Bingo: A Game of Luck or Skill?

Whether you’re a fan of online bingo or frequenter of your local bingo hall, have you ever stopped to wonder whether your favourite hobby is purely a game of luck or if there’s a certain amount of skill involved? After all, the balls are automatically called or drawn, and your cards are filled with random numbers, so surely you can’t predict which numbers will be called and in which order?

Some players believe that there’s a secret formula that will help them to win, or that certain patterns can influence the odds of winning. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. In every game of bingo (no matter which variation), the numbers on each card are always different, and the balls are called randomly, until one player completes their card and claims the prize. Whether you’re playing 90-ball, 75-ball, or 5-line games, you’re still aiming for the exact same result as your fellow roomies, making your odds of winning exactly the same as theirs.

Sometimes, bingo halls will allow you to choose your own cards, and many online sites will let you change them if, for whatever reason, you don’t like the look of them. Maybe you’ve got a certain ‘lucky number’? Regardless, it really doesn’t make any difference what numbers are marked on your card, because you have absolutely no influence over which balls are called.

Many land-based bingo hall lovers believe that their luck can be improved by adopting certain practices, such as sitting in the same chair or bringing trinkets and lucky charms along with them to place on their tables. Of course, when playing in a hall, you don’t have the luxury of having your cards automatically daubed, so you could say that there’s a certain amount of skill involved in making sure you mark off all the numbers correctly; one overlooked ball could obviously result in you missing out on a juicy prize!

With the online variety it’s a little easier to nudge the odds in your favour; after all at bingo halls, you can’t control how many players turn up on the night, but online, you’re in control of when and where you play. Nearly all sites allow you to view how many players are in each room, and what amount of money is on offer. Whilst it’s tempting to rush into whichever offers the largest prize, you’ll often find that room to be extremely busy. Obviously, the more players there are vying for a prize, the less your chances (and theirs) of winning it. So, by carefully selecting a room with fewer players, and a reasonable amount of money in the pot, you’ll increase your chances of getting a win. Also, the chances of your winning a massive jackpot with only one card are pretty much slim to none. Whilst we’re certainly not encouraging you to buy the maximum amount of tickets, statistically speaking, the more tickets you buy will give you far better odds than a player who’s only bought two.

Another clever way to push the odds in your favour is by playing games in the early hours of the morning, when the majority of players are asleep. Shop around to find which sites offer 24/7 bingo, and observe how many players they attract, what types of games they offer, ticket costs and average prize amounts.You can see how certain elements of skill can be involved through the choices that you make, and as long as you stay within your strict budget, you might hopefully notice a slight increase in how frequently you get a full house, or one or two lines. At the end of the day, however, bingo is a game of luck, which is why it continues to excite players across the world with its simplicity and fairness, making it an enjoyable and sociable way to spend time, make new friends and congratulate each other on your wins; after all, it’s only a matter of time before it’s you who’s calling ‘Bingo!’ A recent survey by a portal has found that the social element of the game is as important as the wins to those questioned, with over 47% saying that they’d met friends whilst playing online, particularly through the chat-room feature. Perhaps, then it’s best to throw the question of skill or luck aside, and take bingo for what it really is – a fun way to relax and socialise whatever your age, gender or background, and winning a game from time-to-time is just an added perk.