How to Play Eskimo Bingo

Plan or determine a gathering at which to play Eskimo bingo. There is no limit to how many people can play, and the game is generally more fun with 10 or more people.

Notify event attendees of the plans to play Eskimo bingo. Traditionally, such games are arranged in advance and players are encouraged to bring one or more wrapped gifts to the game. It is also typical for the host to specify a dollar amount limit for the prizes, usually a small amount like $5. However, if you as the host decide to furnish all the gifts, you can plan to buy them yourself and inform your guests that bringing gifts is not necessary.

Collect all of the wrapped gifts at the event and place them in a central location where they can be seen by everyone in the room. Gather players in a circle around the prizes.

Establish the rules. First, choose a player to be the first to roll the dice. Second, announce a direction, clockwise or counterclockwise, that game play should progress. Lastly, announce whether or not gifts should be opened immediately or at the end of the game. If gifts are to be opened during the game, each player must immediately open a wrapped gift chosen from the pile, which allows players to make more informed decisions about gifts they might want to steal. If you choose to wait to open the gifts, decisions to steal prizes can only be made based on the size and shape of the package.

Give two 6-sided dice to the first player and instruct the player to roll the dice. If the player rolls doubles, that player can select any gift from the pile in the center of the room and must either open it or leave it wrapped, depending on the established rule. If the player does not roll doubles, the dice go to the next player in the rotation.

Game play continues by passing the dice around the circle and giving players one opportunity each, in turn, to roll doubles. Every time a player rolls doubles, that player can either choose a wrapped gift from the center of the room or a gift already claimed by another player.

Continue playing until every prize has been claimed. The game ends whenever the last prize from the central pile is chosen.