Bingo Hall Etiquette

Bingo players are a friendly lot who will be more than glad to talk you through any bingo problems you might have. But don't forget that you're on their turf. Miss Manners doesn't have much to say about bingo specifically, so here are some tips to follow to avoid stepping on any toes as you make your way through the bingo hall.

Be Quiet

The most important of all unwritten rules. You'll notice that regular players pipe down instantly as soon as the caller gets down to business.

Watch out for Lucky Seats

Some players are very particular about where they sit. If you grab a seat that happens to be a lucky one, you might be asked to move. It's a good idea to go along with the request.

Don't be a Parrot

Some people have a habit of repeating numbers as they are called. This might help them concentrate, but it can be very distracting for other players. Try to keep talking and extra noise to an absolute minimum while numbers are being called.

Keep Kids Quiet

Most people will understand if you have to bring the kids, but they won't tolerate rambunctious youngsters running around and yelling while they are trying to concentrate. Bring an activity or three to keep your children occupied while you play. Sometimes, the hall may offer "fun" bingo cards to keep the kiddies occupied.

Respect the Caller

Occasionally, players on a losing streak have been known to express their displeasure by yelling "change the caller" or making other derisive or sarcastic comments the caller can hear. Chill out! The caller can't control destiny. If there is a genuine caller problem, try saying, "Louder, please" or "Slow down, please" loudly but politely. If that doesn't work, take the problem to the bingo manager.

Before Calling - Be Sure You Have Bingo!

Calling bingo stops the flow of the game. If it's a false bingo, regular players might get exasperated with you, particularly if they've already started crumpling up the last game's paper sheets in frustration.

Respect a Non-Smoker's Space

Only smoke in the designated areas. Smoking and bingo are inseparable in the minds of many enthusiasts, and in fact, bingo halls may be the last indoor establishments in America that welcome smokers. But for some players, cigarette smoke can ruin enjoyment of the game or even make them feel sick, especially in a poorly ventilated hall. Try to respect the nonsmoker's space.

Online Bingo Etiquette

One of the key components in playing online bingo is the chat rooms. Chat rooms are extremely popular and quite a bit of fun chatting with people from around the world who have the same interest – Bingo! Behavior in the online bingo hall is mostly common sense. You must remember to abide by the chat room rules when you play online bingo. Typically there is someone who works for the online site to make sure that everything runs smoothly, so make sure you review some of the rules and general etiquette for playing online bingo.

Respect for the Chat Master / Moderator / Supervisor

The Chat masters are here to make your online bingo experience as fun as possible. Listen to their words of wisdom in the chat rooms and remember that their word is final!

Avoid CAPS

There are generally two reasons not to use CAPS when chatting on your favorite Online Bingo site. Firstly, in the chat world, this typically dictates that you are screaming at people. This will not make you any friends and quite honestly ruins the mood for other players. The second reason is that sometimes Chat Masters use CAPS to differentiate themselves from other players and to make sure any instructions are clearly communicated.

Avoid Red Font

In the Online Bingo chat world red font is typically used by the Chat Master to help differentiate themselves from other players and to make sure their messages stand out. Also, quite honestly red is known for causing uneasiness and you are playing to have fun!

Respect for Fellow Players

This means that absolutely no racial, ethnic, sexual or other slurs will be tolerated. Online bingo sites have strict anti- harassment policies that apply to both the Chat Masters and other players. Remember that all players are there to have a good time!

No Complaints

Please keep complaints out of your chats. If you have a problem with an online bingo hall, address the problem to their customer service team.

Impersonation

Do not impersonate other online players during chat. This is confusing, rude and a volition of other players’ rights.

Be a Good Sport

Enjoy your winnings! Remember to congratulate other players’ good fortunes and try not to brag too much when you snap up a big bingo jackpot!

Screen Names

When choosing a screen name, consider other players and do not choose one in bad taste. We all enjoy a laugh but not at anyone’s expense. Avoid screen names that your fellow online bingo players might find offensive or distasteful.

No Advertisement

Please do not endorse any online or offline bingo hall sites, other than the one at which you are playing, either in private or group chat. An online bingo hall is not an appropriate forum for advertisers.