How 90-ball bingo works
90-ball bingo is common in the United Kingdom and appears in online rooms serving broader audiences. It uses a ticket rather than the 5 by 5 US card.
Ticket layout
Section titled “Ticket layout”A conventional ticket has three rows and nine columns. Each row contains five numbers and four blank spaces, for 15 numbers in total. Columns broadly progress by tens: the first contains 1 through 9, the middle columns cover ten-number bands, and the last contains 80 through 90.
A conventional strip of six tickets distributes all numbers from 1 through 90 once across the strip. A room can sell individual tickets or strips and can cap the number held by one account.
| Column | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Numbers | 1 to 9 | 10 to 19 | 20 to 29 | 30 to 39 | 40 to 49 | 50 to 59 | 60 to 69 | 70 to 79 | 80 to 90 |
Blank spaces separate the ticket’s numbers; they do not need a ball or a mark.
Prize stages
Section titled “Prize stages”Most 90-ball sessions use three stages:
- One line: every number in one horizontal row is marked.
- Two lines: two completed rows on the same ticket.
- Full house: all 15 numbers on one ticket are marked.
The room can use another sequence or add side prizes. Check whether play pauses after a stage and how a shared winning call affects prize division.
One line, two lines and full house on the same ticket
Section titled “One line, two lines and full house on the same ticket”| 3 | Blank | 22 | Blank | 44 | Blank | 61 | Blank | 82 |
| Blank | 12 | Blank | 31 | 47 | 55 | Blank | 74 | Blank |
| 8 | 18 | 29 | Blank | Blank | 59 | 68 | Blank | Blank |
In this original example, calls 3, 22, 44, 61 and 82 completed the top row. That meets one line if that stage is still open. The middle row needs 12, 31, 47, 55 and 74; only 74 is missing. Calling it would complete two lines on this ticket. A completed row on another ticket cannot be added to it.
Full house still needs 8, 18, 29, 59 and 68, the bottom row’s five numbers. Completing a line after someone has already won that stage does not by itself create another prize; check the next stage and its tie rule.
Cost of a strip
Section titled “Cost of a strip”If a ticket costs $0.20 and six tickets form a strip:
strip cost = 6 × $0.20 = $1.20
The strip covers every possible called number, so each call marks exactly one number somewhere on the strip. It does not guarantee an early line or full house, and it multiplies the amount at risk versus one ticket.
Auto-daub and claims
Section titled “Auto-daub and claims”Online 90-ball commonly uses auto-daub because six-ticket strips are difficult to mark manually at speed. Determine whether the system also auto-claims wins. Auto-daub prevents missed marks but does not alter the generated ticket or call sequence.
Do not mix formats
Section titled “Do not mix formats”Terms such as coverall and four corners generally belong to 75-ball or 80-ball pattern play. Full house in 90-ball means all 15 ticket numbers, not all spaces on a 5 by 5 card. The displayed game rules decide any exception.
Rule source
Section titled “Rule source”Sky Bingo’s tickets, strips and prizes guide confirms 15 numbers, five per row, and six tickets per full strip. This UK operator documentation explains the format; it does not establish cash-game access from the US. The ticket and price on this page are teaching examples.