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Bingo Glossary

We all live in different language games depending on what situation, item, or game you are partaking. Games, for example, develop their own terminologies that make it unique and more exciting. Before you judge bingo terms as esoteric, here is a quick run down of terms used in bingo:

Blackout - This is a pattern where, in order for a player to win, he/she has to cover all numbers or all spaces in his/her card. Most often, this is the pattern used for jackpot prizes.

Caller - He/she is the person who calls the numbers in the bingo. The caller must be quick and pronounce the numbers clearly and with enthusiasm.

Dauber - a device used to mark called numbers in the bingo card. It is a bottle or pen that can be filled with ink.

Early bird game - this sounds a little bit obvious. This is a game that starts before the scheduled game.

Free space - this is the square at the center of the bingo card, and it can be compared to a joker card in a deck of cards.

Game board - the game board displays all the numbers that has been called by the caller. Game boards of today are electronic, and it has replaced the plywood and paint.

Game room - this is a term on online bingo and it refers to a set of players in one bingo game.

G.T.I. - an electronic dauber and it is used for multiple cards and packs.

Hard way bingo - this is a way to win a straight line bingo in any column or row except the one touching the free space.

Jackpot - highest prize in bingo after finishing a hard pattern, usually the blackout.

Minimum buying - the minimum amount of cost for a player for him/her to avail of the prizes available.

Money ball - a variation in the bingo game where the "money ball" is drawn before the actual start of the bingo game and a winning player can double his prize if he gets a bingo on that number.

Pattern - a shape that has to be made by marking or covering the numbers in the card to make a bingo. Patterns include straight lines, T's, four corners, blackout, and the like.

Progressive jackpot - this is a jackpot that continues to increase until one player can get it in consecutive plays.

Rainbow pack - this is a paper pack in a variation of the bingo game where a player can play on three to four prizes at a time.

Validation - this is a process of requirement for a player to be eligible to win successive jackpots. This also varies by the number of cards being played.