What Is Speed Bingo and How Is It Played?

Bingo, Casino

What Is Speed Bingo and How Is It Played?

Bingo, Casino

Colorful bingo balls spelling out the word bingo on a reflective black surface

What Is Speed Bingo and How Is It Played?

Bingo, Casino

Colorful bingo balls spelling out the word bingo on a reflective black surface

Bingo has experienced a new surge in popularity in recent years. While it may not be quite as popular as it once was, it’s always been a fun game enjoyed by many people around the world. However, the shift to online bingo has really drawn in the crowds. 

Just like online casino games, online bingo is very convenient and fun to play, regardless of whether you’re at home or on the go. Apart from that, the online casino environment makes it possible to deliver new tech-savvy bingo styles designed to meet the needs of a younger generation who grew up with the internet.

Today’s fans are looking for quick bingo games that fit in with their busy schedules and on-the-go lifestyles. Game developers have rolled out a new concept to meet this need: speed bingo. This latest generation variation is much faster to play, and it’s mobile-friendly and just as much fun. 

The Original Bingo Games: 90-Ball and 75-Ball Bingo

Image showing a collection of colorful pattern bingo cards placed on top of one another.

To better understand how speed bingo works, you need to compare it to the more traditional 90-ball and 75-ball versions of bingo.

90-Ball Bingo

90-ball bingo is the original game from U.K. bingo halls. Every row on the 9×3 card grid contains five numbers and four blank spaces. Columns are divided into lines of 10 numbers each. The final column contains numbers 81–90. There are only three possible ways for players to win: they must fill one line, two lines, or all three lines (which is also known as a full house.) The size of the board and limited number of winning patterns mean 90-ball bingo is quite slow-paced, which is perfect if you’re just starting to play bingo online.

75-Ball Bingo

75-ball bingo is an all-American variant that picks up the pace with 5×5 grids numbered 1 to 75. The center space is marked as “free,” so each card has 24 numbers in total. It’s also known as pattern bingo because 75-ball bingo players can make a lot more potentially winning patterns. Single horizontal, vertical, or diagonal lines, diamonds, numerical, and alphabetical patterns are all possible. More patterns mean quicker wins, making 75-ball bingo a significantly faster game than 90-ball bingo. 

Bingo Kicks It Into High Gear

90-ball bingo is too slow for many online bingo players, and while 90-ball bingo is faster than its U.K. cousin, players still wanted an even more rapid-fire version of the game. This created a market opening for fast-paced variants. Two of these quick bingo variants are 30-ball and turbo bingo.

30-Ball Bingo

If you want to play bingo online at a faster pace, it’s best to look for bingo variants that have fewer balls in play. One variant that’s making waves right now is 30-ball bingo, also known as speed bingo.

It’s much shorter and faster than pattern bingo because the 3×3 grid only has nine squares with numbers ranging from 1–30. This makes it a speedy, super easy game with frequent winning possibilities. To win, all you need to do is mark off all the numbers on your card, although online bingo providers are looking into ways to introduce simple patterns for more interesting and exciting chances to win.

You won’t find the 30-ball version in land-based halls because it was specifically designed for online. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a chance to play bingo online when you’re out and about, or when you don’t have time for long sessions. You can also get through a lot more games in much less time, so you have more frequent opportunities to win. What’s more, there’s only one winner in this version, similar to the 75-ball bingo. This keeps the pace going because you don’t have to wait for other players’ one-line and two-line wins like you would in the 90-ball version of the game.

Another reason to play with only 30 balls is that it’s much easier to keep track of multiple cards at a time. The cards are marked off automatically by the game software, so you don’t have to tax your brain at all. Just relax and enjoy. This casual style of play also makes 30-ball bingo the perfect variant if you want to chat with friends in online bingo chat rooms. The 30-ball version is also extremely mobile-friendly because it works well even on smaller mobile devices.

Turbo Bingo

Colorful bingo balls spelling out the word bingo surrounded by tickets, other bingo balls, and a night sky.

30-ball bingo has already become so popular that it’s the first thing many players think of when they hear the words “speed bingo,” but it’s not the only fast-paced game out there. Many bingo halls have their own versions custom-made for speed. Often, it’s nothing more than 90-ball bingo with the numbers called out faster. The game time is reduced to three minutes, but the potential winning patterns are the same: one line, two lines, or a full house.

Turbo Bingo takes a similar approach. Also known as Turbo Challenge Bingo, you can find people playing this fast-paced, shutter-style game on eBingo terminals during intermissions at bingo sessions. The numbers are called out rapid-fire, and players have to slide the terminal screen windows over the corresponding numbers. The fast pace keeps experienced players entertained and is attractive to new players looking for fast fun.

Play the Best Online Bingo Games at Borgata Bingo

At Borgata Bingo, you can see what incredible gameplay is on offer when you play online bingo. New Jersey residents can try their luck on a range of exciting games, including the classic 75-ball and 90-ball bingo games, as well as jackpot slots, Slingo, and many more exciting titles. 

Download the app via iOS or Android and register online to join the party at Borgata Online.