Think you know all there is to know about bingo? From the classic 90-ball game to the latest online variations, there’s a lot more to this iconic game than just calling out “Bingo!” Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting out, this quiz is a fun way to test your knowledge of bingo’s history, rules, and quirky slang.
Grab your bingo card, get ready to answer some trivia, and let’s see if you’re truly a bingo expert! Let’s dive into the quiz!
1. What is the standard number of balls used in a traditional 90-ball bingo game?
- A) 75
- B) 90
- C) 100
- D) 50
2. Which of these is NOT a common variation of bingo?
- A) 75-ball bingo
- B) 90-ball bingo
- C) 100-ball bingo
- D) Speed Bingo
3. What was the original name of Bingo when it was first created in the early 20th century?
- A) Lotto
- B) Beano
- C) Lotto 90
- D) Numbers Game
4. In a 75-ball bingo game, what shape is typically used for the “coverall” or “blackout” bingo pattern?
- A) Diagonal line
- B) Full grid
- C) X pattern
- D) Four corners
5. Who is credited with inventing the modern version of Bingo in the United States in the 1920s?
- A) Edwin S. Lowe
- B) Charles Darwin
- C) John Hancock
- D) William Shakespeare
6. What is a “Jackpot” in Bingo?
- A) A fixed prize won for a specific bingo pattern
- B) A prize won by completing a pattern in the least amount of calls
- C) The largest prize given when all cards are filled
- D) A specific line pattern won with the most money spent
7. In 90-ball bingo, what are the three prizes typically awarded?
- A) First line, second line, full house
- B) Two lines, full house, blackout
- C) One line, full house, grand prize
- D) Full house, single bingo, blackout
8. Which of the following is a common bingo slang term for winning the game?
- A) Yippee
- B) BINGO
- C) Jackpot
- D) Pulling the lever
9. How many columns are there on a 75-ball bingo card?
- A) 5
- B) 4
- C) 6
- D) 3
10. What is the name of the special “wild card” that can substitute any other number on a bingo card in certain online bingo games?
- A) Joker
- B) Free Space
- C) Star
- D) Bonus Ball
Answers Recap:
- B) 90 – In 90-ball bingo, the standard number of balls used is 90. Each ball is numbered from 1 to 90, and the game is played with those 90 balls being drawn randomly.
- C) 100-ball bingo – 100-ball bingo is not a common variation. The two most popular versions of bingo are 75-ball bingo (mostly played in the United States) and 90-ball bingo (mainly popular in the UK and other countries). Speed bingo is also a variant of 75-ball bingo, but 100-ball bingo doesn’t have the widespread use that the others do.
- B) Beano – Bingo was originally known as Beano. The game was played with beans to cover numbers, and it was renamed Bingo after a player accidentally shouted “Bingo!” instead of “Beano” during a game in the 1920s.
- B) Full grid – In 75-ball bingo, the coverall or blackout pattern means filling in all 24 numbers on your card (excluding the free space in the center). Therefore, the pattern is a full grid.
- A) Edwin S. Lowe – Edwin S. Lowe, an American toy manufacturer, is credited with inventing modern bingo in the 1920s. He came across the game while visiting a carnival and then marketed it as “Bingo” in the U.S. after modifying the original version.
- A) A fixed prize won for a specific bingo pattern – In bingo, a Jackpot is a prize awarded for achieving a specific pattern, often a full house (covering all the numbers on the card) or a special winning combination. It’s typically a larger prize that can grow progressively over time.
- A) First line, second line, full house – In 90-ball bingo, the common prizes are for first line, second line, and full house. Players can win by completing a single line, two lines, or all three lines on their card.
- B) BINGO – The most common term for winning in bingo is BINGO! When a player completes the required pattern, they call out “Bingo!” to signal they’ve won.
- A) 5 – A standard 75-ball bingo card has 5 columns. The columns are labeled with the letters B, I, N, G, O and contain numbers that correspond to each letter (e.g., the “B” column has numbers 1-15, “I” has 16-30, and so on).
- B) Free Space – The Free Space is typically a special square on your bingo card that can substitute for any number in some variations of bingo. It’s usually located in the center of the card and is already marked as free, giving players one automatic spot.
Fun Bingo Facts to Get You in the Mood:
- Bingo’s Royal Connection – Did you know that Queen Elizabeth II plays bingo with her royal family during the holidays? Talk about a royal flush!
- The Largest Bingo Game Ever – In 2009, the world’s largest bingo game took place in Norway, with over 100,000 players participating! That’s a lot of bingo cards.
- Bingo Slang – In bingo, we have fun names for some numbers. For instance, “Two fat ladies” is used for the number 88, and “Kelly’s eye” refers to number 1 (a tribute to Australian poet, Edward Kelly).
- Bingo’s Origins – The game was first played as “Beano” in the 1920s in the United States. But it didn’t stay that way for long — one day, a player yelled “Bingo!” instead of “Beano,” and the name was forever changed.
