How to host a bingo night

To host a bingo night you need bingo cards, something to mark them with, a caller who draws numbers at random, a way for everyone to see the called numbers and a few prizes. Choose 75-ball or 90-ball, give each player a few cards, call a number every 5 to 10 seconds, check every winner against the called numbers and award prizes game by game. Clickety handles the calling, the board and the checking.

What you need

• A caller. The Clickety app on an Android phone or tablet draws the numbers fairly, never repeats a number and keeps a record of what was called.
• A board everyone can see. Mirror the phone to a TV or use a projector. A big board matters more than a loud voice.
• Cards. Print free cards or use the app's own printing. Each card has a game code and card number.
• Dabbers or pens, or players can use their own phones with the game code.
• Prizes and a way to hand them out.

The seven steps

1. Pick the gameChoose 75-ball (5 by 5 cards, a free centre, patterns) if you want quick, flexible games, or 90-ball (tickets of 3 rows, one line, two lines, full house) for the traditional British style. Pick word bingo for children, classrooms or themed parties.
2. Get cards readyPrint cards from the app or the free card generator, one set per game code. Plan two or three cards per player for 75-ball, or one ticket or strip per player for 90-ball.
3. Set up the roomPut the board on a TV or projector, with seats facing it. Give every player a dabber or pen, check that the room is quiet enough to hear the caller, and have the prizes in view.
4. Explain the rulesSay which pattern you are playing for, how to claim a win and what happens if two people win together. Keep it short.
5. Call at a steady paceCall a number every 5 to 10 seconds to start, and slow down for newcomers or care-home groups. Say the letter and number clearly, repeat when asked, and let the board do the remembering.
6. Check the winnerWhen someone calls bingo, pause the game, ask for their card number and check it against the numbers called. If it is not a winner, say so kindly and carry on.
7. Award prizes and move onGive the prize, then announce the next pattern and start a new game or a new game code.

75-ball or 90-ball?

75-ball cards have 24 numbers and a free centre and are won by completing a shape, so you can change the pattern every game and games are short. 90-ball tickets have 15 numbers and are won in three stages: one line, two lines, full house, which makes each game longer with several winners. Pick 75-ball for variety and quick rounds. Pick 90-ball if your group knows the British game or likes the traditional calls (see the list of calls). Our guide to bingo patterns shows every winning shape.

How many cards per player?

Give beginners one card; most players are comfortable with two or three. More than four cards quickly becomes hard to follow, and it is unfair to everyone with fewer. For 90-ball, a ticket is one card and a strip of six covers all 90 numbers, so a strip works well shared by a pair. Print a few spares for latecomers.

Calling pace

Start with a number every 8 to 10 seconds. Speed up to 5 seconds for experienced players, and slow down for children, new players or groups who need time to find the number. Clickety can auto-call every 3 to 20 seconds, or you can tap to call. Always give people time to finish dabbing, and use pause and repeat freely.

Checking winners

When a player shouts bingo, stop calling. Ask for the card number, enter it and compare. In Clickety you type the card number and it checks the pattern you are playing for and lists missing numbers when the card has not won yet. If two cards win on the same call, split the prize or play a tie-breaker. Do not skip the check: it keeps the game fair.

Prize ideas

• At home: snacks, a small game, a coupon for choosing the next film, a “skip the washing-up” card.
• In a care home: tea and cake, flowers, a hand cream, a book of puzzles, a small plant.
• In a classroom: stickers, a homework pass, choosing the next story, extra break time.
• Fundraisers: donated vouchers, raffle tickets, a bigger prize for blackout or full house.

Bingo for care homes and senior centres

Bingo is a good social activity for older adults, but it works best when you plan for comfort. Use the big flashboard on a TV and sit everyone where they can see it. Choose a slower pace, say each number twice and read the letter before the number. Offer large-print cards, thick dabbers and a helper at each table. The traditional UK calls are a good way to bring memories and laughs; choose the family-friendly ones. Keep sessions to about an hour.

Bingo in the classroom

Word bingo turns vocabulary, spelling or revision into a game. Write one list of 24 to 40 words, print a different card for every pupil with the card generator, and call out definitions instead of words for a harder version. Pupils can also make their own lists. Because each card is different, nobody can copy a neighbour's.

Bingo at parties

Use a themed word list such as baby shower, bridal shower, Christmas, office party or movie night. Replace the numbers with things guests will spot at the party, give small prizes for each pattern and play a long game like blackout while people mingle.

Accessibility tips

• High-contrast, large cards and a big board help people with low vision. Clickety's flashboard is made to be read from across a room.
• Say numbers aloud as well as showing them. The app can read each call.
• Leave room for wheelchairs and walkers, and keep drinks away from cards.
• Offer dabbers that are easy to grip and let people call a helper to mark their card.
• Do not rush. Pause between numbers and allow time for the winner to be checked.

Ready to play? Get Clickety on Google Play.