A Close Look at Bingo Cards

Almost everyone is familiar with how Bingo is played, but what some don't realize is that there are actually different types of cards being used. As you will see, this can play an important role in how well you can play the game.

The differences start with the type of material that is used for each Bingo card. Some of the simpler ones are made up of paper on which are inscribed the numbers.

In games played at commercial halls, the cards may be imprinted on very thin material (appropriately called flimsies). Other cards are laid on harder material, while some are made of plastic. The quality of the cards can, in some cases, actually determine their cost.

Another trait that distinguishes one Bingo card from another is the free space. This free space is that part of the card that has been "marked". However, there are some games that use hardway cards, meaning they do not have marked slots or spaces.

Now you may be asking why would some promoters and organizers use hardway Bingo cards, when that makes it all the more harder to hit the jackpot? The answer lies in the cash prizes. The events and commercial halls that make use of hardway always give away bigger prizes and also distribute them to more players.

Finally, the Bingo cards used in American and European games are very different. The American 75 ball game features the standard 5 x 5 (usually with a free space). This is also the type of card used when the game is played in Asian countries.

European games are called 90 ball, and thus use another type of Bingo card. This card has three rows and 9 columns. However striking the alteration in appearance, the objectives -marking the numbers called out- still apply.

However, these games tend to be played in stages; that is, players need to fill in one line, then on stage two, two lines and then the whole card (a "blackout" pattern). For winning each stage, though, there is a corresponding prize.

As with the American cards, the material used vary per manufacturer, but the usual case is that the bigger the prize, the more "refined" the cards in play are.

To be an adept player, learn as much as you can about the game, including the Bingo cards being used. This knowledge can help you decide which game variant is suited for you, and which offer the best advantage for a player.