Everything About Online Bingo Cards And Calls

Bingo is a globally beloved game, and at its heart are the bingo cards. In the digital age, online bingo offers virtual cards, or for a personal touch, players can craft their own using a free bingo card generator. Navigating these virtual cards is straightforward, with helpful prompts guiding you each step of the way.

Another key element are the bingo numbers, often referred to as 'bingo calls.' You might have encountered terms like lucky bingo numbers, winning bingo numbers, or simply bingo call numbers. These terms all point to the extensive list of bingo calls that we’ll explore in this article.

Bingo Cards: Your Ticket to the Game

Bingo cards are essentially the core tool for playing online bingo. Generally, there are two main types. One is a handy 5x5 grid, commonly used for 75-ball bingo, which is quite popular in North America. The other features a 9x3 grid layout for 90-ball bingo, a game that has a strong following in the United Kingdom and is also enjoyed by many in Rwanda.

The 75-Ball Bingo Card Structure

These cards display five columns, each containing five squares. The central square is typically a 'free space,' leaving the rest to be filled with numbers. These numbers are organized within columns as follows:

• B: Numbers 1 through 15
• I: Numbers 16 through 30
• N: Numbers 31 through 45
• G: Numbers 46 through 60
• O: Numbers 61 through 75

Understanding the 90-Ball Bingo Card (Housie)

In the UK and also popular in Rwanda, bingo cards are often called 'tickets' in the context of 90-ball bingo, sometimes known as 'Housie.' These tickets feature three rows across nine columns. Each row contains five numbers and four blank spaces, arranged randomly. The numbers are distributed sequentially across the columns: 1–9 in the first, 10–19 in the second, and so on, up to 80–90 in the final column.

Mastering Bingo Calls: The Lingo of the Game

Bingo calls, also known as bingo numbers or lingo, add a unique flavour to the game. Many players find intrigue in the vast array of bingo calls, of which there are 90 in total. Let's dive into the meaning behind each number you might hear called out in a game in Rwanda:

