The Ultimate Glossary of Bingo Terms – From A-Z
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Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the game, understanding bingo lingo makes your time at the table (or screen) way more fun. From “Full House” to “Speed Bingo”, this glossary covers every bingo term you need to know.
Bookmark this page as your go-to bingo dictionary or share it with someone getting into the game. Let's dive in!
Bingo Terms & Meanings
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Admission Packet | The minimum number of cards that must be purchased to play bingo. Usually 6–12 cards per pack. |
| Bingo | A game of chance involving numbered cards. Players win based on a pre-set pattern of numbers called randomly. |
| Bingo Ball | A numbered and lettered ball used in bingo games for drawing results. |
| Bingo Board | An electronic display showing all called numbers during the game. |
| Bingo Event Game | A type of pull-tab game with prizes determined by drawing a bingo ball. |
| Bingo Machine | A mechanical device that randomly selects and dispenses bingo balls. |
| Bingo Paper Pack or Bingo Booklet | Pre-collated packs of bingo cards bound in order of play. |
| Blackout | A win condition where every square on the bingo card must be covered. |
| Blower | A device that mixes and dispenses bingo balls. |
| Bonanza Bingo | A progressive jackpot game played typically as the 13th game of a session. |
| Break Open | Also known as pull tabs, these are paper tickets with hidden symbols revealing instant prizes. |
| Buy-In | The purchase of cards or admission packs to enter a bingo game. |
| Caller | The person who announces the numbers (or the voice on an app). They’re the heart of the game! |
| Card | The card used in bingo, typically a 5x5 grid with a free space in the center. |
| Card Minding Device | Electronic devices that help manage multiple bingo cards electronically. |
| Charitable Organization | Non-profit organizations eligible to conduct charitable bingo. |
| Coin board/Merchandise Board | Games offering prizes through a mix of instant wins and designated board matches. |
| Consolation Prize | A prize given if no one wins within the normal number of calls in a game. |
| Coverall | Same as Blackout: all card numbers must be covered to win. |
| Cut | Refers to the layout direction of bingo faces on a sheet: square, horizontal, or vertical. |
| Dabber / Dauber | A bingo pen used to mark off numbers. Check out our collection of bingo dabbers to find your lucky colour! |
| Deal | A series of pull tabs with identical serial numbers. |
| Early Bird Game | A game played before the main bingo session begins. |
| Face | A single bingo card face with 24 numbers and a free space. |
| Flare Card | A display card included with instant games explaining rules and payouts. |
| Flash Board | Displays numbers called in bingo, similar to a flash board. |
| Free Space | The center square of a bingo card, automatically counted as matched. |
| Full House | When all the numbers on your ticket have been called. The biggest prize usually goes to the first player to get a full house! |
| Hard Card | Reusable bingo cards typically made of a durable material. |
| Hard-Way Bingo | A bingo win requiring a line without using the free space. |
| House | Another word for a win — as in “shout HOUSE when you’ve won!” |
| Instants | Pull-tab games where winners are revealed instantly. |
| Jackpot | Large prizes typically for difficult win patterns or fast wins. |
| Line | A horizontal line of numbers. Some games offer prizes for completing one or two lines before the full house. |
| Lucky Jar | A cash container awarded to players who win on a specific lucky number. |
| Minimum Buy-In | The least amount a player must spend to be eligible to win prizes. |
| Money Ball | A designated number that, when hit, doubles the prize. |
| Moonlight Bingo | A late-night bingo session usually starting around 10 PM. |
| Multiple Winners | When more than one player wins at the same time, the prize is split. |
| Nicknames | Humorous or thematic names for numbers, e.g., 'Two Little Ducks' for 22. |
| Ons | The number of faces (cards) per sheet. |
| Pattern | The shape or configuration needed to win a game. |
| Payout | The portion of sales returned to players as prizes. |
| Postage Stamp Pattern | A pattern forming a 2x2 grid, typically in a card corner. |
| Progressive Game | Games where the jackpot increases until won. |
| Progressive Jackpot | Jackpots that grow each game until won, based on calls or tickets sold. |
| Pull Tab | Paper tickets with tabs revealing symbols for prize eligibility. |
| Raffle | A game where tickets are drawn for a chance to win prizes. |
| Seal Card | A board revealing additional winners after all instant tickets are sold. |
| Series | The number of unique bingo card faces in a set. |
| Session | A complete series of bingo games typically lasting 2–3 hours. |
| Set | A collection of uniquely numbered faces in one color. |
| Six-pack, Nine-pack | Six or nine numbers grouped together on one card block. |
| Special | A game played with separate cards outside the main admission pack. |
| Speed Bingo | A game where numbers are called quickly, often over in minutes. |
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