How to host your own free Bingo party at home for fun!

Bingo has been a beloved game for generations, and for good reason. It's a fun, exciting game and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Whether you're looking for a way to spend some quality time with friends and family, or you're just looking for a fun activity to do at home, hosting your own bingo party is a great option. And the best part? You can do it all for free! In this article, we'll give you some tips and tricks for hosting your own free bingo party at home.

To host your own bingo party, you'll need a few supplies. First, up are the bingo cards. You can easily make your own by printing out blank bingo templates from the internet and filling them in with your own numbers and letters. Or, if you don't want to make your own, you can find pre-made bingo cards online. You'll also need bingo markers, which can be anything from small pieces of paper to pennies or even candy.

Once you have your supplies, it's time to invite your guests. You can invite your friends and family over for a fun night of bingo, or you can even host a virtual bingo party over video chat. If you're hosting an in-person party, make sure to let your guests know what time to arrive and if they need to bring anything. Should you be hosting a virtual party, make sure to send out the video chat link ahead of time.

Setting up the bingo area is an essential step in hosting a successful bingo party. Choose a large table or clear space to lay out the bingo cards and chips. Make sure there is enough space for all players to comfortably sit and play as well as arranging the caller's station in a way that everyone can see and hear the numbers being called out clearly.

Once everyone has arrived, it's time to start the game! Bingo is of course a simple game that’s easy to learn. Nonetheless, here’s a quick guide on how to play.

Distribute the Bingo cards: Hand out the bingo cards to each player. Each card should have a unique combination of numbers on it ranging from 1 to 90. You can either choose to create your own bingo cards or use pre-made ones available online. Make sure that all players have a pen or marker to daub the numbers as they are called out.

Choose the caller: The caller is responsible for drawing the numbers and calling them out to the players. You can either take turns being the caller or assign the role to one person for the entire game. The caller should have a clear, loud voice and make sure that all players can hear the numbers being called out.

Start the game: The caller draws a number at random and calls it out loud. For example, "B-14". Players then look for this number on their bingo cards and mark it with a pen or marker. If the number is not on their card, they simply wait for the next number to be called out.

Continue calling numbers: The caller continues to draw numbers and call them out, one by one. Players keep marking the numbers on their cards until someone achieves a winning pattern.

Winning patterns: There are various winning patterns in bingo, such as completing a row, column, or diagonal line, or achieving a specific shape or design on the bingo card. The winning pattern should be decided before the game starts, and all players should be made aware of it.

Call out "Bingo": When a player achieves the winning pattern, they should call out "Bingo" loud and clear to signal that they have won. The caller should stop calling out numbers immediately to verify the win.

Verify the win: The caller or another designated person should verify the winning pattern on the player's card. If the player has correctly marked all the numbers in the winning pattern, they are declared the winner.

Here are a few tips and tricks to make your bingo party even more fun:

Mix it up:  Instead of using traditional bingo numbers and letters, mix it up with different themes. For example, you could use animal names for the letters (B for Bear, I for Iguana, N for Narwhal, etc.) or use movie titles for the numbers (12 for 12 Angry Men, 16 for Sixteen Candles, etc.).

Play different variations of the game: Instead of playing traditional bingo, blackout bingo, where players have to fill in their entire card to win, or four corners bingo, where players only need to fill in the corners of their card to win.

Make it a potluck:  Ask your guests to bring their favourite snack or drink to share, and have everyone take turns providing the snacks and drinks throughout the night.

Use a bingo caller website: If you don't want to be the bingo caller, there are plenty of apps available that will call out the numbers and letters for you. WDW Bingo’s Online Bingo Caller is the most advanced product available. Choose from normal and naughty bingo calls, as well as four different accents and voices for the number call outs!

Have a bingo-themed party: Decorate your space with bingo balls, cards, and markers

The goal here is to have fun. While some organisation is required, try not to turn it into a military operation. After all, bingo is the type of game that can bring people together and create a fun and exciting atmosphere.