1. 1: Kelly's eye: This classic call hints at the legendary Australian outlaw Ned Kelly or perhaps has roots in military slang. It's a familiar sound in bingo halls.
2. 2: One little duck: The number 2, with its rounded shape, is often likened to a solitary duck. Visualizing this can help players remember the call.
3. 3: Cup of tea: A simple and universally recognized rhyme for the number 3.
4. 4: Knock at the door: This call often ties back to the nursery rhyme "one, two, buckle my shoe," and its continuation. It might also ring a bell for fans of horror films.
5. 5: Man alive: This call gained popularity in the UK, possibly referencing the memorable BBC documentary series of the same name.
6. 6: Tom Mix / Half a dozen: Named after the famous silent film cowboy known for his daring stunts, or simply meaning 'half a dozen'.
7. 7: Lucky seven: A universally recognized symbol of good fortune, frequently heard in bingo and casinos worldwide.
8. 8: Garden gate: A classic rhyme, embodying the playful spirit of bingo calls, particularly those with a Cockney rhyming slang influence.
9. 9: Doctor's orders: This call has historical roots, referencing a number of pills often prescribed as a remedy, and has become a fixture in bingo.
10. 10: Mr. Ten / At the door: Often rhyming with 'door,' this number evokes the famous London address, 10 Downing Street, and its occupants.
11. 11: Legs eleven: Visually, the number 11 can resemble a pair of legs, making this a memorable and often whistled call in bingo halls.
12. 12: One dozen: A straightforward call, simply referring to a dozen items.
13. 13: Unlucky for some: While considered unlucky in many Western cultures, it's interesting to note that in some places, the number 13 is actually seen as a symbol of luck.
14. 14: Valentine's Day: A universally recognized day associated with love and affection.
15. 15: Young and keen: An alternative, sometimes heard as 'Rugby Team,' reflecting a youthful and energetic spirit.
16. 16: Sweet 16: Represents a significant birthday milestone, often associated with coming of age.
17. 17: Dancing Queen: A call paying homage to the iconic Abba song, inviting a bit of fun and rhythm into the game.
18. 18: Coming of age: Signifying the transition into adulthood, often linked to legal voting age or other adult privileges.
19. 19: Goodbye teens: Marking the end of adolescence and the approach of the twenties, a common phrase in bingo.
20. 20: One score: An older term for twenty, this call is famously linked to Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, "four score and seven years ago."
21. 21: Royal Salute / Key of the door: Often associated with a 21-gun salute for military honours, or signifies reaching an important age, like getting the 'key to the door.'
22. 22: Two little ducks: Following 'one little duck,' this call signifies a pair, adding to the visual and auditory rhythm of the game.
23. 23: Thee and me: A simple rhyming call emphasizing partnership or proximity.
24. Two dozen.
25. Duck and dive: This is simple to acquire if the number 2 is represented by a duck and the number 5 follows as a snake. A snake would make a duck dive for cover.
26. Pick and mix.
27. Gateway to heaven.
28. In a state/Overweight.
29. Rise and shine.
30. Dirty Gertie: Also Known as Dirty Gertie from Bizerte, this World War II song has endured ages to be played in bingo parlors all around the world.
31. Get up and run.
32. Buckle my shoe: This bingo call is an extension of the children's rhyme from number four. Jimmy Choo is a well-known shoe designer.
33. Dirty knee/All the threes/Fish, chips & peas.
34. Ask for more: Oliver Twist reference.
35. Jump and jive.
36. Three dozen.
37. More than eleven.
38. Christmas cake.
39. 39 steps: The Hitchcock picture The 39 Steps, from 1935, is being seen today.
40. Life begins: Another bingo call honoring a significant birthday when things start to get wicked.
41. Time for fun: Life has started.
42. Winnie the Pooh: This bingo call honors A. A. Milne, the creator of the honey bear fable and enduring favorite of British childhood, Winnie the Pooh.
43. Down on your knees.
44. Droopy drawers.
45. Halfway there.
46. Up to tricks.
47. Four and seven.
48. Four dozen.
49. PC: This bingo call is in reference to the 1946-53 show centered on the exploits of an unorthodox copper who invented the term "rise and shine." The Adventures of P.C. 49 are still being used as bingo calls years after they originally aired.
50. Half a century.
51. Tweak of the thumb: I love my Mum
52. Danny La Rue: a bingo call that pays homage to the Irish musician known for his passion for cross-dressing, Danny La Rue.
53. Here comes Herbie/Stuck in a tree.
54. Clean the floor.
55. Snakes alive: Linked to the Number Shape: Fifty-Five (and mentioned in 25, duck and dive).
56. Shotts Bus: Was She Worth It?
57. Heinz's varieties: Despite having many more recipes, Mr. Heinz chose to stop developing variants of his favorite number, 57, so that Heinz baked beans would only be sold in 57 different cans.
58. Make them wait.
59. Brighton Line.
60. Five dozen.
61. Baker’s bun.
62. Turn the screw/Tickety-boo: Often known as tickety-boo in bingo, it is army slang for everything being alright.
63. Tickle me 63.
64. Redraw.
65. Old age pension: This bingo call shows the customary retirement age in the United Kingdom.
66. Clickety click.
67. Stairway to heaven.
68. Saving Grace.
69. Favorite of mine/either way up: If players look at the numbers from the bottom up, they signify the opposite. This is also referred to as "Meal for Two," and order number 69 on a takeout or restaurant menu designates it as such.
70. Three scores and ten.
71. Bang on the drum.
72. Six dozen.
73. Queen bee.
74. Hit the floor.
75. Strive and strive.
76. Trombones.
77. Sunset Strip: This bingo call is based on an American detective series produced by Warner Brothers between 1958 and 1964, which was shown in prime-time on Saturday nights in the UK.
78. 39 more steps.
79. One more time.
80. Eight and blank: This one is straightforward to find, but you can also see it referred to as "Gandhi's Breakfast", since the number 8 is meant to symbolize a cross-legged, sitting Gandhi.
81. Stop and run.
82. Straight on through: Related to journeying, but also known as a "fat lady with a duck," which refers to the pictures the numerals may and have portrayed before.
83. Time for tea.
84. Seven dozen.
85. Staying alive: The Bee Gees' 1977 global smash that was featured in the motion picture Saturday Night Fever.
86. Between the sticks: Goalkeeper lingo used in football.
87. Torquay in Devon.
88. Two fat ladies: Two Fat Women Returning to the graphics, the number 88 resembles the curves of two curvaceous women.
89. Nearly there.
90. Top of the shop.

These are all the bingo numbers, so players can read them once and get to know about the origin. However, some calls are just simple, so there’s no explanation for them.

Learning Bingo Calls

Bingo calls can be easily learned as players can just learn them online by taking quizzes. Just google “bingo call quiz”, and that’s how players will be able to test their knowledge. If they can’t remember every single one, then by taking quizzes, players will be able to learn them much more effectively.

Bingo Calls Chart

It's simple to use the chart to discover the names of the bingo number calls and their origins; all you have to do is click on the numbered ball you want to learn about, and an Answer Box will appear with the information. Afterward, you can either click anywhere outside the Answer Box to get back to the main chart, or use the next and previous arrows inside the answer box to go through each number call explanation one at a time.

Conclusion

Bingo is one of the most played games worldwide, and bingo cards are used to play this game at top online casinos. Players can also generate online bingo cards with a free bingo card generator, as it is not hard at all. In the article, players will find a huge list of bingo calls that are difficult to memorize, but they can take quizzes to learn them.