Online Bingo in Ireland į Best Irish Bingo Sites for 2023
We can say with certainty that all areas of online betting have exploded in popularity over the last few decades. One industry which has seen itself almost completely flipped on its head by the advent on online betting is bingo. No longer a purely bricks-and-mortar social activity, now bingo is truly a way to make great money betting online.
But despite the essential simplicity of the core game, entering into the world of online bingo for the first time can always be daunting. Especially today, when there are more varieties of the game available than ever, with more popping up every day. So, what to look for in an online bingo platform? There are more than a few things you need to consider, so today, weāre going to look at all the essential basics for playing online bingo.
hen you sign up, you'll be able to claim 64 free bingo tickets, as well as 10 free spins on the slots. To get this offer, you'll need to use the code 'YAY' when you make your first deposit of ā¬10 or more.
Overall, you'll find over 400 games on the site, which is really good going for any bingo site. They have a good range of bingo rooms, as you'd expect.
Right now, you can sign up and take a spin on the New Player Welcome Wheel. To do so, you'll need to deposit at least ā¬10 and take part in bingo games within 7 days of signing up with them. Once you've met that requirement, you'll be able to take that spin on the wheel.
The minimum deposit is just ā¬10 too, so you don't need to have a lot of cash in order to benefit from the deal. That will give you ā¬40 to use, as well as those bonus spins, so even the most thrifty players will have a good deal here.
The site is owned by 888 Holdings Ltd, so they have a great range of games to draw from. As they have partnerships with developers like Dragonfish, NetEnt, and Big Time Gaming, you know those games are super high quality too.
As a new member, you'll be able to take advantage of a huge matched deposit bonus. You'll get a 100% match of up to ā¬500, as well as up to 200 free spins on the slots. The exact amount you get will depend on how much you deposit, with the max amount giving you the full 200.
You can see that they have a welcome offer here, so if you want to sign up you can take advantage of some goodies. If you sign up now, you can get 64 free bingo tickets, as well as 10 free spins. That's not a bad offer at all, as it gives you lots to try the site out with and see what they have to offer you.
T&Cs Apply" First-time depositors only (UK exc NI, 18+). Min deposit £10. Max offer 64 Free Bingo Tickets (60 on Street Party & 4 on Big Bang) & 10 Pending Free Spins Fluffy Favourites with winnings capped at £1. Pending Free Spins will be available once £5 of deposit funds have been wagered. All winnings will be credited to your real money balance. Promo code: SUNDAE. Deposit balance is available for withdrawal at any time. Full T&Cs apply. Valid until further notice.
There's a good range of bingo games on offer, so whatever you want in bingo, you'll find it here. All games are either 75 or 90 ball bingo, and there's plenty of variations. There's speed bingo for example, as well as mystery jackpot games. They offer free bingo games, where you can be in with a chance of winning up to ā¬500. Other games cost just 1c to enter, and all tickets are reasonably priced.
New players only. Valid until further notice. Min dep £10. 200% Bingo Bonus [BB] max £88 + 20 Free Spins [FS] on Irish Luck (valid for 3 days; wins cap: £3). FS wins granted in Games Bonus [GB] & valid on selected games only. WR: 4x (dep+BB); 85x GB. GB wins cap: £100 + initial bonus. Country restrictions apply. UK: deposit balance can be withdrawn at any time. 18+. #ad Full T&Cs Apply
At the moment, they offer 16 different rooms around the clock, so no matter when youāre ready to play there will be something here ready for you. With over 20 bingo games being played across those rooms, thereās lots of choice. That includes 90 ball, 80 ball and 75 ball games. You can check out all the rooms on the site, as they offer a description of each and what they offer you as a player.
18+. New Coral Bingo customers only. Min spend ā¬5 on Bingo tickets to get ā¬25 Bingo Bonus. Min wagering req 2 x Bingo Bonus. Bonus credited automatically. From date of registration players have 30 days to qualify for the Bingo Bonus. Bonus valid for 7 days. Certain countries only. T&Cs apply
They don't have the most bingo rooms compared to other sites out there, but there's plenty that will keep you coming back for more. There's nine rooms currently, offering a range of 75, 80, 30, and 90 ball bingo, so there's something here for everyone.
18+. New Coral Bingo customers only. Min spend ā¬5 on Bingo tickets to get ā¬25 Bingo Bonus. Min wagering req 2 x Bingo Bonus. Bonus credited automatically. From date of registration players have 30 days to qualify for the Bingo Bonus. Bonus valid for 7 days. Certain countries only. T&Cs apply
They certainly give it their all when it comes to bingo, as they have 25 different bingo rooms ready and waiting for you. That includes free bingo, as well as huge jackpot rooms. This covers 90 and 75 ball bingo, as well as 5 line games and even bingo roulette.
