What Is Football Bingo?

Last week, Arsenal secured back-to-back victories with a (very) scrappy 1-0 win over Aston Villa. 

The defending champions struggled to find their form until Saka came to the rescue and poked Riccardo Calafiori's low cross past the Villa goalkeeper in the 59th minute. For Arsenal it was the opening goal, but for anybody holding a Match Bingo card with a goal on it, it was a square crossed off on the way to a potential win. That's football bingo, and it doesn't get more complicated than that.

A card holds fifteen events that can occur in the match you've chosen, and each square is automatically marked the moment a corresponding event happens in the match. You buy your card before kick-off. Once the game starts there's nothing to press and nothing to claim, and the card keeps updating from whatever happens on the pitch. 

Unfortunately, no amount of shouting at the telly will fill a square the match hasn't produced yet, but nobody’s ever let that stop them before. 

Football bingo compared to traditional bingo

If you've played 90-ball before, the setup should feel pretty familiar. A ticket has fifteen numbers, they're called out at random, and you mark them off until you've completed a pre-set pattern. Match Bingo keeps that ticket and keeps those patterns, so the only thing that changes is where the calls come from.

One line is a completed horizontal row of five. Two lines means two rows, and a full house (bingoooo!) is all fifteen squares. What each tier pays depends on the game type and how many people are playing it. You can find all the info on our winning scenarios page. 

The thing that’s different, and takes some getting used to, is the timing. A bingo caller gives you numbers at a steady pace, but football does whatever it likes. Nothing much happens, everyone starts complaining, somebody suggests putting the other game on, and then the last twenty minutes carry more drama, goals, bookings, tackles, and action than the last hour combined. 

And it's completely outside your control, which is either the appeal or the problem depending on the sort of player you are…

What's on a card?

A Match Bingo card has fifteen events arranged across three horizontal rows of five, and only the horizontal rows count towards a prize, so columns and diagonals do nothing for you (sorry). 

The prize tiers are Fastest 1 Line, Fastest 2 Lines and Fastest Full House. Each pays a fixed prize to whoever completes it first. Cards are generated randomly, so two people can buy cards for the same fixture and end up watching the match in completely different ways. That’s the beauty of it; you might need another corner while somebody else is waiting on a booking.

You choose the fixture, the game type and how many cards you want. The events printed on them are generated for you and can't be changed afterwards, so a corner-heavy card means an afternoon spent caring about crosses that go out of play, and there's nothing you can do to swap it for a better one. You get what you're given, and two cards bought for the same fixture will rarely look alike. 

How a game plays out

It’s easy to get started, just choose an available fixture in the app and buy your card before kick-off. Once the match starts, the events on the pitch mark the matching squares. 

Complete a horizontal line, two lines or a full house before anybody else and you win the fixed prize for that tier. There's no claim button, so a square that completes while you're making a cup of tea still counts towards your total. 

Which matches can you play?

Match Bingo covers Premier League and Championship fixtures. Cup matches aren't included, so a Premier League side playing in the Carabao Cup on a Tuesday won't produce a card, though their league game at the weekend will be available as normal.

Between the two divisions there are fixtures across most weekends from August to May, along with the usual midweek league rounds and a full Championship round on a Tuesday night. With the Premier League and Championship both covered, there's plenty to pick from every week.

The different ways to play

There are three main game types on Match Bingo. Live Games follow a real fixture as it happens, which is everything described above. 

Bingoals run across a weekend instead. Your card carries fifteen teams rather than fifteen events, and you need every one of them to score. Be prepared to grit your teeth and root for rival teams you normally wouldn’t want anywhere near a goal.

Quick Games use action from one of last season's Premier League matches. They kick off every few minutes, around-the-clock, so no live fixture is needed. They're there for the quieter parts of the calendar or if you fancy a cheeky game outside of the standard fixtures. 

You can check out the games page for extra detail on all three game types. 

Is it gambling?

Yes. Cards cost real money and prizes are paid in cash, and players must be 18 or over.

The events on each card are randomly generated, and players can't choose which ones they receive or influence what happens during the match. Knowing a team's form or tactics gives no advantage over another player. It’s all completely random, and Match Bingo shouldn't be treated as a way to make money.

The app includes deposit limits, time limits, time-outs and self-exclusion tools. GamCare provides free, confidential support for anyone concerned about their own gambling or somebody else's.

Frequently asked questions

What are the football bingo rules? 

Each card has fifteen events arranged in three rows of five, bought before kick-off and marked automatically as those events happen in the match. Only horizontal rows count, and the prize tiers are Fastest 1 Line, Fastest 2 Lines and Fastest Full House.

How do you play football bingo? 

Choose a Premier League or Championship fixture in the app, pick your game type and buy your cards before kick-off. After that there's nothing to press or claim.

Does it run live? 

Live Games do. Goals, corners, free kicks, bookings and other eligible events mark the relevant squares as they happen in the fixture you've chosen.

Can you play in a browser? 

Match Bingo is played through the iOS and Android app. You can get started at play.matchbingo.co.uk or just search it in the relevant app store.

Is there a free version? 

Yes. Free-play cards run alongside the paid games inside the same 18+ product and work in the same way.

18+. Match Bingo is operated by RTSB Limited, licensed and regulated in Great Britain by the Gambling Commission under account number 51467. GamCare provides free, confidential advice and support for anyone affected by gambling.