Everything About Online Bingo Cards And Calls

Bingo stands as one of the most celebrated games globally, and to play it, cards are essential. In online bingo, players can utilize virtual bingo cards, and there's also the handy option to generate your own using a free bingo card generator. Using these digital cards is straightforward, as players receive clear instructions during the generation process.
Another noteworthy aspect is the bingo numbers, often called 'bingo calls'. You might have encountered terms like 'bingo lucky numbers', 'bingo winning numbers', 'bingo game numbers', and 'bingo calls numbers'. These all refer to the extensive list of bingo calls we'll delve into in this article.
Understanding Bingo Cards
Bingo cards are essentially the playing medium for playing online bingo in Zambia and beyond. There are generally two main types of cards. One is a 5x5 grid, popular for 75-ball bingo, especially in the United States. The other features a 9x3 grid, commonly used for 90-ball bingo, also known as 'Housie' in the United Kingdom.
75-Ball Bingo Cards
These typically have five columns, each with five squares. The central square is usually a 'free space', and the others are numbered. The columns are organised based on the letters B, I, N, G, O:
- 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
90-Ball Bingo Cards
In the UK and often in Zambia, these cards are commonly called 'tickets'. They have three rows and nine columns. Each row contains five numbers and four empty spaces, randomly arranged. The columns are generally grouped by number ranges: 1–9, 10–19, 20–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, 70–79, and 80–90.
Understanding Bingo Calls
Bingo calls, also known as bingo numbers or phrases, add a fun element to the game. Many players find the extensive list of 90 bingo calls quite entertaining. Here's a look at some of the most common ones:
- Kelly's eye: A classic bingo call, potentially a nod to the Australian folk hero Ned Kelly or originating from military slang.
- One little duck: The number 2, with its shape resembling a solitary duck. Visualizing this helps players remember.
- Cup of tea: A simple and commonly used phrase for the number 3.
- Knock at the door: Inspired by the nursery rhyme, "One, two, buckle my shoe; three, four, knock at the door."
- Man alive: This refers to the number 5 and is a popular call in the UK.
- Half a dozen: A straightforward term for the number 6.
- Lucky seven: A universally recognized lucky number in gambling.
- Garden gate: An evocative call that rhymes with the number 8.
- Doctor's orders: This call refers to the number 9, possibly linked to historical remedies.
- Prime Minister's den: Refers to Number 10, representing Downing Street, the UK Prime Minister's residence.
- Legs eleven: A visually inspired call, as the number 11 can resemble a pair of legs. It's a lively call in bingo halls.
- One Dozen: Simply means twelve.
- Unlucky for some: This number is 13, often considered unlucky in Western cultures.
- Valentine's Day: A sweet rhyme for the number 14.
- Young and keen: The number 15, often rhyming with 'young and keen'. Locally, alternatives might emerge in casual play.
- Sweet 16: A significant birthday, representing number 16.
- Dancing Queen: A popular call referencing the famous ABBA song for the number 17.
- Coming of age: Signifying number 18, the age of legal adulthood in many places.
- Goodbye teens: Number 19, marking the end of teenage years.
- One score: An older term for 20, referencing similar phrases like Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.
- Royal salute/Key of the door: Refers to 21, often linked to traditions like a 21-gun salute.
- Two little ducks: Building on the 'one little duck', this is for the number 22.
- Thee and me: A rhyming call for 33.
- Two dozen.
- 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.
- Pick and mix.
- Gateway to heaven.
- In a state/Overweight.
- Rise and shine.
- 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.
- Get up and run.
- 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.
- Dirty knee/All the threes/Fish, chips & peas.
- Ask for more: Oliver Twist reference.
- Jump and jive.
- Three dozen.
- More than eleven.
- Christmas cake.
- 39 steps: The Hitchcock picture The 39 Steps, from 1935, is being seen today.
- Life begins: Another bingo call honoring a significant birthday when things start to get wicked.
