In addition, if you choose to play 75 ball instead of the traditional UK bingo game, 90 ball bingo, you will notice a marked difference from the bingo cards that you are used to.

For 90 ball bingo online the bingo cards are laid out exactly the same as if you were at your local bingo hall; a 3 x 9 grid with each of the three rows containing 5 numbers and 4 blank spaces. To win the game, as in a bingo hall, you have to mark off all numbers on one line, then two lines and then for a full house, all fifteen numbers.

Bingo cards are totally different for 75 ball bingo; each bingo ticket is on a 5 x 5 grid with 25 numbers on in total. When playing traditional 75 ball bingo, or pattern bingo as it is sometime called, you have to cover the numbers as per the pattern shown. Some UK bingo sites will also offer multi-part bingo which means that you have to match one pattern to win one part of the prize pool and then another to win the jackpot.

However, there is a different variant of the 75 ball bingo game now available to play online, multi-line bingo. This is a hybrid of the two games, 75 and 90 ball bingo. Your bingo cards are the same as traditional 75 ball bingo but you have to match lines as in 90 ball bingo.

These are the two main types of bingo cards that you will come across playing at any UK bingo site BUT you may also stumble across 80 ball bingo and even 30 ball bingo!

Bingo is simple and offers plenty of prizes and fun. Many of these prizes are paid in a lump sum amount or in the form of jackpots. The prizes alone attract thousands of bingo players, which in turns make bingo pretty popular!

The popularity of bingo is the sole reason that bingo is considered the best option for a fund raising event. There are a lot of ways to raise fund by offering bingo.

Listed below are a few of the common ways that are used in land-based as well as online bingo halls:

Admission Tickets >> Admission tickets are a good way to collect money. Keep it nominal though; players may not be ready to pay a noticeably heavy entrance fee.

Commission on the Prizes >> You can charge a small commission on the prizes won. For example, if someone wins a prize worth $1000, you can charge a 5% commission and pay the winner only $950. A 5% commission is pretty nominal and players won’t complain much about it since it’s all about raising funds for a cause.

Refreshments >> In a land-based bingo hall, you can offer snacks and refreshments too. You can offer a buffet too if the you’re expecting a large gathering of players. Fast food items such as burgers, pizza slices and soft drinks can contribute to a good enough menu that will attract many players.

Merchandise >> If you are inviting a celebrity or famous people in your bingo fund raising event, you can collect funds out of endorsements too! People love to buy the stuff signed by their favorite celebrity!

So, get started; all you need is a bingo hall, lots of bingo supplies, a bingo caller and you are in the business!

It has to be said that 80 ball bingo is not as common as the 75 or 90 ball games, but more and more bingo clubs – both online and offline – are offering it either as a main or side game. Some of the first online sites to embrace the game are Bingo Mega and Bingo Gala, though many others are jumping aboard what is viewed as being the next bingo craze to sweep the nation.

For those who have never come across the game before, 80 ball bingo is played using a four by four card. Different clubs have different ways to win, with the most common being:

Four Corners – This requires you to mark all four corners on your ticket.

One Line – As in 90 ball bingo, a prize can be awarded for completing one line, but in 80 ball bingo the line could be vertical or diagonal as well as horizontal, as the club dictates.

Pattern – Just as players can win prizes by making patterns in 75 ball bingo, the pattern variation of the game allows 80 ball players to do the same, albeit with different patterns to suit the different layout of the ticket.

Full House / Coverall – Almost all bingo clubs pay the top prize to the first 80 ball player who marks all of the numbers on their card. This is essentially the 80 ball equivalent of a Full House in a 90 ball game or the Coverall in a 75 ball game.

Whether 80 ball bingo is just a passing fad or a form of the game that will become increasingly popular as time goes on is impossible to say at this stage. What we can say is that the game is extremely enjoyable and we therefore recommend that you try it for yourself whenever the opportunity arises.

Traditionally, bingo halls were a place of silence for two reasons. Firstly, you’d have to keep quiet to hear the bingo caller and find out what numbers they were calling. Secondly, most bingo players were so intent on winning that they side-tracked the chat, making bingo halls more of a place of solace than fun. However, with the emergence of several online bingo halls, you’ll find that these common occurences are reversed; now you can both chat and win!

Online bingos have one key feature that traditional bingo halls were sorely lacking, a “chat moderator”. A chat moderator is exactly what it sounds like; someone who moderates the bingo chat room. However, don’t let this worry you, as their chat topics of choice are usually far wilder than anything even the naughtiest players could think up!

I’m sure by now you’re probably wondering, “What does this bingo bunch really talk about then?” Well, the short answer is; anything and everything! Whether you’re having a bad day, a good day or just an “okay” day, those friendly folk in your local bingo chat room will be more than happy to talk about it and if that wasn’t enough, you also have the chance to win money whilst you talk…what could be more fun?!

On entering a bingo chat, you’ll find a thriving community of like-minded folk who love bingo and more importantly, love talking. Most chat rooms have the community “joker”, which is someone who constantly has a funny tale or joke to tell. You’ll find that you may be returning to one particular “room” simply to hear someone’s amusing anecdote and CM’s are just the same. Recently, one CM has said that their favourite room leaves her in “tears of laughter” because of all the crazy “roomies”! If you’re worried about first impressions, you’ll find a variety of online joke sites that can really help break the ice and show your fellow bingo players you’re up for a laugh.

