Bingo Lingo: A Glossary of Bingo Terms
This is an independent, informational guide for UK readers and is not affiliated with the organisations mentioned. It is provided for general information only.
Bingo lingo is the everyday slang of the game — words like "eyes down", "dabber" and "full house". You don't need any of it to play, because the caller or the software does the work, but knowing a few terms makes the halls and online chat rooms far easier to follow. Here is a plain-English glossary of the most common ones.
Common bingo terms
If you are new to bingo, the language can sound like a code of its own. "Eyes down" means the game is about to begin and it's time to concentrate. A "dabber" (or dauber) is the chunky ink pen used to mark numbers on paper tickets.
Winning patterns have their own names: a "line" is one completed row, and a "full house" means every number on a ticket has been marked — usually the biggest prize. "Books" or "flyers" are the sets of tickets you buy for a session.
Terms that mean you are close to winning
When you need just one number to complete a line or a full house, players say you are "one to go" or use the shorthand 1TG; needing two numbers is 2TG. You might also hear "waiting" or "on it" to describe the same thing.
These terms come up a lot in online chat rooms, where the game can flag automatically how many players are close.
Online bingo lingo
Online play adds its own words. "Auto-dab" marks your numbers for you, "pre-buy" lets you buy tickets for a game before it starts, and the "CM" or chat host moderates the chat room. Regular players are sometimes called "roomies".
Knowing a few of these makes the chat rooms friendlier, but you don't need any of it to play — the software handles the rules.
A few more terms worth knowing
When someone completes the winning pattern they shout "bingo" or "house" to claim, and the game pauses while it is checked. A "national game" is a draw linked across many sites for a bigger shared jackpot.
You will also hear "session" for a block of games and "admission books" for the tickets bought to take part.
What does "eyes down" mean?
It signals that the caller is about to start, so players should focus on marking their numbers.
What is a dabber in bingo?
A dabber, or dauber, is the ink marker used to dab numbers on paper bingo tickets as they are called.
What does 1TG mean?
1TG is shorthand for "one to go" — you need just one more number to complete a line or full house.
Do I need to know the lingo to play?
Not at all — the caller or the software handles everything. The terms just make the chat and the atmosphere more fun.
Related guides: Bingo calls list, Online bingo, Responsible gambling
18+ only. Gambling should be fun, not a way to make money. If you are worried about your gambling, or affected by someone else's, free and confidential help is available from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, from BeGambleAware.org, and through the self-exclusion scheme GAMSTOP. You must be 18 or over to gamble.