90-ball bingo: the British classic
90-ball is the game most people in the UK picture when they think of bingo, and searched for as 90 ball bingo just as often. Numbers run from 1 to 90, and each ticket has three rows and nine columns, with five numbers in every row, fifteen in all. The columns are ordered: the first holds 1 to 9, the second 10 to 19, and so on up to 90.
A game has three prizes, won in order:
- One line, for the first player to mark all five numbers in any row.
- Two lines, for two complete rows on the same ticket.
- Full house, for all fifteen numbers.
Tickets are often sold in strips of six, which together cover every number from 1 to 90 once. Buy a full strip and every call marks a number somewhere on your tickets.
75-ball bingo: patterns on a grid
75-ball bingo (75 ball bingo in most search boxes) is the North American format, and it plays quite differently. The card is a 5 × 5 grid with the letters B, I, N, G and O across the top. Each column holds a range of numbers, from 1 to 15 under B up to 61 to 75 under O, and the centre square is free.
Instead of lines in stages, each game has a pattern to complete. It might be a straight line, the four corners, a letter shape, a picture or the whole card. The pattern is shown in the room before the game starts, and it can change from game to game, which keeps 75-ball varied.
Side by side
| 90-ball | 75-ball | |
|---|---|---|
| Numbers | 1 to 90 | 1 to 75 |
| Ticket | 3 rows × 9 columns, 15 numbers | 5 × 5 grid, free centre |
| How it is won | One line, two lines, full house | Complete the game’s pattern |
| Pace | Steady, longer games | Usually quicker |
| Popular in | The UK | North America, and UK apps |
Other formats you will see in bingo apps
80-ball bingo uses a 4 × 4 card with numbers from 1 to 80. Prizes are typically offered for a line, the four corners and a full house. It sits between the other two in pace.
50-ball bingo shortens the game further with fewer numbers, which makes a full house arrive sooner.
30-ball bingo is speed bingo. The card is a 3 × 3 grid of nine numbers, there is only a full house to win, and games are over in moments. It is quick fun, but the pace also means tickets are bought far more often, so it pays to set a budget.
Slingo is a relative rather than a format: it borrows a 5 × 5 grid and replaces the caller with spinning reels. The Slingo guide explains how it plays.
Which apps run which formats
| Site | Formats listed |
|---|---|
 | 90, 80 and 75-ball, plus themed rooms |
 | 90, 80, 75, 50 (Emoji Bingo), 40 and 36-ball |
 | 90, 80, 75, 50 (Emoji Bingo) and 36-ball, plus Slingo |
The formats of all twelve brands we have reviewed sit side by side in one table.
Which format should you choose?
If you enjoy a slower game with a chance to chat between calls, 90-ball is the natural choice, and its three prize stages keep interest going. Lucky Pants Bingo has hosted chat rooms around the clock. If you like variety and quicker results, 75-ball patterns change the challenge every game. Kitty Bingo covers the widest spread, down to 36-ball, and Mecca Bingo adds themed rooms to the three main formats. On a small phone screen, auto-daub helps in both, but especially in 75-ball, where patterns are harder to track by eye.
Whatever you play, bingo is a game of chance: no format gives better odds of winning in itself. Choose rooms by ticket price and how long you want your budget to last. The setup guide explains how to set a deposit limit before you start.
Quick answers
What is the main difference between 90-ball and 75-ball bingo?
90-ball bingo uses a ticket of three rows and is won in three stages: one line, two lines and a full house. 75-ball bingo uses a 5 by 5 card with a free centre and is won by completing a set pattern.
Which is faster, 90-ball or 75-ball bingo?
75-ball games are usually quicker, because fewer numbers are called and many patterns need only a few squares. 30-ball bingo is the fastest of all.
Which bingo app has the most formats?
Of the three brands we recommend, Kitty Bingo lists the most: six formats, 90, 80, 75, 50 (Emoji Bingo), 40 and 36-ball. Lucky Pants Bingo lists five and Mecca Bingo lists 90, 80 and 75-ball plus themed rooms.
Is 80-ball bingo like 75-ball?
80-ball uses a smaller 4 by 4 card and offers prizes for lines, corners and a full house. It sits between 75-ball and 90-ball in pace.
