Why Not Give Bingo A Go? (Bingo)

Member Name: junkboxjules

Product:	Bingo
Date:	01/05/02 (144 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great place to meet new people, Fun night out, You might win

Disadvantages: Can be expensive

If you have read my profile you will already know that I am a bingo fanatic which is why I have chosen to enlighten those of you who have not played bingo before and advise you how a trip to your local bingo hall can be a fun night out.

** MEMBERSHIP **

Before you can play bingo in a bingo hall you need to either become a member or be signed in as a guest by another member. It doesn't cost anything to join a bingo club, you just need to complete an application form and hand it in or post it to your local club. You must allow 48 hours to elapse before you can play as a member.

Once you have received your membership card you are free to play bingo as often as you like.

Although there is no charge to become a member there is an admission fee to pay before you can play. The admission fee is usually about 50p in the afternoon and about 80p in the evening - be warned even if you have played in the afternoon and wish to stay on for the evening you have to pay the admission fee again before you can play the evening session. To ensure that you have paid your admission fee most clubs issue you with a book sales ticket, without this ticket you cannot purchase your bingo tickets.

OK so you're now a member and you fancy a game of bingo - pick up some pens, (felt tips are best), and read on for tips on what to do next.

** HOW MANY TICKETS SHALL I BUY? **

You can buy as many tickets as you feel comfortable playing. Normally tickets are sold in sets of 1-6, (a set is a book of tickets). Remember if you buy a set of 6 tickets you are playing 6 tickets at once - this may sound daunting but remember that bingo numbers range from 1-90 and there are 15 numbers per ticket - therefore if you are playing a set of 6 tickets you have all 90 numbers and know that you will need to mark off every number called. A set of 3 is a good starting point as you should manage to play 3 without getting lost but at the same t
ime you won't get bored - playing 1 ticket would be very boring as you are not crossing off hardly any numbers.

** PLAYING THE GAME **

As previously mentioned the numbers 1-90 are used in the game of bingo and there are 15 numbers on each ticket. The numbers are set out in columns - the first column contains all numbers between 1-9, the second column numbers run from 10-20, the third column numbers run from 21-30 and so on up to the last column which runs from 80-90.

Before each game starts the caller will announce the colour of the ticket to be played, what the game is being played for, i.e. 1 line, 2 lines or a full house and the prize money. If you are unsure which order to put your tickets in ask at the book sales counter when you buy them or ask somebody on a neighbouring table - most people are very friendly and helpful, if they know you are a beginner they will help you and make sure you are playing the correct ticket.

Usually most games are played for 1 line, followed by 2 lines and finally a full house.

If you are playing a game for 1 line you need to mark off 5 numbers on one line across the card. If you have marked off 4 and are waiting for one number you may feel it useful to underline the number you are waiting for so that you don't forget to shout if it is called.

If the number you are waiting for is called you need to stop the caller, popular words/phrases used to stop the caller are as follows, yes, thank you, line, house, here you are and so the list goes on and on... Remember to call up in a loud clear voice - if you don't shout quickly or clearly enough and the caller has started to call the next number you will lose the prize.

Once you have successfully stopped the game a steward will come and check your claim - the steward will read out a serial number which is printed on your ticket and the caller will type this number into the computer - your ticket will then be
displayed on a television screen for everybody to see - if your claim is correct the numbers on the winning line will flash - if you have missed a number or shouted too late the caller will advise you that you have a false claim and you will continue playing until a successful claim is made. Assuming you have a valid claim you will be asked for your membership card and the steward will take it to the book sales counter and bring it back with your prize money and a receipt for you to sign to say you have received the money. It's as easy as that!

Once the line has been claimed, frequently you will go on to play for 2 lines, that is two lines across the card and on the same ticket.

After the 2 lines has been claimed you will usually go on to play for a full house. You have a full house if you have marked off every number on one ticket - i.e. 15 numbers marked off on one card.

** NATIONAL GAME **

Every evening and on Saturday afternoon the nation gathers to play the National Game. This game is played by all the big bingo clubs across the country. Each club is issued with a list of numbers and the game is played at the same time across the country. The game is played for a full house only. The main prize of several thousand pounds, frequently £100,000 + is awarded to the player/players who have claimed the full house in the least amount of numbers. If there is more than one winner to claim then the prize money is split equally between all the winners. There is also a regional prize, the country is split into several regions and if you have called up in the least number of calls within your region you win the regional prize, approximately £2000+. If you don't win either of these prizes but you win the game within your club you will win whatever the house money is within your club - you will be told this before the game starts. The National Game tickets normally cost 40p per ticket but on a Tuesday evening and a Satu
rday afternoon they cost 25p each.

** GENERAL INFORMATION **

Most bingo halls open for afternoon and evening sessions. If you wish to attend the afternoon and evening sessions you are welcome to stay in the hall - take something to do though as there is a good 3-4 hour break between sessions. A typical afternoon session starts at 2.00pm and ends at about 3.30pm - there is usually a break of approximately 20 minutes. A typical evening session starts at about 7.30pm and finishes about 9.15pm. There is usually a break from about 8.00pm - 8.30pm.

Most bingo halls have a bar and a cafe/snack bar where you can buy hot and cold drinks, sweets, crisps and hot meals or snacks. The cafe is usually very reasonably priced and a typical meal of say Ham, Egg and Chips is likely to cost you about £2.00.

Bingo is very popular these days and is not just for the white hair brigade. More and more young people are playing and not just females so if you are looking for a partner you never know you may go home with more than just a bingo win!

Ticket prices vary but generally cost between £1.00 and £1.80 per set, (remember a set is a book of tickets), therefore a set of 4 tickets @ £1.00 per set will cost you £4.00. Bingo can be quite costly but most clubs run promotions with cheaper nights and even free bingo sessions, usually on a Sunday afternoon so it is well worth enquiring about these sessions.

Prize money varies from club to club and usually depends on how busy the club is, however some nights there are promotions running with guaranteed minimum prize money. On a busy night at my local club the biggest in house prize is about £1000 and on a quiet night it is about £400.00.

Bingo is a very enjoyable hobby and the bingo hall is a great place to meet new friends. Don't be afraid to come alone, many people come on their own and you would certainly not feel out of place. It is quite likely that within a wee
k or two you will soon have made lots of new friends.

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