How to play holiday bingo
Word bingo plays like number bingo: a caller announces items one at a time and players mark them. The first player to complete the agreed pattern shouts “Bingo!”.
The basic rules
- Every player gets a different card and something to mark squares with.
- If the card has a free space in the centre, everyone marks it at the start.
- The caller reads an item from the call sheet (or draws a caller card) and says it out loud.
- Players with that item mark it. The caller ticks it off.
- The first player to complete the pattern calls “Bingo!”. The caller checks the card against the ticked items, using the card number printed at the bottom.
Winning patterns
- Line: any full row, column or diagonal. The standard game.
- Four corners: the four corner squares. Fast; good for a warm-up.
- X: both diagonals. On a 5×5 card with a free space, that is 8 squares to mark.
- Blackout: every square on the card. The longest game; save it for the big prize.
Announce the pattern before each round. You can play several rounds with the same cards: line first, then X, then blackout.
How to call a game
- Read down the call sheet; the order is already shuffled, so there is no need to pick at random.
- Tick each item as you say it, so you can check winning cards quickly.
- Say each item twice and leave a few seconds between calls; children need longer.
- Prefer drawing from a hat? Print the caller cards, cut along the dashed lines and fold them.
Tips for different groups
Classrooms
Use 3×3 picture cards for the youngest, and let a pupil be the caller for later rounds. Words-only cards turn bingo into reading practice.
Video call parties
Email the PDF a day ahead and assign each person a card number, so the host can check a winner by number. The host shares the call sheet or reads it aloud. Ask winners to hold their card up to the camera.
Office parties
Skip the caller: guests mark things as they happen during the party (a toast, a group photo, someone in antlers). Collect cards at the end and give a prize to the first full line and the most squares.
Family gatherings
Mix ages by giving young children 3×3 cards and adults 5×5 cards from the same theme; everyone listens to the same calls.
Questions
How many people can play?
Any number from two upward. Each player needs a different card; this generator makes sure every card in a set is different.
What if two people call bingo at the same time?
Both win, or play one more call between them as a tie-breaker. Check both cards against the call sheet first.
How long does a game take?
With a 5×5 card and one line to win, usually 10 to 20 calls. Four corners is quicker; a blackout takes most of the list.
What can we use as markers?
Pencils, crayons, stickers, coins, buttons, wrapped sweets or dried beans. For reusable cards, put them in plastic sleeves and use a dry-erase marker.
How do I call the game?
Turn on the call sheet and caller cards. The call sheet lists every word in a shuffled order with a tick box, so you can read down the list. Caller cards are the same words as cut-out slips to draw from a hat. See how to play for winning patterns.
What is the game code?
Each set gets a code such as CHR-5FW-30-0K3Q9X. It records the theme, grid, free space, display mode, number of cards and the shuffle. Type it into the Game code box and press Load to rebuild exactly the same cards, for example to reprint a lost card. Custom lists need the same list pasted in as well.