Bingo is a game of chance in which numbers are drawn at random and players mark them off on their tickets, with prizes for completing a line, two lines or the whole ticket. Online bingo works the same way in an app: you buy tickets for a game, the software draws the numbers and everyone in that game shares one prize pool.
In bingo you play against other players for a shared prize, not against the house.
UK 90-ball tickets have 15 numbers in a 3x9 grid; prizes go for one line, two lines and a full house.
The Gambling Commission treats bingo as equal chance gaming: every ticket has the same chance.
Your chance of winning depends on how many tickets are in play, so it can't be fixed in advance.
UK main format
90-ball, 3x9 ticket with 15 numbers
Other formats
75-ball (5x5) and 80-ball (4x4)
Prize stages (90-ball)
One line, two lines, full house
Legal status
Equal chance gaming, Gambling Act 2005
Online licence
Remote bingo operating licence
Bingo meaning: how the game works
Each player holds one or more tickets printed with numbers. A caller, or in an app the game software, draws numbers at random. Players mark any matches, and the first to complete the pattern needed for the current prize wins it.
The big difference from most casino games is who you play against. In bingo you're competing with the other players in that game for a prize pool. The Gambling Commission's guide to how bingo is defined (opens in a new tab) starts from a 1978 Royal Commission description, "Bingo is a lottery played as a game", and notes that the Gambling Act 2005 doesn't give bingo a specific statutory definition.
Bingo formats: 90-ball, 75-ball and 80-ball
The main bingo formats
Format
Ticket or card
Numbers on it
How you win
90-ball (the UK standard)
3 rows × 9 columns
15 numbers, 5 per row, plus 12 blanks
One line, then two lines, then a full house
75-ball (popular in North America)
5 × 5 card with a free centre space
24 numbers in columns B 1–15, I 16–30, N 31–45, G 46–60, O 61–75
Patterns such as lines, diamonds or T shapes
80-ball
4 × 4 card
16 numbers, with the 80 numbers in four colour-coded groups of 20
Patterns set by the game
On a 90-ball ticket, the first column holds 1 to 9, each following column holds the next ten numbers, and the last column holds 80 to 90. A strip of six tickets covers every number from 1 to 90 exactly once, a layout explained in this guide to 90-number bingo tickets (opens in a new tab). Buying a full strip means one of your tickets will match every number called, though that doesn't mean you'll win a prize.
How online bingo works in an app
Details vary between bingo rooms and software, but a typical online game runs like this:
Open the bingo section of the app, choose a room and check its ticket price, prizes and start time.
Buy tickets before the game starts. More tickets cost more and give you more chances, but they don't change the odds per ticket.
When the game starts, numbers are drawn at random; the room's rules explain how your tickets are marked.
Prizes are paid in stages, for example one line, two lines and a full house in 90-ball.
If more than one player completes a pattern on the same number, check the room's rules for how the prize is split.
Read the room's rules before you buy, especially the prize amounts and how ties are handled. Our bingo apps guide looks at how rooms and tickets appear on a phone screen.
Bingo odds and what it costs
Bingo doesn't have a fixed RTP in the way a slot does. The Commission's technical standards accept that for bingo, the likelihood of winning can't be stated in advance, because it depends on how many people take part. A room with few players gives each ticket a bigger share of the chances; a full room gives a smaller share.
What you can control is spend. Work it out as ticket price × tickets per game × games played:
What a bingo session costs before any prizes
Ticket price
Tickets per game
Games
Total spend
10p
6 (one strip)
10
£6
25p
6
20
£30
50p
12
20
£120
Prizes are funded from ticket sales under each room's rules, so over many games most players get back less than they spend. Setting a deposit limit before a long session keeps the total where you planned it.
UK bingo rules that matter to app players
Equal chance gaming. Bingo must be equal chance: players don't stake against a bank, every ticket has the same chance, you have to take part to win, and each game has a defined end point.
No unlicensed games. The Commission says running online bingo without a licence, including on social media or video calls, breaks the law under section 6 of the Gambling Act 2005, even for charity.