First-time depositors only. Min deposit: £10. Max offer: £10 Bingo Bonus, 5 Free Bingo Tickets (on Big Bang) & 20 Free Spins (on a game of our choice). Bingo Bonus can be used in any room. Bingo Tickets and Free Spins are valid for 7 days. Bingo Bonus & Bingo Ticket winnings come with 4x wagering. Free Spins winnings are credited as bonus funds with 40x wagering and are capped at £2.00. Bingo Bonus win cap: £400 + the initial bonus amount. Wagering requirements vary by game. Deposit balance is available for withdrawal at any time. General withdrawal restrictions & full T&Cs apply. Valid until further notice.
One particular area where bet365ās bingo games really shine is in the jackpot games available on the site. Bet365 offers Irish customers a calendar detailing when the next big jackpots are available to win on the site.
New Customers only. Bet ā¬10* & Get ā¬30* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between ā¬5* and ā¬10* to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply.
We think it would be useful to list all of the 16 different bingo game rooms available from the Blighty Bingo website. You can learn more about any of them by navigating to the Blighty Bingo website.
Currently, new users can use the promotional code S10 while signing up to access the Big William Hill Fortune offer. This gives users 200 free spins on this game if they stake ā¬10.
18+. New customers only. Opt in required. 1x per customer. William Hill Frenzy Vegas Millions only. Min ā¬10 stake. Max 200 free spins at ā¬0.10 per spin. Free Spins expire 24 hours from issue. Max redeemable ā¬30. Further terms apply. Play safe, gamblingtherapy.org #ad
. Bingo Storm offers fairly standard 90-ball and 75-ball bingo games, which is to be expected. However, Bingo Storm also offers some more niche games that are not offered on other sites, such as their brilliant 52-ball bingo game.
1st time depositors only. Players must be 18+. Min Deposit & Wager £10. Bingo tickets worth £80 (5 tickets worth £50 on Big Bang room, 10 tickets worth £10 on Guest List room and 40 tickets worth £20 on Kaching room) and are available for 7 days. Wins generated from bingo tickets are granted in real money. 10 pending Free Spins [FS]. Pending Free Spins will be available once £10 of deposit funds have been wagered. FS are valid on Irish Luck for 7 days. FS wins are granted as real money after all FS are used. FS wins cap: £2. Max Wheel prize 20 spins. Each wheel segment has an equal chance of winning. UK only: deposit balance is available for withdrawal at any time.
Bonuses and promotions are what turn one-time bettors into regular punters. Bonuses and promotions should be varied, with achievable and fair terms and conditions, if sites want to rank highly. Bonuses or promotions are often extensive, so look out for ones like no deposit bonuses, loyalty rewards, refer-a-friend rewards, free bingo, boosted jackpot games, and a lot more. Players approach online bingo in different ways and different people prefer different bonuses, so sites should be ready to cater to that diversity of need.
Link games
Link games are games when rooms link up with other rooms to higher-stakes games offering some very attractive winnings, often in the thousands. Sites will sometimes link up with other sites too, making the jackpots and prizes climb to eye-watering amounts. These link games usually happen every day and every week, with the latter often being the higher jackpot games. Sites that offer this feature tend to rank higher.
Quick and easy payments
When bettors head to online bingo sites, they want to jump into playing straight away, while securing any winnings quickly and easily. If online bingo sites want to create a friction-free experience, they need to support more than just credit and debit cards. They should offer Apple and Google Pay, PayPal, and even prepaid options. Also, they need to offer instant deposits and almost as speedy withdrawals for winnings. The variety of bettors necessitates an almost equal variety of ways they want to pay, so this needs to be taken into consideration.
More games = more satisfaction
A big draw for online bingo is that it offers more games than traditional bingo halls. Youāll always see 90-ball, 75-ball and 80-ball, but bingo sites should offer a wide variety of games to keep bettors interested. That includes themed-rooms, progressive jackpots, speed games, free bingo, and more. Including all of this is going to make punters return as itās simply more engaging.
Community
Bingo first and foremost is a lot to do with community. It enhances bettorsā overall experience when thereās a decent chat function, side games in between games, moderators engaging with punters, and other social features. Players look to bingo sites as a source of community, with the room atmosphere often being a core reason they return. Itās not just about bingo; itās about the whole experience.
