Bingo Glossary

The base purchase required to enter a bingo session and receive the initial pack or access level for play.

Ask staff what admission includes before buying extras.

A numbered ball from 1 to 75. Each number belongs to a B, I, N, G, or O column.

A pattern that requires every square on the card to be marked.

Some jackpot games use a blackout or cover-all pattern.

The full purchase for a session, including admission, regular packs, and optional add-ons.

The 5 by 5 grid used for bingo play. The center square is usually a free space.

Another name for blackout, where every space on the card must be marked.

The ink marker used to mark numbers on paper bingo cards.

A session or game offered before the main session. Pricing and prizes may differ from the main program.

A single bingo card. A sheet may contain multiple faces.

The center square on most bingo cards. It is already marked and counts toward patterns.

A pattern variation that does not allow the free space to count.

A larger prize tied to a specific game, pattern, or number-of-draws condition.

The shape that must be completed on a card to win a game.

Common patterns include lines, corners, letters, and cover-all games.

A prize that can grow over time until it is won under the posted conditions.

A sealed paper ticket with hidden symbols or numbers. Pull tabs are separate from regular bingo cards.

A scheduled block of bingo games with its own program, pricing, and posted rules.

Optional add-on games or packs that may carry different prizes or rules from the regular program.

A prize split between two or more verified winners on the same draw.

A federal tax form required for qualifying bingo winnings of $1,200 or more from a single game.