Bingo chat-rooms are constantly described as “one big family” and nothing could be truer. We guarantee that you’ll find at least one person who you really “click” with and as they introduce you to their bingo friends and those friends introduce you to theirs etc., you’ll really feel like a part of something special. Even if you’re having a bad time at work or home, you’ll know that you’ve found a group of people who can no doubt relate and even offer words of comfort.

Online bingo players often meet up in real life and make friendships that can last a life time. You’ll find that most chat regulars have all been on nights out, or even holidays together and with such a large group of bingo mad and great people, you know you’re in for a fun time!

Still, you might be thinking this bingo-lark sounds too good to be true, well think again, as some people have even met their Mr or Mrs right through bingo chat! UK bingo players Kerry Dunston and Ben Austin met through an online bingo chat, after being introduced by mutual bingo friends and Kerry even proposed to Ben through the same method! Certainly a memorable moment for everyone in the chat, not least for the couple, and surely yet another reason why you shouldn’t miss out any longer!

Well that’s a personal decision but we can bring you the advantages and disadvantages of both plus some tips for choosing the best internet bingo site for you.

There are some great download bingo sites out there, such as the Leapfrog network which boasts sites such as Bingo Gala and others, the site is quick to download to your PC and once you have done it it’s simple to log on and play. The graphics are amazing, especially when you enter the slots room and they are well worth the few minutes for the download as are most download bingo sites. Of course if you share a PC or play bingo on several different computers then downloading bingo software just isn’t an option and that’s where Flash Bingo is fantastic.

As Flash technology is improving, more and more sites are using Flash software, leaving the download sites behind, it’s quick and instant although you do have to have the latest flash player installed to use them and that itself comes with its own problems. Although Flash sites are probably the easiest and most convenient to play on there have been reports of players losing games, losing chat and other things. For some great Flash Bingo try sites like Mecca Bingo and the Cashcade sites such as Foxy Bingo.

And of course the final group is the internet bingo sites that offer both types of software. Play at sites like Blackpool Club Bingo where you can play the Flash version or download the full version to get the best of the graphics on offer. These sites really do cater for everyone but the Flash version is nowhere near as good as it is on Flash sites.

Wherever you decide to play your internet bingo, be lucky and have fun!

First Steps
So, what does it actually take to become a CM? Sure, hard work, a passion for bingo and friendliness are all key qualities, but most bingo players can already tick these boxes off; they may work hard at home or work, they clearly love bingo or else they wouldn’t be playing it and, if they are popular roomies, of course they are already friendly.

First off, chat moderators will tell you their job is not as easy as it looks. If CM roles were all about just chatting with players and handing out bingo bucks, then they would be the luckiest people alive. However, there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes, as CMs are responsible for calling out the numbers, making sure the games run smoothly, dealing with problem players and ensuring the bingo site they work for turns over a keen profit.

Life as a CM
Chat Moderators are the face of the bingo website – they are the ones who first greet you when you enter the room, they are the ones that start and uphold conversations. As a Chat Moderator, you can’t have a day when you’re feeling blue, as you are the one that consoles everyone else. Nor can you roll into work (or out of your bed) half asleep or hung-over; roomies need a vibrant, cheery host who can make them laugh, not someone who clearly doesn’t care. If this wasn’t enough, chat moderators have to be all of these things, every single shift. With popular bingo sites, you’ll see a daily influx of new players who need to be impressed by your attitude if you want them to return, which you of course do.

As most roomies will know, it’s the regulars that can make or break a CM. If you are taking over a room from a popular CM, then be prepared to feel a bit of an icy reception at first. Chat moderators often build strong relationships with their regulars and if you’re starting out for the first time in place of a popular CM, then roomies may treat you as a bit of a usurper. Still, all it takes to get them to warm up to you is friendliness and consistency.

Now we move on to the game of bingo – after all, that’s why everyone is there! While roomies will allow a few mistakes here and there, as well as the odd typo, as a chat moderator you are being relied on to deliver clear information to the roomies about the game, the numbers called and side-games available. While this might sound easy enough, remember the speed at which bingo games go. Unlike the traditional bingo halls, you are often dealing with a blur of text that reads “2TG”, “5TG”, “GLXXX” and so on, meaning that navigating your way through this minefield and ensuring every player can read the information provided clearly is essential to the CM role.

Getting techy
Then there’s the technical side of things: as all the games take place online, you need to be aware of different browsers (such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari etc) and how they can affect game play. While CM’s aren’t required to have PC skills that would impress Bill Gates, the ability to use Office programmes and online payment systems is integral. Newbies will often approach a CM to ask questions such as why hasn’t their bonus been paid in, why they can’t use certain debit cards and how to change their account details? CM’s need to be available at all times during their shifts, as there can be no quick cigarette breaks outside if someone is waiting for a reply online.

Problem Players
Occasionally, CM’s will come across a few bad apples that try to spoil a bingo game for everyone else. When this happens, you will soon know if someone is destined to be a chat moderator or not. The key to dealing with these sour grapes is the ability to hold your ground but never become aggressive. If you’re rude to a rude player, they can complain about you and you could be warned, but if you’re polite and firm then they have nothing to bicker about later. The best CM’s will remain level-headed during these conflicts and worry more about how their roomies are feeling as opposed to themselves.

Let’s not forget the easier parts of being a CM though. There’s the fact that alongside all the work you can chat to a variety of interesting people, quite a few of whom you may make a real connection with. You also get to work with some of the most dynamic and exciting companies around and, of course, you are paid to moderate a bingo game. If you think you can win over hundreds of roomies at a time, constantly show a stiff upper lip, understand and utilise the latest technology and be a walking encyclopaedia on all things bingo, then a role as a Chat Moderator is definitely for you!