Why Play Bingo Online?
When it comes to online gambling, Kiwi players have tons of options – online slots (pokies), table games, live games, crash games, etc. Why register at an online bingo site and play bingo games? Well, there are quite a few advantages that these variants boast.
Convenience and Accessibility
Online bingo sites are accessible at any time and place. Just connect to the Internet, register and deposit funds. After that, you’ll be playing bingo online in no time. Most bingo websites utilize HTML5 technology, which makes them mobile-compatible.
Variety of Games
Bingo sites feature hundreds of quality bingo games. There are special bingo rooms that you can access, as well. Diversity is massive here and you’ll always have something new to try. Compared to land-based bingo, for example, you’ll only have one variant that you can play once a day.
Community and Social Interaction
The latest and best bingo sites feature a bingo chat option. That way, you can interact with other players. Thanks to the chat option, online bingo took back the only con that it had compared to land-based bingo – the social interaction aspect.
Promotions and Rewards
Last but not least, there are tons of bingo bonuses that you can claim and use. They will enhance your overall experience and bring more entertainment. A few of the bonuses that you can claim are welcome packages, free bingo tickets, match bonuses, reload bonuses, VIP bonuses, etc.
Online Bingo Regulations in New Zealand
What’s the point of playing an online bingo game in New Zealand if it’s not legal? We know that having a bingo hall in the country is legal, but what about their online variants?
The legality of online bingo requires a bit of explanation. It all depends on whether a bingo site is based in New Zealand or not. Only two entities based in the country can provide online gambling services – Lotto NZ and the TAB.
Offshore bingo casino sites must have a license from a reputable authority. A license is the only way that they can legally operate. A few of the licensing governing bodies that operate on a global level are:
- UK Gambling Commission
- Malta Gaming Authority
- Spelinspektionen
- Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner
- Curacao
Additionally, if you want to play at bingo online casinos for real money and claim NZ bingo bonuses, you need to be over 18. The best bingo site will ask you to verify your account to confirm that you’re of legal age. If you’re not, you won’t be able to enjoy its services.
How to Recognize Top Online Bingo Sites
Before you start playing popular online bingo games, you need to make sure that you do so at the best online bingo sites. You need to pay attention to just a few things which will help you find out whether the online bingo site is reputable or not.
Safety and Security
First up, the bingo site that allows you to win real money must hold a valid license. Additionally, it has to use the latest SSL encryption. Lastly, the bingo site is required to enforce responsible gambling policies such as time limits, wager limits, loss limits and self-exclusion programs.
Game Variety
The math here is very simple. The bingo online casino should have as many games as possible. Additionally, they have to be supplied by the best software providers in the industry. The more versatile your options are, the better your overall experience will be. This means that apart from having bingo, the operator should give you access to the likes of online pokies, table games, lottery games, online slingo games, etc.
Bonuses and Promotions
Bonuses and promotions will enhance your experience and allow you to play bingo games for free while you remain eligible for real money awards. An important note about the bonuses is that their terms and conditions should be easy to meet.
User Experience and Mobile Compatibility
Bingo websites are accessed by players of all skills. So, the navigation and design should be simplified. The page load speed should be fast. Reputable sites pay attention to small details. Additionally, every legit bingo site should be mobile-friendly. That means either being accessible via mobile browsers or having apps for Android and iOS devices.
Payment Methods
Kiwi players like to use various payment methods. Some prefer e-wallets like Cash2Code and eZeeWallet, and others like alternatives like cryptocurrencies. The more options they have for deposits and withdrawals, the better.
Customer Support
Responsive customer support is the key to forming a loyal client base. Customer support should be reachable via multiple channels (live chat, mail, phone, social media, etc.) To add to that, every legit bingo site must have a FAQ section where you can find answers to the most common questions.
Step-by-Step Guide to Starting Online Bingo
The process of purchasing online bingo cards and playing is very simple. You just need to make sure that you pay attention to four steps.