Good payouts
Sites that offer a higher percentage of payouts will tend to rank higher, as this simply gives bettors more chance of winning, which is going to make them return to the site regularly. Payouts should be attractive and attainable, with higher percentages demonstrating that sites are dedicated to making the experience positive for their customers, as they provide better winning opportunities for them.
Safeguarding tools
Nowadays, all online-based companies, particularly when it comes to customerās money, need to ensure cybersecurity threats are protected against. There needs to be robust and sophisticated tools on-hand that safeguards online bingo sites and makes sure theyāre not vulnerable. The last thing players want to be thinking about is their money not being safe or the site not working well. They want peace of mind.
Responsible gambling tools
Online gambling should be fun, but sometimes bettors might lose their grip a little when it comes to gambling responsibly, resulting in spending more than they can afford. Many good sites now offer ways to control spending, like daily spending caps or reminders when youāve been playing a certain amount of time. This can make all the difference.
A clean experience
A modern, colourful, and clean design with clear functionality is what makes an online bingo site stand out with its own identity. Some online bingo sites can be a bit clunky and difficult to navigate, which can result in players not coming back to play. With features like favouriting bingo rooms or an effective search tool, it can really bring up the standard.
Mobile apps
One of the biggest attractions of online bingo is the ability to play whenever or wherever you like. A good mobile app online enhances that experience and bettors will be more likely to return to your site if thereās a decent app available too. Online bingo sites should offer an app that replicates the experience of playing on another device as closely as possible. That includes offering nearly as many ā if not all ā of the games on mobile as there are available on the regular site.
Bettors know better
Nobody knows about the experience of online bingo sites better than bettors. Online reviews can help assess the reputation of an online bingo site, with positive feedback helping shape their ranking.
Proper licencing
This is last on the list because every bingo site should have full licensing from the UK Gambling Commission, otherwise we wouldnāt recommend them. The UKGC makes sure that bingo sites meet stringent standards and that operators abide by responsible gambling practices. Sites with a UKGC licence will often offer a better, more fair, and secure environment than non-licenced sites. You wonāt find a bingo site on our list without one of these.
Best bingo sites in Ireland for 2023:
Sundae Bingo
Pros:
Top quality bingo games
Lots of excellent promos
Cons:
No free bingo rooms
Want somewhere different to play your favourite bingo games? Then Sundae Bingo may be just the site that youāre looking for. As there are so many options on the market, they have to be offering you something good. What can you expect from them here?
As soon as you jump on the site youāll see they have so many excellent bingo games available to you. Thatās to be expected as the site used the dragonfish platform. As they have so many rooms available, thereās always going to be the perfect game waiting for you when you log in. As well as this, youāre going to find slots, table games and more for the full gaming experience.
Whatās worth noting though, is that there arenāt any free bingo rooms on the site. That means you canāt give the site a go without wagering any of your cash. However, there are some rooms that go as low as 0.01 EUR per ticket, so you can still get good quality bingo here.
Any good bingo site worth its salt should have excellent promos too, and this site can deliver. That starts with their welcome offer, where you can get 64 free bingo tickets and 10 free spins when you sign up. To get the deal, youāll just need to deposit 10 EUR. What makes it an even better deal is that thereās no wagering requirement on the bonus either. As soon as you win, youāll be able to withdraw that cash.
If you want to try somewhere new, then you should check out Sundae Bingo. Thereās a lot to like about them, especially that wager free welcome offer. Get signed up now and you can claim it for yourself, too.
Dinky Bingo
Pros:
Lots of great games available
Generous welcome offer
Cons:
Long withdrawal wait times
Dinky Bingo is just one of so many bingo sites on the market right now. As such, they really need to wow you in order to get you on board. What do they have that no other bingo site can offer?
Firstly, they do have some of the best games available right now, thanks to their use of the Dragonfish network. They have 12 bingo rooms running 90 ball, 75 ball, and 52 ball bingo, so thereās always a great game waiting for you. On top of this, they also offer slots, instant games and Slingo, so thereās always something new and different waiting for you.
Youāll be looking for good promos too, and these are available to you here. That starts with a welcome offer giving you a 10 EUR bingo bonus as well as 50 free spins, when you deposit using the code FREE50. Then as a regular member, youāll have lots of regular deals too. That includes daily free spins, cashback, and much more.
The banking system wonāt take you long to use, so you can make your deposit and get playing as soon as possible. When youāre ready to make a withdrawal, youāll want to be aware that they can take up to 7 days, depending on the payment type youāre using. As such, youāll want to check those times before you withdraw. Many are quicker though, so you wonāt always be waiting around.
As a bingo site, itās very hard to beat Dinky Bingo. They have so much to offer you, including a great welcome offer, plenty of games, ongoing deals, and more. If youāre not already a member, then youāll want to give them a go and see what they have for you.
