This is the version of the game that is so well known and loved by American bingo players.
It is so-called because there are 75 balls to be drawn from - and so the numbers on your card will only lie between 1 and 75.
The basic idea of the game is that your bingo cards have 5x5 grids printed onto them, and the squares hold the numbers you want to dab off.
As the balls are drawn, or 'called', you dab each number, keeping an eye out for the winning pattern.
This pattern can be one of many different shapes, depending on the game - and if you're the first to dab off the pattern, you win whatever prize is on offer.
The cards that you use usually have only 24 of the 25 squares numbered.
Each column, of 5 squares (except the middle column, with just 4 squares), will have numbers from a slice of 15 potential numbers.
So the first column could have numbers 1 to 15, the second 16 to 30- and so on.
These numbers are randomized for each column, to make things a little more interesting.
The card is also colored, making the squares that define the pattern (which is what the game is being played for) obvious.
Your job is to watch out for when the whole pattern is filled.
To help players find the right numbers, each set of 15 numbers is given a letter- so B is for 1 to 15, I is for 16 to 30, N is for 31 to 45, G is for 46 to 60 and O is for 61 to 75.
So if 47 were drawn, it would be called as G47.
The columns are sometimes labeled with BINGO to help you get the right column fast.
Any number of cards can be played simultaneously - but 3 is a typical number.
The more you have, the more likely you will win - if you can keep up with the draw.
Within this basic framework, different bingo operators have worked many variations- especially in the rules for prizes.
Usually the first prize is given to the first player to fill the pattern.
But players can also hold out for a 'coverall'- and if this is reached within a certain number of calls, a special jackpot prize is awarded.
If you want to find more about the game of bingo, as well as where you can play bingo online, we recommend you visit our great Best Bingo Bonus site to read more about the topic.
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