What is Bongo Bingo and how to play it?

Bongo Bingo is a new type of fun and entertainment where you play Bingo as well as enjoy a night party with dance, drinks and music. In the past two years Bongo’s Bingo has grown into a hugely popular event, with tickets now selling out in minutes. But what actually is Bongo Bingo?

Bongo Bingo was started in UK

It all started two years back in 2016 with the resurgence of bingo. Earlier the game was confined to the dingy bingo halls of Gala and Mecca frequented by grandmas. But it was Jonny Bongo that came up with this idea of Bingo and DJ mix to add more fun to the game.

It’s revolutionising UK nightlife and has given a new lease of life to the game. The event is not even two years old, and already packs out venues even across Australia.

The concept of the night was conceived back in Liverpool, where Josh the co founder of Baogo Bingo ran a club night, and Jonny ran a pub quiz with a twist. The guys joined forces, and Bongo’s Bingo was born. One of the big things is the prizes; even though you can win money these guys also gave away mad stuff like Coco Pops, a 23-inch dildo and a Henry Hoover and that made the night so popular; as the guys aren’t out to make money or rip people off, they just want the audience to have a good time as It’s never been a money-grabbing event. The money from your ticket goes back in to prize money and prizes.

It’s a fun filled Bingo with loads of entertainment

It’s a mixture of serious bingo playing and absolutely bonkers entertainment; the night is interspersed with dance offs, a 20-minute full on rave with glowsticks, and the occasional special guest – David Hasselhoff and Fatman Scoop have previously featured. It’s an event where you have to expect the unexpected, and you absolutely have to get involved. There’s no sitting on the sidelines here.

Thus it’s the immersive and interactive element of the night which has led to its success.

As Jonny explains, “If you go and play bingo in a traditional bingo hall it’s boring, and especially if you don’t win it feels like a bit of a waste of time. On the other end of the spectrum, if you go to a club night where it’s four hours, you can’t really talk to your mates, and it’s quite monotonous. So we come in the middle; it’s still a mad night out, you’re dancing up on the tables, but you’re also, again it sounds cheesy, but you’ve got an activity to do.” With claims that the younger generation are increasingly rejecting typical club nights in favour of special, one-off immersive events, Bongo’s Bingo taps in to the market well, and does it in a carefree, unpretentious style.

You need to pace yourself and you could be in with a chance of winning the big bucks, but get too drunk and you’ll be bundled in to the back of a taxi with only a fluffy pink unicorn to keep you company.

The event has been such as success that the team are in talks about taking the event to Dubai and Australia, and after Parklife and Creamfields last year.

What to expect if you go to Bongo Bingo?

On entry you will be  given your bingo card, a trusty pen and a lucky ticket for the prize draws throughout the night, then you find a seat on one of the many trestle tables and got to know your neighbours.

The atmosphere in the large hall can only be described as electric, with strangers striking up conversations with each other within seconds and the whole room becoming one big bingo family.

90s music will blast from the stage, sending everyone to their feet to dance on the benches, while confetti cannons explode from the stage. After the rave introduction your eyes will down for the serious business of bingo.

 

You could hear a pin drop in the room as everyone hopes to win the iconic prize. In the end there is  a double call for it, resulting in an iconic dance off for the fluffy toy.

At the end of each round there is a prize draw, with the ticket number being read out and then the lucky ticket holder has to answer a simple question – who wants to be a millionaire style – to win up to £1,000.

How to play Bongo Bingo?

Prior to commencement of any bingo session, Bongo Bingo will use reasonable endeavours to ensure that all gaming equipment is fully functional. Before each game commences, the Caller will announce which bingo card is in play; and which line, lines or full house (or any other combination) has to be completed to win a prize. On attendance at the venue, you will be provided with your bingo book and pen.

Each number will be selected at random by means of a random number generator (“RNG”). Players  must mark their cards in such a way that the numbers are sufficiently legible to be easily verifiable, allowing it to check them beyond dispute.

