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How to Plan a Bingo Night

Bingo was invented by Ed Lowe in 1929. Visiting a country carnival, he witnessed a frenzy around a game called Beano. Players had cards with set numbers, and a caller picked numbers at random from a cigar box. The first player with a row of numbers won. Capture the same excitement by hosting your own bingo night. It is simple to construct the game with a few items, and it can be a successful way to fund-raise for your favorite charity.

Things You'll Need

Invitation
Large room
Tables
Chairs
Paper
Bingo cards
Bingo balls
Markers or daubers
Tickets
Prizes
Food
Drinks
Napkins

Instructions

- 1
  Find a large space for your bingo night. You will need tables and chairs, depending on the number of guests. Clearing out your dining room would work for a small group, or a recreational room at a church or school would work for a larger fundraising bingo night.
- 2
  Invite your friends. Family and friends would enjoy a night of chance and winning prizes, or you can make flyers if you are fundraising for a particular charity with bingo. If the bingo is for charity, you may need a license, depending on your city.
- 3
  Buy bingo supplies for your bingo night and select a call person. A bingo machine with balls may be rented, or you can easily make bingo balls by numbering ping-pong balls with black permanent markers. Put them into a container, and the call person would select balls randomly. Bingo number sheets can be made with cardboard, and players can mark off their bingo cards with markers or bingo daubers.
- 4
  Purchase food and drink for your bingo night. Finger foods that require only napkins would be ideal, and buy drinks in cans or bottles for your bingo guests. For a bingo fundraiser, volunteers and prizes are required.
- 5
  Welcome your bingo night guests, or sell bingo cards for your fundraiser. For a small bingo party, guests could play just to win without prizes. For a bingo fundraiser, you may sell bingo cards and winners get tickets to choose prizes. Don't forget to offer or sell food and drink at your event.

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