Lottery, Bingo & Number Games
Bingo card
A bingo card is a printed or electronic ticket containing numbers or symbols that players mark off as the caller draws numbers at random.
- American card grid
- 5×5 with a free centre space, labelled B‑I‑N‑G‑O across the top1
- Number range (American)
- 1–75, with each column limited to a specific range (e.g. B = 1–15)1
- British ticket layout
- 9 columns × 3 rows, totalling 27 spaces, with 5 numbers and 4 blanks per row2
- Number range (British)
- 1–902
- Legal status (UK)
- Bingo is an equal‑chance game with a defined end point under the Gambling Act 200534
Key points
- The standard American bingo card has 25 squares in a 5×5 grid, with a free centre space and columns labelled B‑I‑N‑G‑O.1
- A British bingo ticket uses a 9‑column by 3‑row layout, with 27 spaces of which 12 are blank and 15 contain numbers from 1–90.2
- Players mark numbers on their card as the caller draws them; a win is claimed when a required pattern — such as a line or full house — is completed.13
- In the UK, bingo cards are regulated as part of an equal‑chance game, meaning every player has the same probability of winning.34
- Free printable bingo cards and PDF templates are widely available online for home games and classroom activities.
American vs British bingo card layouts
| Feature | American 75‑ball card | British 90‑ball ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Grid size | 5×5 (25 squares) | 9×3 (27 spaces) |
| Free space | Centre square is free | No free space |
| Column labels | B, I, N, G, O | None (columns 1–9) |
| Number range | 1–75 | 1–90 |
| Numbers per row | 5 per row | 5 per row (4 blanks) |
How a bingo card is used in a game
- Each player receives one or more bingo cards, either paper or electronic.
- The caller draws numbers at random and announces them one by one.
- Players mark any matching number on their card with a dauber or digital tap.
- When a player completes the required pattern (e.g. a line, two lines, or full house), they call out “Bingo!” to claim the win.1
Common questions
What does a bingo card look like?
An American bingo card is a 5×5 grid with the letters B‑I‑N‑G‑O across the top and a free centre space. A British bingo ticket is a 9×3 grid with numbers and blank spaces, no letters.
What is the highest number on a bingo card?
What is the bingo card on slot machines?
Some slot machines include a bingo‑themed bonus round where a virtual bingo card is displayed and numbers are marked automatically as the reels spin. This is a visual feature, not a standalone bingo game.
What size is a bingo card?
A standard American bingo card is 5 squares by 5 squares (25 squares total). A standard British bingo ticket is 9 columns by 3 rows (27 spaces).
Where this term is used
Not the same as
- Bingo cards 1-90 — a specific term for British‑style tickets using numbers 1–90 and a 9×3 layout, whereas a bingo card can also refer to the American 5×5 card using 1–75
Related terms
Sources
- Bingo (American version) en.wikipedia.org Provides the standard American 75‑ball card layout, number ranges, and gameplay rules.
- Bingo (British version) en.wikipedia.org Provides the standard British 90‑ball ticket layout and number range.
- How bingo is defined gamblingcommission.gov.uk Defines bingo as an equal‑chance game under UK law.
- Definitions of terms - Gambling Commission gamblingcommission.gov.uk Supports the legal definition of bingo cards as used in UK regulation.
Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.