- Time for fun: Life has started.
- 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.
- Down on your knees.
- Droopy drawers.
- Halfway there.
- Up to tricks.
- Four and seven.
- Four dozen.
- 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.
- Half a century.
- Tweak of the thumb: I love my Mum
- Danny La Rue: a bingo call that pays homage to the Irish musician known for his passion for cross-dressing, Danny La Rue.
- Here comes Herbie/Stuck in a tree.
- Clean the floor.
- Snakes alive: Linked to the Number Shape: Fifty-Five (and mentioned in 25, duck and dive).
- Shotts Bus: Was She Worth It?
- 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.
- Make them wait.
- Brighton Line.
- Five dozen.
- Baker’s bun.
- Turn the screw/Tickety-boo: Often known as tickety-boo in bingo, it is army slang for everything being alright.
- Tickle me 63.
- Redraw.
- Old age pension: This bingo call shows the customary retirement age in the United Kingdom.
- Clickety click.
- Stairway to heaven.
- Saving Grace.
- 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.
- Three scores and ten.
- Bang on the drum.
- Six dozen.
- Queen bee.
- Hit the floor.
- Strive and strive.
- Trombones.
- 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.
- 39 more steps.
- One more time.
- 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.
- Stop and run.
- 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.
- Time for tea.
- Seven dozen.
- Staying alive: The Bee Gees' 1977 global smash that was featured in the motion picture Saturday Night Fever.
- Between the sticks: Goalkeeper lingo used in football.
- Torquay in Devon.
- Two fat ladies: Two Fat Women Returning to the graphics, the number 88 resembles the curves of two curvaceous women.
- Nearly there.
- 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.
FAQ
Do bingo cards have to be different?
While the winning patterns in bingo might be similar across different games, each individual bingo card is designed with a unique combination of numbers. This ensures fair play and distinct outcomes for every card.
How many bingo cards are there?
To play bingo, you typically need at least one entry packet of cards. For most regular games, and sometimes for special games, an entry package usually contains between six and twelve cards. The specific number of cards and their prices are generally set by the bingo hall or the online platform where you are playing.
Are bingo cards random?
Yes, the numbers used to create bingo cards are indeed chosen at random. This randomness is fundamental to the game's fairness. There are an astonishing 5.5x10^26 potential number combinations, meaning there are just as many possible unique playing cards.
Is there a bingo card generator?
Absolutely, there are numerous bingo card generators available, especially online. For example, Canva offers a free bingo card generator that allows you to create as many custom bingo cards as you wish.
Where do bingo numbers come from?
The game's origins trace back to Italy in the 16th century, but it reached France in the latter half of the 1770s. There, a young Frenchman developed a distinct variation. He randomly arranged numbers from one to 90 on cards, printing them in three rows horizontally and nine vertically, influencing modern bingo layouts.
How many numbers are in bingo?
In a conventional 75-ball bingo game, numbers from 1 through 75 are used. The card's five columns are typically labeled B, I, N, G, and O from left to right. The free space in the middle, often indicated with a star or specific mark, is usually considered automatically filled.
How do I get a bingo number?
If you're looking to generate a random bingo number, for instance, for a practice game or a casual gathering, you can use an online bingo number generator. Simply click on an option like "Select a Bingo Ball" within the generator, and it will display a randomly chosen number.
What bingo numbers are called the most?
While bingo is a game of pure chance, some observations suggest certain numbers might appear more frequently. Historically, numbers like six and four have been noted as commonly called. Additionally, numbers such as 42, 62, 72, 51, 64, 81, 47, and 57 have also been observed to be called more often than average.
What is the luckiest number in bingo?
Despite bingo being fundamentally a game of chance, many players enjoy the idea of a "luckiest" number. Based on some anecdotal evidence and frequency analyses, the number 6 is often cited as the most common winning number and, by extension, considered the luckiest by some enthusiasts.







