The Bingo Cards

When you arrive at the Bingo Hall you buy your card(s). Many Halls sell books of cards consisting of a number of different colored cards. Each color card corresponds to a different game. Typically, most bingo cards are made of paper and can be thrown away once the game is over.

In North America every Bingo card consists of five columns and five rows with 24 numbers (out of a possible 75) and one free spot (in the middle of the card) printed on it. The word BINGO is printed at the top of the five columns on every bingo card. When numbers are called, the caller will call out the letter first and then the number. For example, I-18 or N-43. This way it is easier for the player to find the called numbers on their cards. In other parts of the world, such as, Australia and the UK, the bingo cards have 9 columns and 3 rows. In these games there is a total of 90 numbers (instead of 75). The numbers 1-9 are printed in the first column, 10-19 in the second, 20-29 in the third and so on. Again, making it easier for the player when marking off called numbers.