Robin Hood Bingo
Pros:
Real focus on excellent promos
Games from some of the best providers
Cons:
Long withdrawal processing times
Want a bingo site that has staying power, and all the games you could want? Robin Hood Bingo has been around since 2012, and they have a dedicated user base. What is it that makes them the best place to play bingo?
Their motto is āYou play, we give awayā, and they really stand by that in their promos. You can get some amazing deals here, very much making it worth being a member. For example, in their welcome offer you can get a 100% matched deposit bonus of up to 200 EUR, as well as 50 free spins. Once youāre a regular member here, youāll be able to claim all kinds of bonuses, including a rewards scheme that gives you more, the more you play here.
The games here are some of the best too, which is not surprising as they use the Dragonfish platform. With 18 bingo rooms hosting 90 ball, 75 ball, 52 ball, and 5 line bingo, thereās always the perfect game ready to play when you log on. They also have over 350 slot and table games too, so thereās even more to check out.
Payment here is very simple, and it wonāt take you long to get to grips with the payment system. Deposits all go through instantly, so you can start playing right away. When youāre ready to withdraw though, youāll see that they have quite long withdrawal times. Thatās something to keep in mind when choosing a bingo site.
You can see why Robin Hood Bingo have stuck around for so long, as they offer real value to bingo fans out there. You can claim that welcome offer right now and try them out for yourself.
Mecca Bingo
Pros:
Mobile apps available
Excellent offers for members
Cons:
Small range of payment types accepted
When it comes to bingo, itās hard to think of a bigger name than Mecca Bingo. While they started out as a physical chain, theyāve been online since 2003 and have a huge presence in online bingo. Letās see what makes them the best.
Firstly, as youād expect there are some really excellent deals for you as a member. That starts with a welcome offer where you can get a spin on the prize wheel. Just deposit 10 EUR and youāll get that spin. You can win up to 120 EUR in bonus cash, so itās worth a go.
Plus, as a regular member youāll always find on going deals here. Think free bingo tickets and spins, reload bonuses, and cashback. Youāll want to keep checking their promo page to see whatās on offer.
If youāre someone whoās on the go a lot and doesnāt want to miss out, then you can take advantage of the siteās mobile apps. These are available through iOS and Android, and theyāre well designed and easy to use. You also have the option of playing through your mobile browser, if you donāt want to download another app.
When it comes to payment methods accepted, they accept quite a small pool but theyāre all some of the best. That includes debit cards like Visa and MasterCard, as well direct bank transfers, PayPal, and Paysafecard. Itās really easy to make transactions here and youāll be playing right away.
With all this in mind, you can see why Mecca Bingo continues to be one of the best bingo sites on the market. If you want to try them out, claim their welcome bonus now and use whatever you win to give them a go.
Cracker Bingo
Pros:
No wagering requirement on bonuses
PayPal accepted
Cons:
No social media
Which bingo site is the best one for you? There are so many on the market that it can be hard to choose. If youāre looking for somewhere new, Cracker Bingo will look tempting. Letās see what they have for new members.
Firstly, youāll see that they have plenty of bonuses and promos for you. That starts as a new member, as youāll get 2,500 free bingo tickets, as well as 25 free spins, when you sign up and deposit just 10 EUR. Thatās extremely good value, so itās tempting for a lot of new members. What makes it even better is that thereās no wagering requirement on your bonus, so any winnings are yours to withdraw right away.
If you do decide to sign up, youāll also see that they accept a good range of payment options. That includes debit cards like Visa and MasterCard, direct bank transfers, Paysafecard, and PayByPhone. They also accept PayPal, which is great to see as not all bingo sites offer it as an option. It makes it very easy to get set up and start playing here.
If you ever need assistance, they have a great customer support system in place. If youāre in a game, you can ask the chat host for assistance and theyāll help you out. Thereās also live chat and email support available. The one thing they donāt have is a social media presence, which would be really helpful if they set this up in the future.
Cracker Bingo has a lot to offer you as a potential new member. A welcome offer with no wagering requirement is always tempting, and itās so easy to create your account. You can claim that offer and start testing the site out right away.
bet365 Bingo
Pros
Wide selection of bingo games
High-quality Playtech software for an immersive gaming experience
Attractive jackpot games with substantial prize pools
Excellent mobile app for seamless gaming on the go
Cons
Limited variety of bingo game variants
Lack of mobile-exclusive promotions
Itās not all about sports betting and casino games at bet365, they also offer a great range of bingo games to keep Irish bingo fans happy. Players can enjoy popular bingo such as 90-ball, 75-ball, and 80-ball bingo plus themed games such as Deal or No Deal Bingo and Rainbow Riches Bingo. But while bet365 Bingo offers a solid selection, it might not be enough for some players and the lack of 50-ball and 30-ball bingo games, may mean some players will look elsewhere.
