be a fine way to pass an hour or two. Here’s a quick guide as to what you can expect, and how you can maximize your online bingo time.

How Does Online Bingo Work?

The good news is that online bingo is essentially the same as taking a trip to your local bingo hall.

You buy your tickets (these can cost just a few cents if you’re on a tight budget, and there are free games available), and the aim is to cross numbers off your card as they are called out – hoping to make a row, a specified pattern or a full house before anybody else.

Your job is to ‘daub’ these numbers on your card using the on-screen buttons, or alternatively you can select ‘autoplay’ and your card will be marked automatically on your behalf – allowing you to sit back, relax and soak up the action.

There are numerous different types of online bingo games available, and we will cover these in more depth later in this article.

How to Get Started with Online Bingo

If you want to play online bingo you will need to open an account with a provider. There are some criteria you should consider here, but most important of all is to check that they are licensed and have implemented effective security to keep your personal details and transactions safe.

You want to join a bingo site that is popular – the more traffic present, the more games that will be offered, and one that lets you play a wide variety of different game types. You should also keep your eye out for other perks, such as bonuses and promotions for bingo, as many sites offer these in abundance!

'Bingo' - Celeste Lindell via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Online Bingo Bonuses & Promotions

Most operators offer bingo promotions and bonuses of some kind, and the type of games you plan on enjoying will dictate which are right for you.

 For example, there are free game tickets, invitations to big jackpot games, boosted payouts, refer-a-friend schemes, and much more besides. These are an excellent way to score yourself some free games or bonus funds, so it’s another factor to consider when joining a new bingo site.

Different Types of Online Bingo Games

Generally, different bingo games are defined by the number of balls that they use. As the name suggests, 75-ball bingo features 75 numbered balls, and these games give players three chances to win by filling a line, a pattern, and the full house. Meanwhile, 90-ball bingo offers more winning opportunities by filling two lines too.

Online bingo also offers other funky game types, which include the likes of Speed Bingo – this is all about having the fastest finger as the balls are called in rapid fashion!

So, that’s a quick guide to online bingo, which is a fun and potentially rewarding way to spend your spare time.