Speed rules. The 5-second minimum for casino games other than slots excludes bingo.
Separate promotions. Since 19 January 2026 an offer can't mix bingo with casino or betting, under the mixed-product bonus ban.
Marketing choices. Online operators must let you choose separately whether to get marketing about betting, casino or bingo, a rule covered in marketing consent.
Bingo in UK casino apps
Some casino apps include a bingo section, while others are casino only. PlayOJO holds a Gambling Commission bingo licence alongside its casino licence, and its app listing names bingo among its games. The published app details for Coral and Ladbrokes don't list bingo, so check the app's game lobby.
PlayOJO is the partner whose app lists bingo. All three welcome offers below are for slots, not bingo tickets, and a single offer can't mix bingo with casino. 18+, new customers only; terms apply.
Coral Casino: bet £10 on slots after a qualifying deposit to get 100 free spins at 10p on selected games, accepted within 48 hours and used within 7 days, with no wagering on winnings. Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards are excluded. Runs 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027.
Ladbrokes Casino: deposit and play £10 on slots for 50 free spins a day over your first 10 days, up to 500 at 10p each on selected games. Claim before 23:59 daily and use within 7 days; no wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits don't count.
PlayOJO: 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each when your first deposit is £10 or more, with no wagering, so winnings are paid as cash. New UK customers only, excluding Northern Ireland; available only through the designated offer link and not alongside other offers.
Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited (Entain). If you already hold an account with one Entain brand, you may not be able to open another; check the terms first.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our Coral app reviewLicence: LC International Limited, Gambling Commission account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Time limitClaim daily for 10 days; each batch valid 7 days
Worked valueUp to 500 spins at £0.10 (up to £50 in spins)
Significant terms: 18+. New customers only, from 14/11/25 until further notice. Certain deposit methods excluded. Deposit and spend £10+ on slots for 50 free spins a day during the first 10 days after first deposit and registration (max 500, £0.10 each, selected games, claim before 23:59 each day, valid 7 days). No wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our Ladbrokes app reviewLicence: LC International Limited, Gambling Commission account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland). First deposit only. Minimum deposit £10. 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, £0.10 each. No wagering requirements; winnings paid in cash. Cannot be used with any other offer. Only available to players who arrive through the designated offer link. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our PlayOJO app reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, Gambling Commission account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What is bingo in simple terms?
It's a numbers game where players mark off randomly drawn numbers on their tickets and win prizes for completing set patterns, such as a line or the whole ticket. Everyone in a game competes for the same prizes, and every ticket has an equal chance. Online, the numbers are drawn by the game software. Our bingo apps guide shows how games look on a phone.
What is the difference between 90-ball and 75-ball bingo?
90-ball is the UK standard: a ticket of three rows and nine columns holding 15 numbers, with prizes for one line, two lines and a full house. 75-ball is the North American favourite: a 5x5 card with 24 numbers and a free centre space, where wins come from patterns like lines, diamonds or T shapes. Our best bingo apps page notes which formats apps offer.
What does full house mean in bingo?
A full house means every number on one ticket has been called and marked. In 90-ball bingo that's all 15 numbers, and it's usually the biggest prize in a game, after the one-line and two-line prizes. If two players complete a full house on the same number, the room's rules decide how the prize is shared. Check the rules in the app before you buy tickets. See our payout entry for how prizes are credited.
Is online bingo legal in the UK?
Yes, when it's run by a business holding a Gambling Commission remote bingo licence. The Commission says running an online bingo game without a licence, even on social media, a video call or for charity, breaks the law. You must be 18 or over, and your age and identity are checked before you can play. Our guide on how to know a casino app is licensed shows how to check.
Does buying more bingo tickets improve your chances?
It increases your share of the chances in that game, because each ticket has an equal chance, but it also increases what you spend by the same proportion. It doesn't change the odds for any single ticket, and in a busy room your share can still be small. Decide your spend per game first, then buy tickets within it. Our page on budgeting for casino apps has practical tips.
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