:: BINGO / HOUSIE ::

Known as Bingo (formerly Housey Housey) in the UK, this is a game of unknown origin. In Australia and New Zealand, Bingo is also known as Housie.

The object of the game is for players to mark off numbers on their ticket as they are randomly called out with the hope to achieve a winning combination.

Extremely popular in the UK, this game is different and should not be confused with the American version of Bingo which has a different type of ticket and method of calling.

A typical UK bingo ticket contains twenty seven spaces which are arranged in the format nine columns by three rows. Each row contains five numbers and four blank spaces. Each column contains either one, two, or very rarely three, numbers.

The first column contains numbers from 1 to 9, the second column contains numbers from 10 to 19, the third 20 to 29 and so on up until the last column which contains numbers from 80 to 90 (the 90 is also placed in this column as well).

The game is handled by a 'caller', who calls out the numbers and validates winning tickets.

The different winning combinations are;

Line - this is when you cover a horizontal line of five numbers on the ticket.

Two Lines - this covers any two lines on the same ticket.

Full House - when you're luck enough to cover all fifteen numbers on the ticket.

The record payout for the full house national bingo game was £950,000.