Bingo

The game is played with 75 numbered balls drawn randomly one-by-one by the Caller, to complete the required pattern. As the caller announces the letter-number combination on the ball, players will mark their cards, hoping to be the first to complete the required pattern and yell “Bingo!” to have their bingo verified and be awarded the game prize.

1. Player’s purchase bingo cards and get ready for the game to start.
2. The caller will announce the game being played, any special rules, the required pattern needed to win and the prize payout. 

Common bingo game patterns include but are not limited to:
Straight line (vertical, horizontal, or diagonal);
X-patten (diagonal lines from both corners to their opposite corner);
Black-out (every number on the card); 
Other unique patterns may be used in play as per house policies or decisions.

3. As the caller announces the letter/ number combination, the player will mark the square on paper cards, using a bingo dauber, looking for the required pattern. If the player is playing an e-Dauber, the player will touch the e-Dauber screen and the number called will be recorded as marked on all applicable cards for the game being played.
4. Once a player completes the required pattern, the player yells “BINGO!” to stop game play and have their bingo card verified by the caller. Once it’s determined to be a “good bingo” the caller will close the game and the prize will be awarded. Multiple bingos may be declared on any bingo game. All verified and valid bingos will be awarded a portion of the prize as per the Rules of Play.

Every Bingo game is based on the random drawing of a number ball. Each bingo number has the same chance as any other of being drawn, and every bingo card has the same chance of winning. For each game played, a game prize will be awarded.

E-Dauber

In addition to paper cards, some commercial bingo halls may also offer Electronic Dauber(E-Dauber) devices for play. E-daubers may be fixed base or handheld and can play multiple cards at once. When the caller announces the letter/ number combination, and places the ball in the ball tray, the number called is sent to the E-Dauber and the player will touch the screen and all card images in play will be updated. When a winning card is identified be the e-dauber, the player will still need to call “BINGO” to declare their win.

Radio Bingo

Radio Bingo is another type of licensed community bingo that is broadcast over the radio and plays similar to bingo programs that are offered in venue. Radio bingo cards are purchased from authorized retailers, and the bingo event is then broadcast through a radio station. The Bingo Caller will announce the game's instructions, patterns and prize payouts prior to calling the numbers for the bingo game being played. Once the at-home player(s) completes the required pattern, the player(s) will call into the radio phone line to have their declared bingo verified. Once verified, player(s) will have a set amount of time to collect their bingo prize as outlined in the Rules of Play.

V-Bingo (Video Bingo)

Video Bingo is a program that may be offered through commercial bingo halls within Alberta. V-Bingo allows bingo players to purchase their paper cards from the participating bingo hall and play bingo from home at the time of the scheduled event. V-Bingo is offered through a platform on YouTube for players at home. Like radio bingo, when a player achieves the required pattern, they must call the bingo hall to declare their bingo and have their declared bingo verified. Once verified, the player must return the winning card(s) to the bingo hall they were purchased from to collect their winning prize. In hall play may be offered at v-bingo events, so both in hall players and at home players are participating in the same bingo event for the same prizes. The hall may offer in-hall players additional games and/or the choice to play e-daubers.

Bingo: The term players shout when they have achieved the winning pattern to stop play.

Blackout: A bingo game where players must cover all the numbers on their card to        win. Also known as coverall and/or full card.

Caller: The person who announces the numbers during a bingo game.

Card: The grid of numbers that players use to mark off called numbers.

Dauber: A marker used to mark off numbers on a bingo card.

Electronic Dauber (E-dauber): any electronic unit that, upon a player’s activation, assists a player to play bingo during an event by electronically: marking or daubing bingo card faces; monitoring the card faces purchased by the player against the bingo patterns in play; and notifying the player of a potential win(s)

Free Space: The center square on a bingo card that is considered automatically filled.

Pattern: The specific arrangement of marked numbers that players need to achieve to win.
Rules Of Play: All bingo halls and/or community bingos must establish Rules of Play. There are AGLC standard rules that must be followed as well as any rules the bingo hall or community bingo want to establish for their bingo events. Rules of Play will outline the games played, how each game is played, cost to play, cards available and prize payouts. These must be posted in the facility where bingo is offered.