The bingo games at bet365 are provided by Playtechās Virtue Fusion software; a well-known provider in the industry with a reputation for bringing top-quality bingo games. With using the Virtue Fusion software, Irish players are treated smooth gameplay, great graphics and stable performance.
There are plenty of big jackpot bingo games at bet365 too and the site provides its players a dedicated bingo calendar, so you can see when games are coming up, making sure you donāt miss your chance to take part. And with some jackpots reaching ā¬10,000 and higher, this events calendar can be pretty useful.
Playing on the go isnāt a problem either. With a dedicated bingo app, playing on the move is both a seamless and optimised experience. Alternatively, players can access bingo games on their mobile devices using their web browser without the need for app downloads. If we were to be picky, one drawback in regards to the mobile app is it does not offer promotions exclusive to app users. While the overall mobile experience is excellent, adding app-exclusive promotions would be a great way to attract new players and engage with existing users.
So to sum up bingo at bet365, itās safe to say they, bet365 provides a great and enjoyable bingo experience for Irish players. With its good range of games, attractive jackpots and an excellent mobile app, bet365 Bingo caters to both casual players and bingo pros alike. While the variety of bingo games could be better and mobile-exclusive promotions could be introduced, we think that the overall pros outweigh the cons when it comes to bet365 Bingo.
Leo Vegas Bingo
Pros
Special welcome bonus for bingo players
Reputable site with an excellent user experience
Wide range of payment options
Cons
A limited number of bingo rooms
Variations in room popularity
With a wide variety of bingo games on offer and a good reputation in the industry, itās no surprise that Leovegas has become a popular choice for bingo players looking for a place online to play their favourite games. With a great variety of gaming options available including the classic 90-ball, 75-ball, the unique 80-ball or the speedy 30-ball variant, LeoVegas has it all covered.
But while all the popular bingo variations are covered at LeoVegas, there is currently only a limited number of bingo rooms available, meaning players could find a small selection of games available compared to some other online bingo sites. This is something worth considering before signing up for LeoVegas and making a deposit.
For new players trying out LeoVegas for the very first time, they have a welcome bonus that we found more than generous. Sign up to claim up to ā¬250 flus 50 free spins. You canāt say fairer than that and we think this is one of the better welcome bonuses available and a great way to increase your chances of winning.
They also have a wide range of payment options available including traditional methods such as credit and debit cards plus e-wallets and bank transfers.
All in all, we think LeoVegas Bingo is a great place for players to come and enjoy a good variety of bingo games at a trusted and well respected platform. The welcome offer is great and one of the best we have seen and there is a wide range of banking options to suit most players. Are only complaint is that the bingo rooms are limited and bigger rooms can be found on other online bingo platforms.
Bingo Storm
Pros
Extensive game selection
Generous welcome offer
Regular promotions
Mobile-friendly platform
Dedicated customer support
Cons
Restricted payment options
With its user-friendly interface, diverse game selection and great range of generous promotions, Bingo Storm offers an immersive and enjoyable bingo experience for Irish players to enjoy.
The first thing youāll notice is how vibrant and user-friendly the platform is. Bingo Storm aims to present an engaging and welcoming environment for its players and it really shows. Amongst the wide range of bingo games on offer, you can find 90-ball, 75-ball and 52-ball variants, ensuring thereās something here for everyone. Also, there is a great community aspect of Bingo Storm which, bringing players together, really adds to the overall enjoyment of playing here. Within the bingo games you can find live chat features where you can engage with other players and the hosts of these chat rooms are always friendly and welcoming.
New players are greeted with a good welcome bonus which includes bingo ticket vouchers and even bonus spins, letting you play a few games risk-free. Itās not all about new customers as returning players can take advantage of ongoing offers and promotions, which can include free spins, deposit bonuses and cashback deals.
Bingo Stormās mobile site ensures that players can enjoy their favourite bingo games anytime, anywhere and with seamless compatibility across various devices such as mobile phones and tablets. The mobile site also supports seamless transitions between different bingo rooms, allowing players to explore various game options without any issues that we could find.
Customer support is important at Bingo Storm and there are several channels players can use to contact them if they have an issue that needs resolving. The highlight of their customer service is the 24/7 live chat service with real-time communication, allowing players to directly chat with support team members for immediate assistance.
