Common Terms

• where each player has a bingo hard card, a bingo paper sheet, or a facsimile of a bingo paper sheet used with an electronic bingo device;
• for which a consideration has been paid; and
• that is played according to Minnesota statutes and rules.

A bingo board is a disposable sealed bingo placard that is used as a bingo number selection device. Bingo boards contain 75 randomly placed bingo letter and number combinations, using each of the numbers 1 through 75, under numbered seals. The caller sequentially opens the seals on the bingo board, starting with the number 1.

Bingo is played on a bingo face containing 25 squares arranged in five vertical rows and five horizontal rows with the center space marked “free.” The columns are marked with B-I-N-G-O in order at the top.

A bingo number is a letter and number combination of B-I-N-G-O and numbers 1 through 75 that are selected by using bingo balls, a random number generator, or a bingo board.

• A bingo occasion is a grouping of consecutive bingo games for purposes of tracking cash, inventory, and deposits.
• A bingo occasion may be conducted for up to eight consecutive hours.
• A bingo occasion may have intermissions.
• There is no limit on the number of bingo occasions that may be conducted by an organization.
• There is no limit on the number of games that may be conducted during a bingo occasion.

• a paper sheet containing one or more bingo faces
• a paper packet containing an adhered set of two or more bingo sheets
• a paper package assemble by the organization containing two or more bingo sheets or packets
• sealed paper that is opened by the player after purchase from the organization

Uncollated bingo paper sheets are sold by distributors in case lots. Case paper may be either single bingo paper sheets or in a tablet from which the organization removes single bingo paper sheets.

• counts and records the number of bingo hard cards purchased and played during each game;
• records the prizes awarded; and
• does not collect the payment for the hard cards.

Up to three patterns may be played on one face, such as a regular bingo, double bingo, and cover-all. Each portion is considered a separate game, even though the balls are not returned to the receptacle until all games have been completed.

A cover-all game is one in which a player must cover all spaces except the center free space to win. Cover-all includes games in which all odd or even numbers are designated by the organization as covered prior to the start of the game.

A game in which a player does not cover any numbered spaces to win. A cover-none game is commonly known as a “last person standing” bingo game.

A “facsimile” is an electronic display of a bingo paper face with its face number displayed in an electronic bingo device used by a bingo player.

Hot-ball bingo is a bingo game in which organizations offer an additional prize of up to $500 for a winning bingo face for which the last number called matches a predesignated bingo number. A hot-ball bingo prize amount may be increased from game to game and/or from occasion to occasion (similar to a progressive game). Organizations may charge players an additional cost to participate.

In this game, a bingo pattern must be completed within an established quantity of bingo numbers selected and called to win the top prize. A consolation prize is awarded if the bingo pattern is not completed within the established bingo number count.

A bingo game conducted simultaneously at two or more locations using electronic linked bingo devices. See Linked Bingo section in this chapter.

The number of bingo faces on a single bingo paper sheet.

Any combination of separately invoiced bingo paper sheets or packets that will be sold as a single unit to players.

A bingo paper sheet “packet” is a group of bingo paper sheets that is manufactured, collated, and sold by the manufacturer as a unit. Bingo paper sheet packets may not be taken apart and sold as individual sheets.

Linked bingo paper may not be included in a packet.

A game for which the established prize levels increase from one occasion or game to the next, up to a predetermined amount. If no player completes the required pattern within the specific number of bingo numbers selected and called, a consolation prize may be awarded. Increasing the ball count from one game or occasion to the next is optional.

A bingo paper sheet, or facsimile used with an electronic bingo device, that is sealed by the manufacturer in a manner that prevents any part of the face from being seen prior to being opened by a player.

A game other than a cover-all, cover-none, or progressive game.

The number of sheets in a packet.