Bingo, keno and more
Bingo, keno, scratchcards, Slingo, crash games and plinko: the casino-site games outside the main tables and slots. How each one works, what the published figures say about its cost, and the UK rules that treat bingo differently from casino games.
By the BonusKing editorial team. Last checked .
Bingo, keno and instant games: what this section covers
Bingo, keno and the instant games in this section share one thing: you buy a ticket, a card or a single play, and a draw or animation settles it with no decisions in between. Some are pooled games, where players share a prize fund; others are banked by the operator like any casino game, with a fixed RTP set by the developer. That difference shapes how the cost works, so each hub page explains which kind a game is. Start with online bingo or keno if you are new to draw games.
Bingo, keno, Slingo and plinko compared
The table sums up the formats and the cost figures we can stand behind. Where no reliable figure is published, we say so: check the game's help screen, where UK operators must show the rules and the chances of winning.
| Game | Format | What it costs |
|---|---|---|
| 90-ball bingo | Ticket of 3 rows × 9 columns with 15 numbers; prizes for one line, two lines and a full house | Depends on ticket price, players and prize fund |
| 75-ball bingo | 5 × 5 card with 24 numbers; wins can be patterns | Depends on players and prize fund |
| 80-ball bingo | 4 × 4 card with 16 numbers | Depends on players and prize fund |
| Keno | Pick numbers from 1 to 80; 20 balls are drawn | Wizard of Odds lists keno at a 25% to 29% house edge |
| Slingo | 5 × 5 card and up to 20 spins of five reels | Set per game; check the help screen |
| Plinko (BGaming) | Ball drops through pegs into multiplier cells | 99% RTP, top multiplier x1000 |
| Plinko (Hacksaw Gaming) | 8 to 16 rows, three risk levels | RTP 88.20% to 98.98% depending on settings; up to 3,843.3x |
Keno's draw is fair; its high edge comes from pay tables set well below the true odds. Pick one number and you have a 20 in 80, or 25%, chance of catching it. See keno odds for the full maths and the Wizard of Odds keno page (opens in a new tab) for its surveys.
All pages in this section
How to choose between bingo, Slingo and instant games
If you want a slower, social game, 90-ball bingo is the British classic, with prizes in three stages. 75-ball bingo adds pattern prizes. Slingo, created in 1994 and now developed by Gaming Realms, mixes a bingo card with slot-style spins. Compare them on our online bingo against Slingo page.
Instant games settle in seconds, so costs build up faster per hour. Plinko shows how much settings matter: the same idea ranges from 88.20% to 99% RTP across two developers. Crash games and online scratchcards vary just as widely, so read each game's RTP before playing.
UK rules for bingo and instant games
Bingo has its own place in UK law. The Gambling Commission's definition of bingo (opens in a new tab) treats it as equal-chance gaming: players don't stake against a bank and every ticket has the same chance. Running online bingo needs a Gambling Commission licence, even on video calls or for charity. Because a pooled bingo game's return depends on how many people play, its chances can't always be stated in advance, unlike a banked casino game. Separately, the government decided in 2020 to raise the minimum age for National Lottery scratchcards and online instant win games from 16 to 18.
18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between keno and bingo?
Both draw numbered balls, but they work differently. In keno you pick your own numbers from 1 to 80, 20 balls are drawn, and you are paid from a fixed pay table by the operator. In bingo you buy pre-printed tickets and compete with other players for a shared prize. Keno's house edge is usually high, 25% to 29% in Wizard of Odds' summary. See keno against bingo.
How does 90-ball bingo work?
Each ticket has three rows and nine columns holding 15 numbers, five per row. Numbers 1 to 90 are called at random and you mark them off. Prizes usually go in three stages: the first player to complete a line, then two lines on one ticket, then a full house of all 15 numbers. A strip of six tickets covers every number once. Our 90-ball bingo page has examples.
Are crash games legal in the UK?
Crash games can be offered legally only by operators licensed by the Gambling Commission, like any online casino game. Spribe, the developer of Aviator, has announced that it holds a Gambling Commission remote operating licence. Avoid unlicensed sites, which offer none of the UK's player protections. Check the RTP and rules in the game's help screen before playing. Our answer to whether crash games are legal in the UK has the detail.
What is Slingo?
Slingo combines slots and bingo: you spin a row of five reels up to 20 times and mark matching numbers on a 5 × 5 card, with jokers letting you mark any number in their column. It was created in 1994 by Sal Falciglia Sr., launched publicly on AOL in 1996, and was sold to London-based Gaming Realms in 2015. RTPs vary by title, so check the help screen. Our Slingo page explains the mechanics.