Online Bingo

Online Bingo Glossary

If you're new to online bingo, it can be a little difficult to get into the game when there are so many specific terms that you may not understand. We've put together a glossary that contains some terms that you might encounter while you're playing. This includes many of the chat terms used in the chat rooms at online bingo halls.

  • (((NAME))): This means that you or someone in the chat room is giving hugs to the person whose name appears in the parenthesis.
  • *G*: grin or giggle
  • *H*: hug
  • *K*: kiss
  • *S*: smile
  • *W*: wink
  • 1TG: one bingo ball to go.
  • 75 Ball Bingo: This is a type of bingo game in which there are 75 balls. It is most common in the US and Canada, but can be found in nearly all online bingo halls.
  • 80 Ball Bingo: This is a type of bingo game in which there are 80 balls. It was created as a medium between the two more popular 75 and 90 ball bingo. 80 ball bingo is available in many online bingo halls.
  • 90 Ball Bingo: This is a type of bingo game in which there are 90 balls. It is most common in Australia, Europe, UK and Ireland.
  • Admission: This refers to the minimum number of cards/tickets you must purchase in order to play.
  • AFAIK: As far as I know.
  • AFK: Away from keyboard.
  • AFK2P: Away from keyboard to pee.
  • AKA: Also known as.
  • ASAP: As soon as possible.
  • Ball Gate: This is the one-way flap in a ball-dispensing machine that the ball passes through before it is called.
  • Ball Lifter: This is the mechanism that raises the ball from beneath the playfield to the ball shooter.
  • Ball Runway: This is the path from which the ball is launched before it is called.
  • Ball Shooter: This is a spring-loaded plunger that launches the ball into the playfield area.
  • BBIAM: Be back in a minute.
  • BBL: Be back later.
  • BBS: Be back soon.
  • BDT: ‘Bout darn time.
  • BF: Boyfriend
  • Bingo Board: This is the board that shows which numbers have been called. When a number is called, it usually lights up or is crossed out.
  • Bingo Marker: This is a pen filled with in that is used to mark off cards. It is also known as a dauber. Online bingo halls will allow you to use an electronic version of this.
  • Blackout: This is a type of bingo game in which the player must mark off all the numbers on their card/ticket. It is also referred to as a ‘coverall’ game.
  • BLNT: Better luck next time.
  • Bonanza: This is a progressive coverall that is usually played as the 13th game of the session.
  • BRB: Be right back.
  • BTW: By the way.
  • Caller: This is the person that calls out the bingo numbers as they are drawn.
  • Card: This is playing card that you mark numbers off as they are called.
  • Chat Games: These are mini games that are offered in the chat rooms at many online bingo halls. Players will compete against one another to win special prizes.
  • Chat Room: This is a ‘room’ where players are allowed to chat with one another while they are playing bingo. These are very popular among online players.
  • Coverall: This is a type of bingo game in which the player must mark off all of the numbers to win. It is also referred to as a blackout.
  • CYA: See ya.
  • CYAL8R: See ya later.
  • Dauber: This is a pen filled with in that is used to mark off the numbers on a card/ticket. It is also called a bingo marker. Online bingo halls will allow players to use an electronic version of this.
  • Early Bird Game: This is a game that starts before the session, though sometimes it is the first game of the session.
  • EMSG: Email message
  • FAQ: Frequently asked questions.
  • Free Space: This is the blank square at the center of a bingo card/ticket. It counts toward a winning pattern in 75 ball bingo.
  • FWIW: For what it’s worth.
  • FYI: For your information.
  • Game Board: This is the display next to the bingo board that shows the pattern currently being played.
  • Game Room: Online bingo halls offer different ‘rooms’ that players can enter to play bingo and chat. These are known as game rooms.
  • GF: Girlfriend
  • GG: Good going or good game.
  • GL: Good luck.
  • GLA: Good luck all.
  • GLE: Good luck everyone.
  • GM: Good morning.
  • GMTA: Great minds think alike.
  • GN: Good night.
  • GTSY: Glad to see you.
  • H and A: Hug and kiss.
  • Hardway Bingo: This is a game pattern in which you have to mark off a straight line without a free space.
  • HB: Hurry back.
  • HHIS: Hanging head in shame.
  • IC: I see.
  • IGPI: In my opinion.
  • IRL: In real life.
  • IYKWIM: If you know what I mean.
  • Jackpot: This is the largest cash prize that a player can win in bingo.
  • JK: Just kidding.
  • JMO: Just my opinion.
  • JTLYK: Just to let you know.
  • KIT: Keep in touch.
  • KOTC: Kiss on the cheek.
  • KOTL: Kiss on the lips.
  • L8R: Later.
  • L8R G8R: Later gater.
  • LMAO: Laughing my ass off.
  • LOL: Laughing out loud.
  • LTNS: Long time no see.
  • LUWAMH: Love you with all my heart.
  • LY: Love ya.
  • Minimum Buy-in: This is the minimum amount that a player must spend in order to participate.
  • Moonlight Bingo: This is a session of bingo that starts late at night.
  • Money Ball: This is a number drawn before the game that will award double the prize money if a bingo is won on it.
  • Multiple Winners: This happens when more than one player achieves a bingo at the same time. The pot is divided equally between them.
  • NETUA: Nobody ever tells us anything.
  • NP: No problem
  • OIC: Oh I see.
  • OMG: Oh my goodness
  • On: A player is said to be ‘on’ when they only have one more number to go before they get a bingo.
  • OTOH: On the other hand.
  • Pattern: This is the pattern that a player needs to create by marking off called numbers in order to get a bingo. Many online bingo halls will offer as many as 300+ patterns.
  • Payout: This is the percentage of sales that the house pays out over a certain amount of time. It is also known as the payout percentage.
  • PM: Private message.
  • POOF: I have left the chat.
  • Postage Stamp Pattern: This is a bingo game pattern in which the player has to mark off four numbers in a postage stamp formation in any of the four corners of the card/ticket.
  • PPL: People.
  • Progressive Jackpot: A bingo jackpot that continually increases if it is not won in a set number of calls.
  • QT: Cutie.
  • RNG: This stands for Random Number Generator. It is a computer that is used to make sure that the numbers called are picked randomly.
  • ROFL: Rolling on the floor laughing.
  • ROFLMAO: Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off.
  • RTF: Read the FAQ.
  • SAC: Sorry all close.
  • Session: This is the amount of time a person spends playing bingo.
  • SO: Significant other.
  • SOHF: Sense of humor failure.
  • SRY: Sorry
  • SWAK: Sealed with a kiss.
  • SWL: Screaming with laughter.
  • SYS: See you soon.
  • TC: Take care.
  • Ticket: This is the card that the player must mark called numbers off of in order to win. It is also known as a card.
  • TOY: Thinking of you.
  • TPTB: The powers that be.
  • TTFN: Ta ta for now.
  • TTYL: Talk to you later.
  • TX: Thanks.
  • TY: Thank you.
  • TYVM: Thank you very much.
  • VEG: Very evil grin.
  • WB: Welcome back.
  • Wild Number: This is a game that features wild numbers. The first number called usually determines this number. For example, if the number called is 16, then all numbers with a 6 in them can be marked off.
  • Wrap Up: This is a term used for the last bingo session.
  • WTG: Way to go.
  • WTH: What or who the heck.
  • WYSIWYG: What you see is what you got.
  • YBS: You’ll be sorry.
  • YVW: You’re very welcome.
  • YW: You’re welcome.
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