Whilst there are plenty of good points with Bingo Storm, we found their banking options to be limited compared to some other sites. Please remember to check that your preferred method of payment and withdrawals is covered before signing up.
For Irish players looking for a vibrant and immersive bingo experience, Bingo Storm could be the right fit for you. With its wide range of bingo games, generous promotions, mobile-friendly platform and reliable customer support, Bingo Storm is a great place to enjoy your favourite games. While the casino would benefit from a wider selection of payment methods, the pros outweigh the cons here, making Bingo Storm an excellent option for bingo enthusiasts in Ireland.
Online vs bingo halls
Traditional bingo has been a mainstay in the UK and Ireland for a long time. Itās a part of the culture and is largely due to it being an affordable and community-focused activity for people to enjoy. On the surface, online and traditional bingo seem very similar, but there are some key things that sets them apart, which could be the difference between you choosing to go online or opting for the real-life experience. Weāve broken this all down below:
Online
In-Person
Location, location, location
Letās start with the obvious: all you need for online bingo is a bank account and an internet connection, meaning you can play whenever and wherever you like.
In-person bingo requires an immutable geographical location, with set times and days for games.
Game variety
Offers a wide range of bingo variations, including themed games and unique patterns, which youāre much less likely to find in traditional halls
Offline halls tend to focus more on traditional 75-ball and 90-ball bingo, although you will see some other formats being played.
Socialising
Engagement is a big priority for online bingo sites, with lively chat rooms and other engagement activities and interaction opportunities for players.
The in-person bingo experience is first and foremost about socialising: a night out with friends or family. The offering is built around this aspect so players to chat and build connections and get a sense of community.
Speed
Online bingo by its very nature is about quick, fun, and exciting games, with room-hopping to different games, all starting quickly, is what itās all about
Because in-person bingo is all about socialising, games donāt move quite as quickly as its online counterpart
Winning
Letās not beat around the bush: we play to win. Youāll often see online jackpots climb to eye-watering amounts because of their progressive nature, which means punters may end up taking up a lot more online.
In-person bingo halls often tie their prizes to the amount of tickets sold that day or evening, with a proportion of the total amount going into the pot. They will, however, still guarantee jackpots or prizes on some occasions, but they may not reach the life-changing amounts youāll see online.
Bonuses and promotions
Because a punter can access any bingo site, at any time, competition is more stiff, resulting in more regular and generous bonuses, promotions, and loyalty programmes for punters.
In-person bingo halls will do regular promotions, but these are more built around themes and sometimes even physical prizes and special event with more of a focus on the overall experience.
Hocus focus
Online bingo is easy: you purchase your tickets and the system will auto-daub your numbers for you, without the need to call out if you win. You could go and make a cup of tea and still come back to your winnings (although we assume youād prefer to be there to celebrate)
If youāre playing with traditional bingo tickets, youāll need to focus on the caller constantly, while marking tickets manually. This can be overwhelming for newbies. Electronic bingo is much more popular nowadays too, but you still need to call out if you win.
Buying tickets
This automation goes a bit further with buying tickets. If you all of a sudden think Lady Luck is looking down on you, you can buy tickets in advance ā that evening, the next week, whatever. Even if youāre not there to play at the time, those tickets will still be in play. Think of them as a bingo lottery ticket.
Youāll need to buy tickets in person, at the stated time and place they open, in order to be in with a shout.
The bingo lingo
Online bingo is quite a niche activity, and that comes with its own lingo to boot. Youāll need to know your WDWs* from your BLNTs* *These stand for āwell done winnerā and ābetter luck next timeā, btw (by the way)
You could well use acronyms when playing in person, but weāre willing to bet youāre more likely to just get by with general chit chat.
Traditional atmosphere
Provides a traditional and nostalgic atmosphere appealing to those who enjoy live callers.
Offers a unique atmosphere with live bingo callers and the camaraderie of fellow players.
Caller experience
While online bingo will have different āvoicesā for calling, these are computer-generated ā and noticeably so.
There are some automated callers for some games, but the main games are almost entirely called by a real-life person. That can add to the atmosphere ā not to mention you can stop them if you have a problem.
Food and drink
Weāre still waiting for the day online bingo sites manage to offer food and drink as part of the experience. Of course, you can replenish yourself in the comfort of your own home.
As we said, bingo is about community and that ānight outā feel, so many traditional halls will offer an a la carte menu as well as a bar to buy soft drinks and alcohol
Price
Online bingo sites have overheads, but donāt need to cover staff, leases, and everything else that comes with a land-based hall. For that reason, youāll find that tickets costing 1p is more common than it is rare.
