It’s probably got to the point where, as much as you hate to admit it, you’re sick of the weekly catch up with friends over video chat. Rest assured, this has nothing to do with your friends, but rather, the fact that your most exciting update is that you’ve got through a big pile of washing this week.
Why not banish those mundane chats and awkward silences by hosting a virtual Bingo event? Grab a drink and a dauber, get comfy and prepare yourself for a video chat like no other, with this handy how-to Bingo guide.
Round up your friends on a video call
Unfortunately, you can’t invite all of your friends over at the moment, but thanks to modern technology you can still organise a gathering virtually! All this will require is a free video calling site, some friends and a decent WIFI or data connection.
Luckily, there’s plenty of free video chat services to choose from. These include, Skype, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams to name a few, though it doesn’t matter which you choose, so long as you and your friends are all accessing the same site.
Get connected and have a play around with your chosen video chat platform. If you’re the host, make sure that you have a decent understanding of the various functions of the website, such as the ability to mute your microphone, and allowing access to your webcam. Figuring out these features will help to prevent you and your friends from encountering issues that could hamper your experience, such as not being able to see or hear one of the participants.
Decide who’s going to be the Bingo caller
If you’re the host and you prompted the decision to hold a Bingo night, it may be simpler if you assign yourself the role of caller. Without a caller, the night would most definitely be a flop, defined by chaos and confusion.
As caller you’ll have the job of calling out the numbers for the other players to check off on their tickets. To make the game more personal and humorous, why not make up some of your own Bingo calls and number nicknames? Incorporate inside jokes and relevant topics into your calls for a comedy-filled Bingo experience.
It could also fall to the caller to decide what prize the winning player will receive. This could be an ‘I owe you’ for a drink once restrictions have been eased, an online voucher, or something covered in chocolate. Obviously, you don’t have to provide a prize, but it can be exciting to have something up for grabs to play for.
If you and your friends become avid virtual Bingo players and end up making it a regular thing, you might want to rotate the caller using a random name generator, or just decide amongst yourselves.
Get your tickets at the ready!
Of course, you can’t play Bingo without your own set of numbers. Possibly the easiest way to assign each person their own numbers will be to use a random number generator tool online. Each player will need a pen and paper, and the host will need to decide whether the game will follow a 90-ball Bingo format or 75-ball. This will deduce whether numbers will range from one to 90 or from one to 75.
Using your random number generator, set a minimum quantity of one and a maximum that corresponds to the maximum of your game’s format. Keep using the tool until you have five numbers written down on your sheet.
Alternatively, if you want to avoid the hassle of having to generate your own numbers, consider downloading some Bingo tickets. These tickets can be found on plenty of websites and so long as you have a printer and can easily send them to friends, they can save some time and effort! Alternatively, why not get together and play in an online Bingo room, saving yourself the hassle of printing tickets and sampling the variety that online Bingo has to offer!
So, pour yourself a glass and don’t forget your competitive spirit! A Bingo night in could be just what the doctor ordered to get you through the week!
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