Different Types of Bingo Games & Online Bingo Variations

Online bingo is available across various formats, with each variant tailored to individual player preferences.

In addition to 90-ball bingo, there are several different types of bingo for you to enjoy at Buzz Bingo. Live-hosted bingo delivers real-time action, video bingo provides RNG-powered games and keno-style titles offer opportunities to pick your own numbers. 

You’ll also encounter rooms bolstered by valuable bonus features, while branded bingo products take you to the heart of your favourite game shows and other media.

Whatever you’re into, you’ll find a format suited to you at Buzz Bingo.

Types of Bingo Games to Play

Three different types of bingo games dominate the online UK bingo scene: 90-ball, 80-ball and 75-ball bingo.

Each variant serves a unique audience, with certain games favouring faster playstyles and others providing a more relaxed experience. Find out how all three popular bingo options work with clear-cut examples covering specific games, here.

90-Ball Bingo

The UK’s go-to bingo variant offers slower, relaxed rounds, intense jackpot potential and simple gameplay. 

Games are played on a three-row, nine-column (3x9) ticket filled with 15 numbers. Your job is simple: mark any numbers on your ticket when they’re called or shown on-screen. If you mark off an entire line, two lines or the entire ticket – known as a Full House – you win a prize. Only numbers 1-90 are available.

Low-stakes 90-ball bingo is available for first-time players via Buzz Pennies. Or, if you’re after live games, try Big Money Live Daily for interactive, dealer-hosted gameplay.

80-Ball Bingo

Ready to up the pace? Try 80-ball bingo for faster rounds across a four-row, four-column (4x4) ticket packing 16 independent numbers. There are 10 fewer numbers compared to 90-ball bingo, which somewhat increases the probability of your number being called. 

Other notable differences come in the form of winning lines; 80-ball bingo dishes out prizes when you mark off an entire line, column, Full House and, in certain rooms, unique patterns. You can learn more about specific Bingo Patterns and Winning Lines in our dedicated guide.

Go Go Bingo! is the perfect example of 80-ball bingo in action, with its special Roll On Bingo bonus prize delivering extra chances to rack up rewards.

75-Ball Bingo

This is the format favoured by US players. Unlike 90-ball and 80-ball bingo, 75-ball bingo uses a 5x5 ticket layout with one empty space, totalling 24 numbers for marking.

Additional winning patterns are also on the table in 75-ball bingo; this American variant offers prizes when you mark off numbers that create crosses, certain shapes and letters, as well as standard lines and Full Houses.

Spirit Twister Bingo is one textbook example of 75-ball bingo at its best. This American-style bingo variant offers multipliers worth up to 5x per win, plus community payouts when a Full House is called within 40 balls. 

For a comprehensive look at 75-ball bingo, check out our fully-fledged walkthrough.

Bingo Variations in Live Bingo Rooms

Live bingo is among the most popular bingo variants, with high-definition taking you to the heart of every round.

High-definition streams hosted by professional callers add immersion, while community chat functionality allows you to interact with fellow players. These social features bring the atmosphere of a real bingo hall right into your home – culminating in an authentic live experience.

To top it all off, you’ll benefit from a range of exclusive Buzz Bingo live bingo features only available by joining our real-time rooms, including:

Whack a Mole

All players who land a full house are invited to participate in the Whack a Mole bonus, where you choose from nine numbers to potentially reveal a prize of £5 or more.

MoneyComb Bingo

A special MoneyComb ticket filled with 20 numbers is shown throughout select live bingo games. If you land a Full House using one of the numbers displayed on the MoneyComb ticket, you’ll potentially receive a prize worth up to £50.

Duck Hunt Quackpots

You could trigger progressive jackpots worth up to £2,222 in live bingo variants at Buzz Bingo by hitting a Full House in the following ways:

• Quackpot: Earn the total jackpot by confirming your Full House on the number 2.
• Sharepot: Rewards are distributed between all ticket holders when you land a Full House with the number 22.

Bully’s Prize Board Live

Keep an eye out for wins involving the number 50 – the player who lands the next win is invited to choose from eight individual segments for a bonus prize.

Double Bubble

Earn winning lines or a full house with any double number (e.g. 22, 33, 44) and say “MAKE MINE A DOUBLE” in the chatroom to potentially claim an extra prize worth up to £40.

The Late Night Jackpot

Complete Full Houses using the fewest total numbers to climb the session leaderboard and accumulate a jackpot reward at the end of the night.

Magic Number Jackpot

Win a full house using the room’s magic number to claim a £20 prize.

Types of Bingo Games Beyond Traditional Bingo

Some bingo variations integrate alternative mechanics, including:

• Instant-win features: Reveal instant prizes hidden behind symbols.
• Lottery-style gameplay: Pick your own numbers for random payouts.
• Slot-style mechanics: Slot mini-games and reel-based spins.

For example, Crazy Monkey Banana Kingdom leans on slot mechanics, such as free spins and multipliers, alongside bingo-style grids. 

Or, for personalised gameplay, Keno-style games like Age Of The Gods Keno allow you to pick your ticket numbers before beginning a new round. You can even get in on progressive jackpots for steadily increasing prizes!

As each of these different versions of bingo often resemble slots or instant-win games more than classic bingo, it’s worth exploring a handful of titles before committing to a game for an extended period.

How to Choose Between Different Types of Bingo Variants

Follow these tips to choose the bingo format best-suited to you.

• Game speed: Try 90-ball bingo for slower games, 75-ball bingo for high-octane rounds or 80-ball bingo for a balanced experience.
• Room size: Stick to smaller player pools before jumping into larger rooms with greater chat interactivity.
• Ticket pricing: Find your feet with low-stakes games and, once bingo mechanics feel familiar, consider moving up to higher-entry rooms.
• Mobile gameplay: Explore different games on your smartphone to see which titles are optimised for on-the-go gameplay.
• Bonus features: If you’re after games jam-packed with features or simple, traditional gameplay, be sure to evaluate game information before playing.

FAQs About Bingo Variations

What Different Types of Bingo are Available?

You can play 90-ball, 80-ball and 75-ball bingo for traditional gameplay. Slot-style and instant-win bingo games are also available at Buzz Bingo – with special features galore.

How Do Bingo Rules Differ Across Variants?

Each bingo variant houses its own unique ruleset; some wins are triggered by marking off lines, others pay out when you form a specific shape. The same is true for non-traditional titles offering jackpots and bonuses.

What Types of Bingo Games are Best for New Players?

If you’re a quick learner who enjoys fast action, our collection of 75-ball bingo is ideal. For a laid-back experience, you’ll find several suitable titles in our catalogue of 80-ball and 90-ball bingo.