Tickets in traditional bingo halls tend to be a fair bit pricier, although itās worth noting that they still want punters to find it affordable, so offer cheaper or even free nights of bingo
What to look for in online bingo
When youāre getting set up with any online betting platform for the first time, there a few essential things you need to look out for. Security should always be your top priority. Any financial online activity carries risk, and it is not a insignificant risk. Figures showed an 86% increase in certain types of online fraud in 2021 over 2020, and on average each individual was scammed out of around ā¬5,300. Being vigilant has never been more important.
When choosing a site, the first thing you need to check is whether they are licensed by the relevant authority. They should have an Irish gambling license, or a remote U.K. license. You will be able to see this clearly on their website, and youāll be able to find them listed in the relevant gambling authorityās directory.
There are well over 100 licensed bingo sites in Ireland, so youāll have no problem finding one that caters to your needs. Once youāve established it is licensed, you can start homing in on other features that make the experience what you are looking for.
Think about the general usability of the platform. Is it quick and responsive? Does it load things quickly? Do you find the menus easy to navigate? These may seem like less important details, but remember, you may end up using this game a lot. Itās essential that it functions competently and smoothly.
Youāll also need to think about payment methodsāboth deposit and withdrawal. For many experienced players, this is what makes or breaks a particular online bingo game. Any money transactions need to be not only safe and secure, but quick and convenient. Look for methods like VISA, Mastercard and PayPal. Again, youāll find one that works best for you.
Finally, consider if the site has an app or is just a browser game. If you want to be able to play online bingo when youāre out and about, youāll need to check the site has an appāand that it functions smoothly! If, on the other hand, you want to keep your online bingo just to a home or computer activity, then pretty much any platform will have a website you can access.
So, as you can see, the point Iām trying to make is that the most important and fundamental things to look for are efficiency and security. Once you know how to identify those in a bingo site, you can start to look beyond to find a truly perfect site. The next thing to look for is game variety.
Types of bingo
If youāre not an aficionado of bingo, then it might surprise you to learn there are actually quite a few basic kinds of the game. More and more inventive variations have sprung up due to competition in recent years, with many bingo sites offering as many as 12 different versions of the essential game.
To keep things simple, weāll look at the three most common kinds. The first and most popular by far is 90 ball bingo. This has been the main variety played in both online platforms and in bingo halls since bingo was first introduced. As the name implies, 90 balls are drawn until someone calls house.
You also have 80-ball bingo and 75 ball bingo, which make for shorter, often more intensely competitive games. There may also be different objectives, such as marking off particular patterns.
These three main types of bingo are what you should familiarise yourself with first. While I would say that most are happy playing 90-ball bingo, you never know if you might prefer shorter, 75 or 80 ball games. So, you should at least try these three main varieties.
Once youāre comfortable with the basic types, you can start looking into more unique and niche game types. Depending on what youāre looking to get out of the game, though, you will likely find that larger, 90-ball games tend to have the biggest jackpots and the most active players.
This is one of the big problems that we come up against with online bingoāhow do you compete against so many other players? Around 1 million people reportedly play online bingo regularly in Ireland, so it can be daunting to try and compete with them. Despite what you might think, though, bingo is much more a game of strategy than most realise. There are more than a few ways you can increase your chances of winning, so letās look at some of them.
When most come into bingo for the first time, they tend to think of it as a game where you choose a card of numbers and hope, by chance, that your numbers are called out and you can call house. While this is the essential nature of the game, there are ways you can actually game it.
Practice
First and foremost, just get used to the game and how it works. If you want, there are plenty of free versions of the game you can find online and just play for practice. This is a great way to get comfortable with how everything works before you start playing for real money.
Using multiple cards
Then, youāll want to think about increasing the number of cards you go for. To start with, if youāre not experienced with the game, do just start out with one to get used to the basics. It will be more than a little confusing to try to mark off multiple sheets when youāre first starting out. But once you do get to grips with it, you can increase your chances of winning exponentially with multiple sheets.
bingo is ultimately a numbers game, though, so you can bet mathematicians and statisticians have done their best to figure it out a real strategy for the game. There are two main ones you need to be aware of.
Tippettās Strategy
One strategy tried to show the difference between long and short games, and what is more likely to come up in each. Tippettās theory suggests that the more numbers drawn in a game, the more likely the median of the drawn numbers will be closer to the median of 75. On the other hand, the fewer drawn, the closer they will be to the end numbers of 1 and 75.
As you can see, Tippettās strategy works primarily for 75 ball bingo. If the game is going to be longer, you want to choose cards with numbers closer to the median of 37 and 38. If it is going to be shorter, you want numbers closer to the borders of 1 and 75.
