There are a ton of bingo-themed games and bingo variants out there. While the original is still gaining popularity, these variations are bringing in more and more players due to the new fun and excitement they offer.
Some bingo themes and variants add a new twist to the original game, while others throw the rulebook out completely. Here are seven of the most popular bingo-themed games around.
Slingo
Slingo is one of the most popular bingo-themed and bingo-variant games. It combines the fun of bingo with the excitement of the classic slot machine. Not only is the game incredibly enjoyable, but also very easy to learn and play.
You get a standard bingo card as well as slot machine reels. With every spin of the machine, you will get a new set of numbers you use to fill in your card. You win by filling in a line as per usual, with different prizes depending on where you are playing.
Blackout Bingo
Blackout bingo is for the more committed players, as there is much more to fill in. While ball amounts can sometimes vary, the gameplay stays the same. You have your standard bingo card, and numbers are drawn like in a regular game.
However, unlike a regular game, the goal is to fill in your entire card, not just a line. Some variants will offer bigger ball pools or are done like a Speed game.
Keno
Keno is a casino variation of the game that takes inspiration from bingo. Before the numbers are drawn, players will bet on which numbers will be shown. You can bet on unlimited numbers between 1 and 80, but a maximum of 20 are usually drawn.
Prizes or payouts will vary depending on how many numbers you bet on and how many you got right; if you bet on 20 and the same 20 are drawn, then you’re in line for the jackpot.
Speed Bingo
Bingo is usually played in a fairly calm setting, and you have time to find the drawn number on your card and mark it off. On the other hand, Speed bingo does away with the calm and instead challenges you.
The person drawing the balls will try and do it as fast as possible, and not only do you have to mark off your number in a split second, but you will need to keep up if you are planning on winning. Speed bingo games are fast-paced and can be seen as the “adrenaline-filled” version of bingo.
Inverse Bingo
Inverse bingo is similar to regular bingo, but instead of winning when you fill in a line, you are punished. The game is set up and played like a regular game of bingo, but you are aiming to be the last person standing at the end of it.
As the numbers are called, you want to be the person with no lines filled in to win. In some variations, Inverse bingo is played like Blackout bingo, where the winner is the person who still has squares open at the end of the game.
Pattern Bingo
We all know that to win a game of bingo, you need to be the first person to fill in a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line. While there is nothing wrong with this version, many players will tell you how they filled in a square, a rectangle, or a strange pattern that got them close to winning.
Pattern bingo is a variation that allows these types of cards to win. A particular pattern is chosen for each round, and the first person to get that pattern on their card wins. Most patterns will be made up of the standard five numbers, but some could be bigger to add an extra layer of excitement. Pattern bingo is also a great variation to play at home, as you can make the patterns as silly as you want them to be.
Bonanza
Bonanza bingo is another variation of the classic game, but instead, numbers are drawn before any card marking is done. 43 even, odd, or random numbers are drawn, and then players compare them to their cards and mark off what they have.
Bonanza bingo offers another layer of fun by often offering progressive jackpots. If no one can get a bingo, a new selection of numbers is drawn, and the jackpot goes up. This continues until someone gets bingo and wins.