Numbers called are repeated on indicator boards being lit either automatically by the equipment or manually by the Caller. In the event of a discrepancy between a number announced by the Caller and that illuminated on the indicator board, the actual number produced by the RNG and displayed on the Caller’s screen shall prevail.

In the event that a player requests a re-check of the numbers called, the caller will not perform this (unless there are exceptional circumstances) after 10 numbers have been called or after the single line is checked, whichever is first.

The point at which the next number is deemed to have been called will be the moment the Caller has commenced to call that number or to give a description of that number in any degree including words descriptive of its colour or position.

Once a number has been started, it will be completed and that number will become the last number called. The winning card must contain the last number called as part of the advertised/announced winning sequence. Once a prize has been correctly validated another number is required to be called before an additional winning sequence can be accepted.

No further Claim for a prize will be accepted for a line, or two lines (or other combination) once the next number has been called. No further Claims will be accepted for a full house after the reset button has been activated and the Random Number Generator set for the next game.

It is the responsibility of each player to stop the Caller before the next number is started. A player is responsible for ensuring the caller stops the game on their winning number by giving a loud clear verbal shout. Failure to stop the caller on the winning number will render the claim invalid.

Prizes will only be paid to the person playing and stopping the game.

How to claim the prize?

For the purpose of verification of any claims, as set out below, the claiming player must be in possession of the relevant winning book.

When a Claim is made, the player must produce their book for verification. If a player fails to do so within a reasonable period of time (which shall be deemed to be five minute, unless special circumstances otherwise dictate), the right to any prize for that Claim will be forfeit.

The Caller will determine the Claim and announce the decision. If a Claim is rejected, the Caller will endeavour to obtain the player’s agreement to that decision. The reason for the Claim’s rejection will be announced.

In the event of multiple winners on a game, a dance-off or similar competition will be held to determine the prize winner.

In the event of a mechanical malfunction however caused, or any other circumstance which results in a duplicate or incorrect game books being issued resulting in multiple or duplicate claims, all entitled claimants will equally share the declared prize.

• In each game of bingo you have three chances to win. Your game consists of 6 houses, with three lines in each
• The first prize is for one line. That is when all the numbers in one horizontal row are called out. If you have this you call BINGO
• The second prize is for two lines. These two lines must be within the same house and again must be horizontal. If you have this you call BINGO. For one and two lines it is the first person we see calling bingo. If the card is correct then the owner of the card wins a prize.
• For the third prize you must have all 3 lines within the same house. If there is more than one call for this (providing they are correct), all callers will be invited onto the stage to compete for the prize. This is usually in the form of a dance-off but can sometimes be a sing-off or musical statues.

Prize draw (On 6 games)

• When you enter Bongo’s Bingo you are handed a free prize draw ticket.
• At the end of each game of bingo a ticket is drawn out and the person with the corresponding prize draw ticket will be invited up on stage to answer a question. If they answer this question they will win a designated amount of money.
• You will be required to give your full name, post code, signature and tell the amount of money won. If the person gets the question wrong then the money will roll over to the next round.

How to get the tickets to play Bongo Bingo

• Tickets are released at least a month before the events take place. Generally this will happen on the 1st of the prior month at 6pm.
• You need to register yourself at https://www.bongosbingo.co.uk/ and create your profile to purchase the tickets.
• As a member you will then receive early bird offers and exclusive Bongo’s Bingo discount codes and other offers.
• You cannot pre-book the tickets but once tickets come on sale, the new dates are announced on Bongo Bingo Facebook page. You can be alerted every time by hovering over the like button on their profile and selecting notifications.
• Ticket once bought are not refundable.

A participation/entrance fee is not charged if you wish to only play bingo, providing you have purchased your gambling stake prior to attending.
Bingo only activities will be held in separate areas and whilst no participation/entrance fee will be required, only those individuals placing stakes will be permitted to play the bingo provided. You should be 18 and over years of age to play Bongo Bingo.

Keep watch on Bongo Bingo event in Australia in coming months.