Editorial note: this guide is general information about how bingo, competitions, lotteries and gambling work in the UK. It is not advice, and it does not describe any specific promotion offered by Fortune Games. Rules, prices and regulations can change, so always check the operator’s current terms.
What is a bingo strip?
A bingo strip is a set of six 90-ball bingo tickets sold together. Between them, the six tickets contain every number from 1 to 90 exactly once — so if you play a full strip, you mark off a number on every single call. Strips are the standard way 90-ball tickets are sold in UK clubs and online, and several strips bound together for a whole session are known as a book.
How a strip is laid out
Each 90-ball ticket has three rows and nine columns, with five numbers per row — fifteen numbers per ticket. Six tickets multiplied by fifteen numbers gives all ninety, which is why a full strip guarantees action on every call. The columns are organised by range, with single digits in the first column up to the eighties and ninety in the last, so numbers are easy to find quickly. Buying a full strip doesn’t change the odds of any one ticket, but it does mean you are never sitting out a number.
Strips, books and how you buy them
In a club you usually buy paper strips for each game, or a book containing a strip for every game in the session — often colour-coded so you always know which page is in play. Online, you simply choose how many tickets to buy per game, up to the room’s maximum, and the software lays them out and marks them for you. Playing more tickets costs more and increases your chance in that game proportionally, so it is worth deciding a comfortable spend before the session starts rather than topping up mid-game.
Frequently asked questions
How many tickets are in a bingo strip?
Six. Together the six 90-ball tickets contain every number from 1 to 90 exactly once, so a full strip marks off a number on every call.
What is the difference between a strip and a book?
A strip is six tickets for one game. A book bundles a strip for every game in a session, usually colour-coded so you know which page is currently in play.
Does buying a full strip improve my odds?
It gives you six tickets in the game instead of one, so your chance rises proportionally — but each individual ticket has the same chance as anyone else’s.
Do online bingo games use strips?
Online you choose how many tickets to buy per game up to a maximum, and the software arranges and marks them automatically, so strips matter less than in paper play.
Related guides: How to play bingo · 90-ball bingo · What is a bingo session?
18+ only. Gambling should be fun, never a way to make money. Please play responsibly and only with money you can afford to lose. If gambling is affecting you or someone you know, free, confidential support is available 24/7 from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, run by GamCare. You can also visit BeGambleAware (begambleaware.org) or self-exclude from UK-licensed online operators through GAMSTOP (gamstop.co.uk).