What are bingo side games? How do you play them at online bingo sites? What are the most popular side games among fans of British and American bingo? Learn answers to all these questions from our ultimate guide.
Almost all popular bingo sites offer a wide variety of bingo games and bingo side games. While everything is clear about bingo variations like 90 Ball, 75 Ball, or Speed bingo, most players have no idea about side activities. In this guide, we will explain everything you need to know about online bingo side games and how to play them.
What are bingo side games?
First of all, let’s figure out what bingo side games are. Basically, they are all games you can see at bingo sites except for variations of bingo. Side games can be usually seen inside the bingo room near the live chat box and they open up in the right or left corner of the screen. Players can join them while playing bingo or in between bingo rounds. That’s why they are called side games.
Why do bingo side games exist? The main reason why you can see various extra activities at bingo-themes sites is an excellent way to win prizes while waiting for the next bingo draw. Besides that, side games are just another opportunity to have fun and play interesting games on online platforms that are focused on one particular game – bingo.
All popular side games at bingo sites
Bingo sites don’t usually have a wide selection of side games. Some of the most popular activities you can see apart from bingo are slots, scratchcards, keno, Slingo, video poker, and chat room games. Let’s take a closer look at all of them.
Slots
Video slots are leaders among all bingo side games. They are present as extra activities for bingo players at 90% of all bingo-themed sites. These slots don’t differ from games you play at regular online casinos. They can feature various themes, multipliers, and types of jackpots, and serve as a great time killer for bingo fans.
Scratchcards
Scratchcards belong to the most popular side games at bingo sites. What is more, they can be played mostly on bingo and lottery-related platforms. If you want to win extra cash, you can buy one or multiple scratch cards and check it for the prize on the spot. Like slots, scratchcards can feature different themes and types of winnings.
Keno
The rules of Keno are pretty similar to the rules of bingo or lottery. So there is no surprise that they are present at many bingo sites. If bingo is not enough, you can purchase a couple of Keno tickets, pick numbers, and wait for them to be drawn. Like bingo, Keno numbers are randomly selected making it another game of chance.
Slingo
Slingo is one of the best bingo side games because it’s basically a combination of slots and bingo. In Slingo, players pick their own numbers and then spin the reels hoping to see the winning ones on the screen. Players usually receive ten attempts to chalk off as many of the numbers on the grid as possible.
Video poker
We have already written about video poker in one of our online bingo guides for beginners. In brief, this is a simplified version of classic poker which is based on RNG (Random Number Generator). It means that winning in video poker doesn’t depend on the player’s skills or knowledge of the rules, it’s all about luck.
Chat room games
There are also multiple chat room games that don’t qualify as common bingo side games. However, players can still find them in chats, so we’ve decided to have them listed. Chat room games are run by chat hosts and can include quizzes, yes/no questions, and other simple games. In the case of winning, players receive small prizes.