75 Ball

75 Ball Bingo is the popular American version of the 90 Ball game that originated in Europe in the 16th century. Rather than playing for one, two or three lines, the US-style 75 Ball game is based on patterns on a 5x5 grid, which players have to match against a pool of 75 balls drawn at random. The winner is the first player to correctly complete a winning pattern.

Every 75 Ball game plays with a particular pattern, for example a Coverall or Blackout, where the player has to mark off all 24 squares or Four Corners. The winning player just has to be the first to mark off the four corner squares.

Ruby Bingo regularly uses over 500 different patterns in its game schedules.

Tickets

The 75 Ball Bingo ticket consists of 24 random numbers between 1 and 75 arranged in a 5x5 grid. The centre square is traditionally left free. Tickets are sold singly and not in strips.

Buying Tickets

To join a game you must first buy some tickets. There are a minimum and maximum number of tickets available for each game and all ticket purchases are paid for from your cash or bonus balance (please note, cash is always used first. If you need to deposit some cash to get started, press the 'Cashier' button just below your account details on the top right of the screen.)

You can see the price of tickets from the bingo lobby. When in the bingo room, ticket prices are displayed in the game information panel on the left or, if a game has already started, by moving your mouse cursor over the 'Next Game' link at the bottom of the screen. If you want to check the ticket price for up and coming games, use the 'Future Games' link above the tickets or click on Pre-Buy in the top menu and choose 'Future Games'.

Selecting tickets

When a game has finished, your screen will show the tickets available for the next game. Each page displays nine tickets and you can move through the pages by clicking on the left and right arrows on the page selector below the tickets.

Select tickets manually

The simplest way to buy tickets is to click on them to select them (notice that the colour will change) and then press the 'Buy Tickets' button. A message box will show you how many tickets you are about to buy plus any free tickets that you are entitled to. You will be asked to confirm your purchase.

You can also select tickets by using the ticket counter in the 'Buy Tickets' area at the bottom of the screen. Click the plus or minus signs to add or remove tickets.

If you enter a room while a game is in progress, tickets for the next game will be displayed automatically. Otherwise, if a game is in progress, the 'Buy Tickets' area at the bottom of the screen can be used to purchase tickets for the next game using the ticket counter or by clicking on the 'Select Manually' link to view the next game's tickets.

You can also buy tickets in advance by using the 'Pre-Buy' feature on the top menu. You can choose from a list of all Future Games or Special Games.

Choosing Future or Special games will open a list, from which you can then select a game and buy tickets in the normal way.

Select tickets automatically

If you are happy to take a lucky dip, the Auto-Buy option means you can buy as many tickets as you want for as many games as you want without having to lift a finger. Choose 'Auto-Buy' from the Options menu, set your limits and turn it on. You are now free to concentrate on your chat, get on with your chores or even put your feet up while the software plays bingo for you.

The Auto-Buy feature does not purchase tickets until immediately before each game and is turned off if you leave the bingo room or exit the game.

Winning Patterns

The objective in the 75 Ball game is to be the first to complete the named pattern for that game session. The patterns, created on the 5x5 grid of the ticket, can range from a simple Four Corners to a Coverall or Blackout.

Ruby Bingo uses over 500 patterns to add variety and fun to the game. Some patterns are animated, in which case the win can take place on any 'frame' in the animation. The pattern being played in a game is shown in the game information in each room and also in the lobby.

Prizes and Jackpots

In 75 Ball Bingo there is only a single prize for each game, although it is possible for some games to feature more than one jackpot. For example, there may be a super jackpot on a coverall pattern game for anyone who achieves the pattern in 45 calls or less. If the pattern is not achieved by the 45th call, then the game will play for a regular jackpot until the 50th call.

The number of calls required to win the jackpot will vary depending on the pattern - the more squares that need to be covered, the higher the number calls to jackpot.

Game Options

Bingo is a fun game and all the more so if you can personalise it to suit your character and your mood. In the Options menu, 'Settings' allows you to change the shape and colour of your marker, sort your tickets - so that your best one comes to the front - turn sounds on and off and even choose your favourite caller.

If you are using an older computer that may find some of the excellent graphics and animations difficult to handle, there are options to choose fast graphics and to turn off animations.

There are also additional security features available if you have installed the download version of Ruby Bingo. This will add a Security tab to the settings screen where you can pre-configure the game login process - either just to remember your password or to log you in automatically when you start the game. It is important to note that you should only use these security features if you are certain that no unauthorised person can access your computer.

Play Bingo

At Ruby Bingo, the action is non-stop in all our rooms. The Cloud Nine room features 75 ball games that start at least every five minutes, increasing to one every three minutes during speed bingo sessions. So even if you join the room in the middle of a game, you won't have long to wait before you can join in.

All the information you need for the current game, or a game which is about to start, is shown in the game information panel on the left. Here you will see everything from the price of a ticket, to the maximum number you can buy and how much that would cost. The number of players who have bought into the game, the game pattern and prize is displayed at the top of the panel and if there is a special offer of free tickets this is shown too. Any tickets you have purchased and their cost is also shown.

Once a game has started, you can sit back, enjoy the chat games and relax in the knowledge that your tickets will be marked for you at Ruby Bingo, you will never miss a bingo call. As the game progresses, your best tickets will move to the front and the borders will change colour as you get closer to bingo. Just three numbers away and the border will turn green; two numbers to go and the colour changes to gold; just one to go and your hot ticket will be red; and if you're the lucky winner it will turn bright purple in celebration of your win.

Winning

The great thing about Ruby Bingo is that even if you have bought your tickets with free bonus money, you will still win your prizes as cash. As soon as you win a game, your nickname will be displayed in chat as the winner and a pop-up will appear on your screen. A jackpot win is flashed to all active players. All your winnings are immediately paid into your cash account.