Granvilleās strategy
The other most well-known strategy was put forward by Joseph Granville. This strategy is a little more complicated and requires you to carefully select your cards based on the idea that certain numbers are more likely to come up.
For Granvilleās strategy, you want to choose cards that have equal numbers of the following kind: the same amount of high and low numbers, odd and even, and numbers ending in 0-9. Essentially, each variety of numbers has an equal chance of being drawn, so equal amounts give you the best chance.
Play smaller games
The final piece of advice we would give is that you should come up with a long-term strategy. This involves things like budgeting, but also it will dictate how you choose your games. The fact is that bigger, more populated games will naturally have bigger prize pools. However, you also have a significantly reduced chance of winning if the game is a lot larger.
So, a really great long-term strategy is to chase smaller games. They will offer smaller jackpots, but youāll be in with a much better chance of winning. Winning small games even semi-regularly is a much better strategy than trying to win big games often.
These are some of the most important tips for online bingo. They wonāt mean you win all the time, but they will certainly give your chances a big boost.
The other way to boost your winnings is by keeping an eye out for the best bonuses and promotions.
As a new member, you can get ā¬50 to play on the bingo and slots, when you deposit just ā¬10. That's a great offer, especially as you don't need to deposit a lot of cash to get the most value out of the welcome offer. You can put that ā¬50 to good use, trying them out and seeing what they can offer you as a bingo site.
As a new member, you'll be able to take advantage of a huge matched deposit bonus. You'll get a 100% match of up to ā¬500, as well as up to 200 free spins on the slots. The exact amount you get will depend on how much you deposit, with the max amount giving you the full 200.
Right now, you can sign up and take a spin on the New Player Welcome Wheel. To do so, you'll need to deposit at least ā¬10 and take part in bingo games within 7 days of signing up with them. Once you've met that requirement, you'll be able to take that spin on the wheel.
Bonuses and promotions
Both internationally and in Ireland, one thing that has certainly driven innovation in online bingo has been competition. There are so many new and emerging sites, and at this point so many old and well-established ones, that itās becoming increasingly harder for them to set themselves apart. Indeed, in 2019, online betting as a whole took in ā¬40 million, only around ā¬10 million behind traditional betting revenue.
The best way to do this has always been with increasingly advantageous welcome bonuses and ongoing promotions. When youāve gotten to grips with the game and youāre seriously choosing a platform to try and win some money on, their welcome bonus is one of the most important factors.
These welcome offers usually come with a wagering requirement. Say, for example, you can get ā¬50 worth of free play when you sign upābut youāll normally have to deposit something like ā¬10 to get access to it.
Bonuses will come in many forms, but it will essentially be a certain amount of free play for your initial deposit. While, eventually, the best way to play is to take advantage of all of these welcome offers, at first you should take the time to find the most advantageous deals.
Furthermore, the best bingo sites will continue to offer ongoing promotions and special events that you can take advantage of. Donāt settle for just the initial offer.
In closing, then, why should you ultimately want to play online bingo?
Why online bingo?
For many, even now when online bingo has been so popular for so long, they still canāt help but think of bingo as something relegated to circles of the elderly. Why should you want to play online bingo, then?
The best thing about online bingo, especially compared with in-person bingo, is the ease and convenience. You can play anywhere, on the go, and on the bigger platforms new games are always popping up. That variety of game types, too, attracts more players, again making even the niche games biggerāand increasing the jackpot pool!
Plus, there are always free games available even on the paid sites if you donāt want to pay. Which brings us to the most important point: playing bingo is just a lot of fun! Itās really exciting and fast paced, especially if you have multiple cards. Even better, most online betting sites have chatrooms where you can socialise with other players and even share tips and tricks. So, the social aspect of bingo is not lost in the online version.
If safety is your concern, then the advice weāve given here should ease your mind. Cybercrime cost the Irish economy almost ā¬10 billion in 2019, so online security is not a matter you should approach lightly. But any licensed online bingo platform will take security as their utmost priority, so you have nothing to fear.
FAQ on Online Bingo
Can bingo sites be trusted?
Sites listed here are licensed to offer online bingo services in Ireland, and as such we believe the requirements they have passed make them a safe option.
What signup bonuses can I claim at online bingo sites?
This varies greatly depending on the bingo company, some offer no signup bonus whereas others offer up to ā¬700 in bonuses for new customers.
Which is the best online bingo site?
This varies as new options become available and signup bonuses change, but currently the top of our list is 888ladies, part of the 888 group.