Bingo is a timeless classic that has been around for literal centuries. One way that this game of chance has stayed popular is thanks to its varieties, which all offer a slightly different gameplay experience.

Whether you’re playing Bingo online or in a land-based Bingo hall, here are some of the main variants of the game that you’re most likely to encounter.

90-ball Bingo

For players in the UK and Europe, the format they’re most likely to recognise is 90-ball Bingo. With the highest ball count of the major Bingo types, this game is known for having a slightly slower pace compared to others.

The 90-ball Bingo card – also known as a ticket – is formatted with three lines of nine, which each row containing a combination of five numbers and four empty spaces.

During the game, players aim to complete one row, then two and then the full house of three. This divides 90-ball Bingo games into three distinct phases, ending with the first player to fill out a complete line.

One of the other features of 90-ball Bingo – at least in the UK – is the Bingo lingo that callers often use. These are specific, generally rhyming, nicknames given to each of the 90 numbers that are called in addition to the number value itself.

75-ball Bingo

The other main variety of Bingo is 75-ball, which is most often seen in the US. This was actually the first format to go by the name of Bingo, leading to the name’s adoption in other international formats.

In 75-ball Bingo players use a card with a 5×5 grid that contains 24 different numbers. The centre square of the grid is usually left empty as a ‘free’ space which helps players to form lines over the course of the game.

Each of the five columns will only contain numbers within a certain range, allowing for a greater spread of numbers across the 75 balls in play.

Unlike 90-ball, games of 75-ball Bingo have a variety of different potential patterns for players to mark off. Line can be marked vertically, horizontally or diagonally but there are also games that aim for patterns like crosses, specific letter shapes or even the four corners of the grid.

This creates an even greater degree of variety in 75-ball games, as well as a faster pace of gameplay compared to 90-ball.

30-ball Bingo

A newer addition to the stable of Bingo games, 30-ball is also known as speed Bingo. The much lower total ball count allows for games to move at an even quicker pace, sometimes over in a matter of minutes.

With so few total numbers, players use a 3×3 grid of just nine numbers. 30-ball Bingo also requires a full-house, rather than any of the other patterns used in different Bingo games.

Speed Bingo is only generally found on online platforms, given the short duration of its games.

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As you can see, changing the number of balls in play can dramatically change Bingo games. Which of these main varieties of the game you prefer is down to personal preference.