Creating an Account
First up, check out all of BestCasino’s listed bingo websites. All of them are safe, licensed and meet the highest industry standards. Compare their features and see which one meets your personal preferences. Access its site, click on the registration button and start filling out the details. Accept the T&Cs and confirm that you’re over 18.
Making Your First Deposit
Choose one of the selected payment methods. Keep in mind that most online casinos, including bingo platforms, have a policy that says that your deposit method must also be used for withdrawals. So, make sure that your preferred option meets these requirements. Enter the details regarding the payment method and then, type the amount that you want to transfer. Keep in mind that there’s a minimum deposit requirement.
Choosing Your First Game
Browse the library and see what types of bingo games are available. If the site has demo versions of the featured titles, make sure you try them out first. Demo versions are basically free play and are the best option for getting to know a certain variant hands-on.
Playing Responsibly
Once you try out several games and make your pick, you can proceed to play for real money. Remember that the goal is to have fun. There’s no need to take unnecessary risks. So, set a budget and time for each session and know when to stop.
Popular Types of Online Bingo Games
Playing bingo online is all about finding your favourite variant and enjoying what it has to offer. Thanks to the fact that software providers are as innovative as they can be today, you’ll have several options at your disposal. With that being said, here are a few of the most popular bingo online variants.
75-Ball Bingo
First up, we have 75-ball, arguably the most popular bingo variant in North America. Each ticket here has a 5×5 grid and has a free space in the centre. Hence, there are 24 numbers. A winning combination here is formed by having a diagonal, horizontal or vertical line. A line represents five numbers. If this occurs, you will receive a smaller prize.
However, your bingo card may have two lines or a full house. The full house is the highest possible winning combination in this bingo variant. You win it by marking an entire card.
90-Ball Bingo
The 90-ball bingo is popular both in the UK and New Zealand. Unlike the tickets in 75-ball bingo, here you’ll have a 3×9 layout with 4 empty slots. As the name of the variant suggests, you have the numbers 1-90 here. The available winnings here are:
- Line
- Two lines
- Four corners
- Full House
In many NZ variants of this game, you can even come across three lines as a winning combo – top, bottom and middle. These often occur during bonus games. Logically, the outcomes of all rounds are determined by Random Number Generators.
80-Ball Bingo
80-ball bingo is a mixture of 75-ball and 90-ball bingo. This variant is played on a 4×4 grid and it’s a commonly played variant in the UK. When it comes to the main game, this title has several similarities with 75-ball bingo.
The patterns are different for every game. Winning lines are the same as the other two variants. They can be horizontal, vertical or diagonal.
30-Ball Bingo (Speed Bingo)
30-ball bingo is a rather new addition to the family. Each ticket has nine squares on a 3×3 grid. Thanks to the fact that there are just 30 numbers, each round goes extremely fast here. As such, this variant is often referred to as speed bingo.
Moreover, the simplicity of 30-ball bingo is what attracts a lot of Kiwi players to enjoy it. While 90-ball and 75-ball bingo have multiple winning combinations, 30-ball has just one.
Progressive Jackpot Bingo
This type is attractive to high rollers. Why? Because of the jackpots. Progressive jackpot bingo games have an ever-increasing maximum reward. That means that every time a Kiwi player purchases a ticket, a portion of the amount goes towards the jackpot.
Each time a player purchases a ticket, the jackpot increases. In some cases, it can go over NZ$1 million. An interesting fact about progressive jackpot bingo is that a man from Auckland became the first player to win NZ$1 million in 2018.
He said that he just had a “lucky feeling” and that’s why he wanted to try the game. When he won the prize, he couldn’t believe his eyes. When you play progressive bingo, the jackpot can increase by as much as NZ$100 each round.
Themed Bingo Games
Online bingo is becoming more diverse with every passing minute. Providers are now looking for extra ways to grab the attention of players. As such, they’re not just focusing on different variants in terms of the numbers.
You can now find themed bingo games, which add extra entertainment and value. The theme can be literally anything – from your favourite movie or TV show, to cartoonish-style, space and much more. These various themes are present across all forms of bingo.