Bingo Clubs in the UK: How a Night at the Bingo Works Today

In licensed commercial bingo clubs in Great Britain, you must be 18 or over to play. A session involves following a host’s number calls and claiming when you have the required combination; the precise arrangements can depend on the club.

A bingo session, step by step

A first visit is easier to picture when you break it into a few parts: getting into the club, choosing how to follow the games, listening to the calls and making a claim if your ticket has the right combination. The example below uses Mecca’s club guidance, so check the arrangements at your chosen venue rather than assuming every operator works in exactly the same way.

1. Check entry and membership

Under-18s may legally enter licensed commercial bingo clubs in Great Britain, but they cannot play bingo or gamble on the premises. A club can also decide not to admit them.

Membership is another thing to check before setting out. Mecca requires visitors to be members to enter its clubs and play bingo. That is Mecca’s requirement; check directly with another club if you are visiting a different operator.

It is worth looking at the practical details of your visit as well. Knowing the session you want to attend and the club’s entry arrangements gives you a starting point before you think about tickets or the calls.

2. Choose a session and get your tickets

Mecca describes its main afternoon and evening sessions as lasting around two hours. Its main book contains 10–14 pages of standard 90-ball bingo. That gives you a useful idea of how much time to allow, rather than a precise finishing time.

At Mecca, players can buy paper tickets at book sales or use a Max electronic tablet. With paper, you have a ticket in front of you to follow; with the tablet, you use an electronic device. If either is new to you, take a moment to understand what you will be using and ask the club about anything that is unclear.

A book contains pages for the session, while the ticket is what you follow during a game. Keep the current game in mind as you settle in, so you know what to look at when the host starts calling.

3. Listen to the calls and follow your ticket

The host calls numbers, and players mark matching numbers. Listen for each call and check it against your ticket. You do not need to arrive knowing every bit of bingo vocabulary: following the numbers and the instructions for the game is a good place to start.

Mecca lists one line, two lines and a full house among the combinations to look out for. Pay attention to the combination being played for in the current game, rather than treating a single matching number as a completed combination.

If you hear a phrase you do not recognise, concentrate on the number called and the ticket in front of you. Our related reading below has more on bingo language if you would like to explore it afterwards.

4. Make a claim and wait for the check

At Mecca, a player with the required combination should shout out before the host calls the next number. This applies to electronic play too; players using the device must also press CLAIM.

Mecca says a claim is checked before the player collects any winnings. Making a claim and having it verified are therefore separate parts of the process. If you are unsure how a club handles claims, ask for its instructions before play begins.

A closer look: linked games and breaks

Some Mecca games are linked with other clubs, although not all are. A link applies to particular games, so it is useful to listen to the information given for the game you are about to follow rather than assuming every game in a session has the same arrangement.

Mecca also says interval games are available during breaks. If you want to know how they fit into your visit, check the session information at the club.

What to check before or while playing

• Entry: Check your chosen club’s admission and membership arrangements before travelling.
• Charges and rules: At licensed bingo premises in Great Britain, admission charges, bingo game charges and rules must be displayed prominently.
• Session details: Check what is included and how much time to allow.
• The game in progress: Follow the combination being played for and make sure you understand the claim instructions for your ticket or device.
• Your spending: Decide beforehand what you are comfortable spending, and keep track of your choices during the visit.

Related reads on this site

For more on how bingo formats differ, read our guide to 90-ball, 75-ball and 80-ball bingo. You can also explore bingo calls and their rhymes if you would like to get more familiar with the language.

For a different setting, our Fluffy Favourites bingo room guide looks at the themed 90-ball room.