Listen to this article:A night out with friends playing bingo is undeniably a brilliant way to catch up and have fun, whether you go for the traditional bingo hall or the more modern bingo rave parties that have sprung up across the UK in recent years.
However, whether it’s because of distance, time, family commitments, or anything else, it isn’t always possible for an entire group of friends to meet. It is in these situations that virtual bingo night comes into its own. They enable friends and families to meet online, enjoy high quality bingo fun, all from the convenience of their own homes. However, a truly successful virtual bingo night requires a bit of careful planning so here are our five top tips to make your next online bingo event an undeniable success.
Yet, there’s an alternative that many may find more straightforward. Simply opt for one of our recommended online bingo sites, pick a room, and schedule a time to connect with your friends there.
Choosing the right online platform is key to hosting a successful virtual bingo night. You need a platform that is user-friendly so that no one has any problems joining in with the action, regardless of their level of technical expertise.
The platform must be able to support the expected number of players and you will also want it to have features such as video calling and screen sharing. This will allow the bingo caller to display the numbers to everyone as they are drawn and generally allow people to interact in a more engaging and enjoyable way. Popular platforms include Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet, each of which has its own benefits.
Zoom is well known for being stable and easy to use; furthermore, many are familiar with it following the COVID-19 pandemic. Microsoft Teams integrates well with other Office applications, so it may be a good choice if you intend to use any slideshows or presentations during the night. Finally, Google Meet is known for its simplicity, and it is easily accessible for players with Google accounts. It is worth testing the platform beforehand to make sure that you are comfortable with it and that it offers the features that you need.
It goes without saying that everyone is going to need easy access to the bingo cards for the games to run smoothly. A good solution is to use online bingo card generators. There are several platforms that allow you to create custom cards that can then be shared with players using a simple link.
Just be sure to generate at least one card per player so that you don’t end up with two players using the same card. Luckily, the platforms are so easy to use that if people join at the last minute, it only takes a few seconds to generate new cards, and if you decide to play more games than planned, you can simply generate new ones.
Even if you are playing with a group of truly close friends, you’ll still want to make sure that the bingo keeps them engaged. One way of doing this is to make it a themed night. For example, you could use a 1980s theme, have a soundtrack of the decade’s greatest hits and even encourage each other to dress up.
In between bingo games, you could run themed quizzes that offer bonus prizes. You could also play musical bingo in addition to the regular game, further incorporating the theme into the night.
Everybody likes winning prizes and there is no reason why there shouldn’t be some available at your virtual bingo night. Agree on a budget ahead of time and then look into virtual prizes such as e-gift cards, online subscriptions, vouchers, and so on. This way, the prizes can be purchased with ease and awarded immediately.
However, if you are going to have prizes of actual value, make sure everyone is clear and in agreement on the game rules in advance. This way, you remove the risk of confusion and conflict. A bit of competition is fun, but make sure that everyone is on the same page so that things remain friendly.
Anything that relies on technology has a habit of going wrong just when you need it to work.
Therefore, do your best to persuade everyone to test their internet connections ahead of time. If possible, ask people to start logging on ahead of the start time so that there is the opportunity to fix any technical issues before the games begin. You can almost guarantee that there will be at least one person who will not be able to see or hear the others, but with a little bit of patience, these problems can usually be easily fixed.
By keeping the above in mind, you should be able to have a hugely enjoyable virtual bingo night with your friends. However, there is another option, which many will find far simpler.
Just choose one online bingo site, select a room, and arrange a time to meet your friends there. That way, you do not have to worry about creating bingo cards, choosing a platform, prizes, or anything else. You can join in the fun in the bingo room’s chat room and even run a separate video call between yourselves so it truly feels like you’re playing together. With a bit of luck, you may even see one of your friends hit the jackpot!
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