In your hunt for the perfect Online Bingo experience, you’ve probably recognised that a lack of choice is not a problem. It’s a highly competitive industry with many providers keen to attract you to their games using a variety of advertising and promotions.
It’s therefore important to have a checklist of things to look out for, to make sure you find a site that is well suited to you and that you get the most from your gaming sessions. The information in this article will help you in that pursuit.
The Bingo Revival
Bingo very nearly disappeared from the landscape altogether. In the late 1980s, venues had long since seen their hayday and were fast becoming relics from bygone days of British seaside holidays – the game was largely confined to retirement homes and rundown high streets.
Bingo halls were permanently closing each month and it seemed the pastime’s days were numbered. A last-ditch attempt to resurrect bingo from obscurity occurred in the 90s where the game was rebranded as an evening event for groups of young adults to enjoy.
It struck a chord with the British populace and the resurgence began. The first online bingo site would go live in 2003 and would be a further shot in the arm for its popularity. Nowadays, huge bingo events like Bongo’s Bingo self-titled bingo rave are regular features in cities across the country.
Bingo in the Digital Domain
The influx of online bingo sites are insane, however there are certain factors that can help you narrow down the choices and find the site that’s best for you.
There’s currently a huge choice of bingo providers available and the process of finding the right one can be overwhelming. You can end up spending more time looking for the right website than actually playing the game.
To help make the process less painful, here is a list of factors you may wish to consider before signing up:
- Pick a theme
Your bingo experience can be wrapped up in many different styles and themes. There are sites aimed predominantly at the female market (although everyone is welcome), there are bright and fun brands and there are more traditional looking bingo sites. Take some time to explore what’s on offer to narrow down your search.
2. Which bingo format do you prefer?
There are also many different bingo formats to try.
- 30 ball bingo – a fast paced bingo game played on smaller 3×3 cards.
- 75 ball bingo – North America’s favourite game played on a 5×5 grid, recogniseable from the ‘free’ centre square.
- 80 ball bingo – sometimes known as Shutter Bingo, played on a 4×4 card. Winning patterns can be centre squares, all corners and lines in different orientations.
- 90 ball bingo – played using a 3×5 card, winners are one, then two horizontal lines and finally a full house.
Most sites will offer a variety of iterations of the game and the best sites will even let you demo them before having to wager any money. It is very much recommended that you take advantage of these free-to-play opportunities so you don’t find yourself out of your depth when the real money is on the line.
3. Ease of use
The design of the site is an important element in how enjoyable your bingo sessions will be. Look for an intuitively laid out website with all the features where you’d expect to find them. The last thing you want is to be searching for the ‘Full House’ button when your card is filled and not being able to find it.
4. Secure payment options
There were over 1 million complaints concerning online fraud made in 2021 so you don’t want to take any second chances with your money on the internet. Look for a bingo site with multiple secure payment options available and always use an intermediary like PayPal to add to your balance.
Never wire money using a bank transfer because you have little to no protection should something go wrong. Trustpilot is a good place to start to check the authenticity of any site but it’s always best to opt for a name you know and trust.
5. Other features
There’s also more to bingo sites than the exciting bingo games – they’re a great place to meet like minded people. Most good providers will have chat rooms alongside the gaming fun so you can interact with other users as you play.
If you have a penchant for other casino games, you may be able to transfer some of your winnings over to other parts of the site and continue on your lucky streak on a selection of video slots titles.
6. Attractive promotions
As previously mentioned, it’s a buyer’s market in the world of online bingo so don’t sign up to a site without first checking if there are promotions available for doing so. You may encounter no deposit bonuses, a number of free games or deposit matches for your opening balance.
Always check the small print of the bonuses before creating an account, there are inevitably some stipulations. Wagering requirements are how much money must be spent before you’re able to cash out winnings from a promotion. Understanding these terms gives you a better understanding of how good each site’s offers actually are.
New and exciting developments occur frequently in the bingo industry so keep your eyes peeled for the next big thing. We hope from these tips you’re able to find your next favourite bingo site.