Bingo in Ireland

How we Review Irish Bingo Sites

With plenty of Irish bingo sites on the market, it’s our job here at TopRatedCasinos.ie to bring you the best of the bunch. Our expert team reviews all the available options with a range of criteria in mind — check out some of the most important areas we look at below.

Licensing and Regulations

It’s essential that Irish bingo sites are licensed by industry regulators such as the UK Gambling Commission, the Malta Gaming Authority, or the Curaçao Gaming Control Board. If we come across an unlicensed site, our review stops there. Gambling licences ensure players receive a level of protection from malpractice — and by sticking with licensed sites, you’re far less likely to encounter any problems.

Games Library

Next, we assess the range of games available to players. We’re keen to see a good mix of traditional bingo games like 90-ball, 75-ball, and 80-ball, alongside modern variations like Bingo Roulette and Progressive Jackpot Bingo. Most Ireland bingo sites also double up as online casinos, so we’ll be looking to see what’s on offer in terms of slots and table games to ensure there’s plenty to try if you fancy mixing things up.

User Experience

Every aspect of playing at Irish bingo sites should be smooth sailing, from signing up with the site, to depositing funds to your account, to browsing the games catalogue and jumping into the action. An important part of our review is testing how easy it is to navigate around the site and find what you’re looking for. Additionally, we’ll be checking that the site’s range of bingo games are optimised across different devices.

Mobile Availability

That brings us on to mobile availability — the best Irish bingo sites offer their full range of games on their mobile site, so you can pick up and play while on the move. Ideally, there’ll be a native mobile gambling app available to download for both iOS and Android users, from the Apple and Google Play app stores respectively. With an app, you’ll enjoy faster loading times, and you can also turn on push notifications so you never miss out on an offer.

Bonuses and Promotions

With so many options for online bingo in Ireland, it’s well worth taking advantage of the range of promotions up for grabs. It all starts with the welcome offer — some bingo sites offer bonus credit or free spins for slot games, while others focus solely on bingo and offer free tickets and other bonuses when you sign up. There are also plenty of deals for existing players, such as free bingo on certain days of the week.

Customer Service Standards

It’s paramount that players have access to helpful customer support around the clock. The best Ireland bingo sites offer a 24/7 live chat service, so you can always get the help you need if an issue arises. We also look for the availability of email and phone support, as well as an informative (FAQs) page, where players can get help with less urgent queries.

Bingo Games and Variations Available

Bingo may be a simple game, but that hasn’t stopped different variations emerging over the years. Check out some of the most popular formats below.

90-Ball

90-ball is the predominant bingo game in Ireland and the UK. It features a 9×3 bingo ticket which has five numbers and four blank spaces per row. Each column is separated by the first digit of each number, ascending along the card to help tick the numbers off, although this is done automatically when playing online. Players can win prizes for being the first to mark off a line, two lines, four corners, and a full house.

75-Ball

75-ball is the bingo game most commonly played in the US, but is played all over the world at online bingo sites. The ticket uses a 5×5 grid filled with numbers and a free space in the middle, which can help form winning lines. Winning lines include a row, a column, or diagonally across the ticket. In some 75-ball games, additional patterns may be included such as the four corners and a ‘blackout’, where all 24 numbers are marked off.

80-Ball

80-ball is similar to 75-ball in that it uses a square grid, but this time there are 16 squares filled with numbers up to 80. In addition to horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines, 80-ball bingo also uses additional patterns such as four corners, cross patterns, or the four middle squares.

Bingo Roulette

If you’re a fan of hybrid games that mix up usual gameplay, Bingo Roulette could be a great option for you. You’ll choose a selection of lucky numbers on the board by covering them with chips. The wheel will then start to spin and pick out numbers — if one of yours comes up, the chip will be removed. Remove all your chips within a certain number of calls to win the jackpot!

Progressive Jackpot Bingo

Progressive jackpots are popular in slot games and are starting to be incorporated into other genres at the best online bingo sites. The jackpot amount grows as players buy bingo tickets and take part in games. To win the jackpot, you’ll usually need to be the one to shout ‘bingo!’ for a full house in 36 calls or less.

Candy Hearts

Candy Hearts at Hearts Bingo takes the progressive jackpot concept one step further. There are three separate jackpots up for grabs when playing this game and each one grows until one lucky winner takes the lot: the Mini Pot starts from €10; the Midi Pot starts at €300; and the Maxi Pot starts at €700. The Mini and Midi Pots can be won several times a day, while the Maxi Pot can be hit just once at a particular time each day.

Slingo

Slingo is a popular choice for fans of online bingo Ireland as it brings together elements of bingo and slots. It was launched in 1994 and originally found popularity as part of AOL’s games network, before becoming a hit at online casinos and Irish bingo sites. The game features a 75-ball style bingo grid, with a slot reel underneath filled with numbers. Players spin the reel and attempt to match the numbers with those on the grid — by forming winning lines you’ll make your way up the slingo paytable and win prizes. Watch out for jokers, super jokers, devils, and free spins as — these are thrown in to spice things up.

Playing Free Bingo 

Bingo is a fun pastime that’s popular with all ages, and while winning a sizable jackpot may be an exciting prospect, for many players the real excitement comes from counting down the numbers and the anticipation of a bingo call.

Naturally then, many players love playing bingo for free. With free bingo, you won’t have to worry about paying for bingo tickets. Instead, you’ll jump straight into the action and start playing, retaining the social aspect of this game thanks to chat functions available in online bingo rooms. For generations, bingo lovers have gone along to bingo halls to have fun with friends, and playing online offers a similar social experience.

