Bitcoin Bingo
Bingo is a huge area of online gambling which is enjoyed by millions of players from around the world. It is only natural that these games should also be available to play in Bitcoin. Surprisingly, at the time of writing no mainstream sites are offering Bingo games for Bitcoin gamblers. This is bound to change soon as this payment option becomes more widespread. There are some games which are Bingo-like, including Keno and Lottery draws – and also novelty games like Russian roulette.
This article gives you an overview ready for the day when Bitcoin Bingo becomes a reality. First of all, some of the key advantages of gambling in Bitcoin are outlined. After that I have covered the different categories of online Bingo game and related games too. Finally, some notes on how to get started with Bitcoin gambling.
Why Play Bingo for Bitcoin?
There are several big advantages to enjoying Bingo games in Bitcoin instead of for dollars. The first one is particularly relevant to US players, who get hit with big transaction fees when paying cash to offshore gambling sites. Bitcoin transactions are completely free, to both the player and the bingo site. This means no charges for players, and more money to give back in the form of prizes and bonus offers from the casino. This makes a material difference to other gambling formats, and should be a nice boost for BTC bingo players too.
Anonymity is the other big advantage of gambling with Bitcoin. You will not have to give any personal information when you register, and will never have to send any backup documents (for example bank statements or copies of your driver license). Most sites will not verify your country of origin either, though you might have to click terms and conditions saying you have checked the legality of the games in your jurisdiction.
Bitcoin gambling games often have features which prove their fairness. Server strings that you can check after each game show that casino games are ‘provably fair’. I am not sure whether this will apply to Bitcoin Bingo; however the ideal of transparency among the BTC community has to be a positive factor.
What Types of Bingo Game can you Find Online?
There are literally 100’s of Bingo games you can enjoy online. What you will find is that most of them are variations of 5 core game types, based on the number of balls played or the way you win. There are also a lot of games which are close to Bingo, sharing some characteristics though not others.
Number of Balls
This is the main distinction – there are 3 main types of game based on how many numbered balls are in the virtual cage. The most common types include 90 balls or 75. You will also find 80 ball games (Keno uses this number) and mini games with 30 balls only.
Lines or Patterns
How you win the game also differs significantly across the different variations. The traditional way of winning is to get a line of numbers across your card. In Pattern Bingo games, you might win by getting all 4 corners, or a special pattern or shape on your card instead.
Progressive Bingo
Many games include jackpot pay-outs for hitting your lines in a certain number of balls. Some of these jackpots can grow very large – particularly those linked between different bingo sites or associated with high traffic brands.
Keno
This is a separate game, and gives you more choice of the numbers you select. 20 Balls are then drawn (usually from 80 or 40 in total) and you are paid depending on how many you hit. This game is popular in the US and can be enjoyed online at many casinos including Bitcasino.io.
Game Show Bingo
These are not strictly speaking Bingo at all, though you’ll find a lot of them featured at online bingo sites. Mini-games based on popular TV game shows include Deal-or-no-Deal and many others.
How Do I Get Started with Bitcoin Bingo Gambling?
While we wait for a legitimate Bitcoin Bingo site to emerge, you can get set up with Bitcoin ready to play. There are two parts to buying your Bitcoin, though many global brand websites including CoinBase and BTC-E will handle both parts for you.
The first thing you’ll need is a special wallet that holds your coins. You can get versions which you download, though unless you are holding $1000’s worth of BTC these are not necessary and a free virtual ‘Cloud’ wallet will be just fine. Once you have a wallet you are ready to purchase your Bitcoin. This is done in units called Micro Bitcoin or mBTC. This is 1/1000th of a Bitcoin. You will be able to buy coins through the big websites mentioned above, or you could do this locally.
Remember, your BTC transactions will be instant, free and anonymous – leaving you free to enjoy the online Bingo games.
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