New to bingo?

I've been playing online bingo for a few months now and have a few helpful hints for people who are wanting to get into the game. It took me a bit of time to get into the flow of things and really understand how the system works, so hopefully these tips will help budding players like I was a while back...

Firstly, just remember how simple the game is. Numbers are called out in a random order and the aim of the game is to complete the game "pattern" - the pattern of numbers that you have to eliminate on your card - before any others. If you do, you have bingo and win a prize! Don't try to "beat the system" or try little tricks to improve your chances of winning, because it is ultimately a game of chance and you just have to rely on good luck!

Pay attention to the pattern! Different games have different patterns and you need to keep and eye on what you're trying to acheive or else you might miss your chance to win the game! Some games have simple patterns such as a straight line in horizontal, vertical or diagonal directions, yet some may have a blackout/coverall pattern whereby you have to cover the whole card.

Don't lose concentration. The numbers are called out quite quickly, usually no more than 10 seconds apart so you need to pay close attention to what is being called out and to mark them off your card quickly and accurately. Some online games actually mark off the numbers for you, in the case that you lose concentration, yet this takes some of the fun out of the process.

Finally, try to find a site that offers the chance to play free bingo games, so you can practice and hone your understanding of the game before you risk your money in some of the more competitive games. I started off using practice rooms and did so for a couple of weeks to make sure I knew how the game was played and what the process involved, so these can be the most important couple of weeks in your bingo career!