So, where can you play bingo for free? For starters, free bingo is available to play through a range of apps on the Apple and Google Play stores. These are free to download and cost nothing to play. 

Alternatively, you can dabble in free games at real money bingo sites. With this option, you can still pick up cash prizes if you’re the lucky winner. One example is at Paddy Power, where the free bingo room is in action for six hours every day and offers €5 for a full house, €3 for two lines and €2 for one line.

Best Irish Bingo Bonuses

At Irish bingo sites, there are lots of bonuses available for both new and existing customers. These deals come in a bunch of different formats, so it’s helpful to familiarise yourself with what could be up for grabs. Let’s take a look at some of the main types of bonuses on offer.

• Deposit x, Get y – here you’ll pick up rewards such as bonus credit when you deposit a certain amount of cash to your bingo account.
• Bet x, Get y – sometimes, you’ll need to buy bingo tickets or place bets on selected games to unlock the rewards.
• Matched Deposits – with a matched deposit, you’ll receive a certain percentage of bonus credit when you make a deposit — a 100% match on a €20 deposit would leave you with €40 to play with.
• Free Bingo Tickets – free bingo tickets are often thrown in as part of welcome offers for new players. They give you the chance to enter real money bingo rooms and play for cash prizes.
• Existing Customer Promotions – at the best Irish bingo sites, current players are well looked after. Whether it’s free bingo at certain times of the day or daily boosted jackpots, there’s plenty to play for each week.

Bingo Bonus Terms and Conditions

Every bingo bonus will come with certain stipulations — it’s important to read these carefully before opting in so you know what to expect. Here’s a breakdown of the main T&Cs you’re likely to come across when claiming offers for online bingo in Ireland.

Wagering Requirements

Players will often need to wager a certain amount of their own money before their bonus can be converted into withdrawable cash. For example, a 20x wagering requirement on a €20 bonus would require you to wager €400 (20 x €20).

Minimum Deposits

Most bingo bonuses are unlocked by adding funds to your account. If that’s the case, there’ll be a minimum deposit required in order to claim the rewards — the amount can vary, but is usually in the region of €10–€20.

Time Limits

Time limits are another common stipulation you’ll need to watch out for. There’s often a limited amount of time to claim an offer, to use it, and then to complete any associated wagering requirements.

Payment Method Exclusions

When placing a deposit in order to claim a bingo site’s welcome bonus, be sure to look out for any payment method exclusions. e-Wallets like Neteller and Skrill often can’t be used to unlock offers.

Game Restrictions

Many casino bonuses are aimed at a few select games, so it’s a good idea to check this before opting in to avoid any disappointment. An online casino that hosts bingo won’t necessarily offer bingo bonuses.

Bingo Networks

When browsing the web for new places to play online bingo in Ireland, you may notice that there are common games across multiple different sites. This is because most online bingo games are actually part of wider bingo networks.

Bingo networks develop the games and then supply them to various sites. The benefit of this is that there are always lots of people ready to play in each bingo room, meaning there are bigger prize pools up for grabs and more players to chat to.

Some of the most popular online bingo networks include:

• Virtue Fusion, subsidiary of Playtech
• Dragonfish Software
• The Real Bingo Network
• United Bingo Network

Banking Methods for Irish Bingo  

The best Irish bingo sites offer a wide range of banking methods for players to choose from. Check out the most common services available below.

Debit Cards

Debit cards such as Visa and Mastercard are the most readily available payment methods at Ireland bingo sites. This means that if you’re happy to use them, you won’t need to create any additional accounts to deposit and withdraw funds. What’s more, they’re always accepted for unlocking deposit bonuses. The downside with this option is that withdrawals can take up to five days.

e-Wallets

The likes of PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller are popular alternatives for customers who’d prefer not to share their bank details. With an e-wallet, you’ll just need your email and password to deposit and withdraw funds. Plus, it’s one of the quickest methods available, with withdrawals generally completed within 48 hours. The main drawback is that you may not be able to use your e-wallet to unlock a deposit bonus.

Prepaid Cards

Prepaid cards such as Paysafecard allow you to deposit funds without sharing any account details. They can be purchased in different denominations, so they’re a handy method for tracking your spending. In the case of Paysafecard, you’ll just need the 16-digit code displayed on the card to authorise the payment.

AstroPay

AstroPay offers virtual prepaid cards, so you can buy one online quickly and easily. It also functions as an e-wallet, so you can use it to withdraw as well as deposit funds to and from your bingo account.

Cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin can sometimes be used to fund your bingo account. Once you’re ready to cash out, you can link to your crypto wallet to withdraw the funds. Crypto transactions offer greater anonymity than other services, and fast, often instant withdrawals. We always strongly advise our readers to first conduct some research into cryptocurrencies if they’re interested in using them.

Playing Bingo on the Go

Bingo is an easygoing game that’s simple to play, making it perfect for playing on the go. Most bingo sites offer their full range of games on mobile, so you can join a room and start playing wherever you are.

The best Irish bingo sites offer their own downloadable apps for iOS and Android users. With an app, you’ll benefit from faster loading times and can turn push notifications on so you never miss out on an offer.

Looking for a new app to play bingo on the go? Try one of the following:

• Coral
• Betfair 
• 888casino 
• 10Bet 
• Paddy Power 
• LeoVegas