There are many different types of bingo games, each with its own unique set of rules and variations. Some of the most popular bingo games include traditional bingo, French bingo, and bonus bingo.
Traditional Bingo
Traditional bingo is the simplest type of bingo game, consisting of just 26 cards – 12 numbers from 1 to 12 and 14 bonus cards. The player tries to match any two numbers on the main board, earning points for each match.
Play continues until one player has earned 21 points or more, at which point the game is over and the winner is determined by their score in traditional Bingo terms: the player with the highest total score wins.
French Bingo
French bingo is a slightly more complicated variation of traditional Bingo. Like traditional Bingo, it features 26 cards – 12 numbers from 1 to 12 and 14 bonus cards – but the layout of the main board is different. In French Bingo, the numbers 1 through 9 are spread across two rows of six cards each, while 10 through 19 are spread across three rows of five cards each. The bonus cards (which include both wildcards and jokers) are placed in between these two sets of numbers.
As in traditional Bingo, players try to match any two numbers on the main board, earning points for each match. But in addition to matching numbers, they also have to match one number from one row and one number from another row – so it’s not just a matter of matching any two numbers together. Finally, like in traditional Bingo, play continues until one player has earned 21 points or more, at which point the game is over and the winner is determined by their score in French Bingo terms: the player with the highest total score wins.
Bonus Bingo
Bonus Bingo is a variation of traditional Bingo that features a different set of rules than regular bingo. In regular bingo, every card played contributes towards your total score; in bonus bingo, however, some (but not all) cards count as “bonus” cards.
Bonuses can be earned by matching any card (including wildcards and jokers), but they’re especially valuable when they appear as part of a three-card combination (three-of-a-kind). So while regular bingo is about matching numbers on the main board, bonus bingo is all about filling up your card deck with as many three-card combinations as possible – and making sure those combinations end up on the table in front of you! play continues until one player has earned 21 points or more, at which point the game is over and the winner is determined by their score in regular or bonus Bingo terms: whichever term has been used more times during play at that point wins.
