Complete Guide to Bingo Calls

Bingo's reputation as the favourite pastime of Brits is not losing steam in the online casino era. Younger generations are happy to play their bingo numbers. However, as is the case with any casino game, slang infiltrates the game’s vocabulary, with only devoted players mastering each unique term. This guide will introduce the concept of bingo calls used to announce specific numbers drawn. Let’s start learning the dictionary of bingo calls.

What are Bingo Calls?

Bingo rules have survived the test of time. After a few centuries, the concept behind the game is the same. It requires players to mark off numbers on their scorecards, randomly drawn from a bowl of 75 or 90 balls. The suspense of waiting to see if the winning combination of numbers in a vertical, horizontal or diagonal sequence will land is enhanced by creative phrases that announce each drawn number, a practice popularly known as bingo calling.

In traditional bingo halls, a bingo caller is more appropriately viewed as a master of ceremony, responsible for animating players through their exceptional communication skills, announcing numbers, and identifying winners. Some online bingo games stick to a format with pre-recorded audio, or in the case of a live dealer game, a croupier verbally communicates the rhymes.

Bingo calls are one of the hallmarks of the game. These witty and fun expressions can bring about a smile on any bingo participant. While bingo calls are mainly associated with traditional bingo, many online gaming sites that provide bingo games add pre-recorded audio of bingo calls for most, if not all, numbers. However, this is not always the case with fully automated bingo games online.

Origins of Bingo Calls

The current lexicon of bingo calls traces its roots to the mid-20th century London, especially during fundraising bingo games for the army fighting in World War 2. At that time, rhymes were often used to transmit messages, and the trend spilt over into bingo.

One driving factor for bingo players adopting rhymes was the issue of distinguishing similar-sounding numbers, such as the case of 14 and 40. By using creative rhymes, players can more easily follow the game. Most bingo calls are inspired by the numbers. For example, 22 is called Two Little Ducks because the number 2 visually resembles a duck.

Other terms’ providence is difficult to ascertain because of the passage of time. However, the practice started to evolve with a new set of nicknames spreading until a codified form of terms became available. The bingo lingo infuses additional excitement into this social game. Although learning the entire dictionary is not mandatory to play the game, having a grasp of the phrases makes the game more fun.

The Most Popular Bingo Calls

Most players believe bingo is the most important term in bingo calls, considering it's used to announce a winner. A curious fact, in the earlier years of the game's history, beano was the preferred term for bingo. However, some things do not change, and the influence of British culture is evident in bingo calls. A few popular calls include:

• Kelly’s Eye for 1: Derived from military slang, as a tribute to Australian hero Ned Kelly
• Dancing Queen for 17: Homage to the legendary Swedish pop band Abba
• It's a Bullseye!" for 50,
• Old Age Pension for 65: Represents the age at which Brits stop working.
• Cup of Tea for 3: British people like tea and it rhymes nicely.
• Fish, Chips and Peas for 33: Inspired by the traditional English fish supper.
• Brighton Line for 59: There are two schools of thought, either representing the original train number from Brighton to London or the telephone area code for Brighton.
• Two Fat Ladies for 88: The number resembles two fat ladies.

Rhymes gained popularity for the simple reason of being statistically more likely to appear. Research reveals that 4 or to use the adequate term "Knock at the door" and "Tom Mix", which stands for 6 are most commonly called bingo numbers.

Although the statistical analysis does not support the belief that 7 or "God’s in heaven" is a lucky bingo number, players stick to that perception and tend to consider "Unlucky for some" a dreaded call, because it symbolises the number 13. Bingo players are eager to select their date of birth or other number with personal significance in an attempt to appeal to luck to provide the desired outcome.

Some terms go out of fashion, while others do not budge. The new century brought fresh bingo calls adequate for modern circumstances, displacing traditional bingo calls. Modern players introduce more up-to-date terms, such as number 1, being referred to as “One Direction” after the famous music band, but these rhymes are not universally accepted. Additional modern rhymes to emerge in recent years are “Selfie Time” as the code name for 9 or “Chill with Netflix” for 56.

Bingo Calls

Playing a 75-ball or 90-ball bingo game will not influence the phrases used to call out numbers. The repertoire of rhymes is consistent, although slight variations are encountered, most players will be able to keep up by mastering the basic nicknames. Here’s a full breakdown of each bingo call you should know:

• 1 – Kelly’s eye
• 2 – One little duck
• 3 – Cup of tea
• 4 – Knock at the door
• 5 – Man alive
• 6 – Tom Mix
• 7 – Lucky seven
• 8 – Garden gate
• 9 – Doctor’s orders
• 10 – PM’s den
• 11 – Legs eleven
• 12 – One dozen
• 13 – Unlucky for some
• 14 – Valentine’s Day
• 15 – Young and keen
• 16 – Sweet 16
• 17 – Dancing Queen
• 18 – Coming of age
• 19 – Goodbye teens
• 20 – One score
• 21 – Royal salute
• 22 – Two little ducks
• 23 – Thee and me
• 24 – Two dozen
• 25 – Duck and dive
• 26 – Pick and mix
• 27 – Gateway to heaven
• 28 – In a state
• 29 – Rise and shine
• 30 – Dirty Gertie
• 31 – Get up and run
• 32 – Buckle my shoe
• 33 – All the threes
• 34 – Ask for more
• 35 – Jump and jive
• 36 – Three dozen
• 37 – More than eleven
• 38 – Christmas cake
• 39 – 39 steps
• 40 – Life begins
• 41 – Time for fun
• 42 – Winnie the Pooh
• 43 – Down on your knees
• 44 – Droopy drawers
• 45 – Halfway there
• 46 – Up to tricks
• 47 – Four and seven
• 48 – Four dozen
• 49 – PC
• 50 – Half a century
• 51 – Tweak of the thumb
• 52 – Danny La Rue
• 53 – Here comes Herbie
• 54 – Clean the floor
• 55 – Snakes alive
• 56 – Shotts Bus
• 57 – Heinz varieties
• 58 – Make them wait
• 59 – Brighton Line
• 60 – Five dozen
• 61 – Baker’s bun
• 62 – Turn the screw
• 63 – Tickle me
• 64 – Red raw
• 65 – Old age pension
• 66 – Clickety click
• 67 – Stairway to heaven
• 68 – Saving Grace
• 69 – Favourite of mine
• 70 – Three score and ten
• 71 – Bang on the drum
• 72 – Six dozen
• 73 – Queen bee
• 74 – Hit the floor
• 75 – Strive and strive
• 76 – Trombones
• 77 – Sunset strip
• 78 – 39 more steps
• 79 – One more time
• 80 – Eight and blank
• 81 – Stop and run
• 82 – Straight on through
• 83 – Time for tea
• 84 – Seven dozen
• 85 – Staying alive
• 86 – Between the sticks
• 87 – Torquay in Devon
• 88 – Two fat ladies
• 89 – Nearly there
• 90 – Top of the shop

Don’t expect to learn these terms by heart in one or several readings. It’s just not how things go. Instead, visit Pink Casino, access the lobby, and start playing. It is only through practical experience playing bingo that you can memorise most bingo calls.