Don’t we all know the hassle of finding the best bingo sites to win or simply have fun on? Read More
We have gone through dozens of online bingo sites in the UK and hand-picked the ones that live up to high standard guidelines, such as:
Legitimate and reputable among the UK players,
No spammy chatrooms,
Lucrative bonuses for players.
We also created a comprehensive checklist with 12 most important quality factors – so you can easily run a check and make sure your chosen bingo site is indeed worth your time.
‘What is the best bingo site in your opinion?‘ – is one of the questions asked year by year by WhichBingo in their UK bingo survey.
Amongst those surveyed, Sun Bingo came out as the most popular brand of last year. Here you will find the full list of top 10 bingo sites in the UK (plus their current bonuses!) according to the players’ opinion.
Sun Bingo started out in 2006 as a branch of The Sun newspaper but has been acquired by the renowned software developer Playtech since 2016. So, not only do they have over a decade of experience, they also have one of the biggest names in the business heading them.
What you will find here is a well-stacked bingo games library consisting of 75- and 80-ball plus specials like 36-ball Cash Cubes Bingo, 75- and 90-ball Deal or No Deal Bingo, and 40-ball Rainbow Riches Bingo.
Mecca Bingo hardly has any need for introductions as it’s one of the most established bingo names around! In fact, they’ve been operating since 1961, so they have PLENTY of experience in the business.
They have dozens of bingo rooms to choose from, from the classics to themed bingo rooms, and over 250 non-bingo games, like slots or scratch cards. Moreover, there are also free bingo games and games with minimum bets of as a little as 1p.
Paddy Power is most known for its online betting and bookmaker shops all around the UK and now it reached out to the bingo players as well.
We are sure the high standard will be sustained on the bingo site, and we can already see it happening as Paddy Power Bingo offers a huge variety of games including exclusives, a very affordable minimum deposit of £5, daily free bingo games and more.
JackpotJoy is an award-winning bingo and slots site.
The game library consists of 75-ball, 80-ball and 90-ball bingo, but also special games such as progressive jackpot ‘Game Show Bingo‘ – plus if you call a full house within 51 balls being drawn you claim the ‘Fantastic 51 Super Jackpot‘ worth 1,000 times the value of your ticket price.
The company’s origins are stretching as far back as to the 1930s. There probably isn’t a single person in the UK who hasn’t stumbled upon William Hill at some point.
What they offer on their bingo site is 75-ball, 80-ball and 90-ball bingo, in addition to some new twists, such as Joker Jackpot and Rainbow Riches Bingo. What’s more, they also have terrific and unique collection of themed rooms.
How to Compare Online Bingo Sites?
More than three million people are known to play online bingo regularly in the United Kingdom, making the game an intangible part of our cultural heritage. Chances are, you’ve already played bingo, either for fun or to try and win money and prizes.
As you probably already know, one of the main problems with bingo operators is the fact that there are quite literally hundreds of them to choose from, and they all claim to be the best bingo sites on the Internet.
There are exactly 365 online bingo operators in the UK alone as of 2020.
The struggle is real when it comes to finding the right site for YOU!
But that’s when we come in.
SmartphoneGambler Helps You Choose the Best Bingo Site for You
smartphonegambler.com has been established in 2004 – we are celebrating glorious 15 years being on the market!
During those years we have come up with a list of quality guidelines according to which we rate the sites.
Now we decided to share our checklist with you so that you can quickly determine whether or not an online bingo site is the right one for you.
Let’s dive right in!
12 Most Important Quality Factors of a Bingo Site [2024 Checklist]
Whenever you are looking at a site that claims to be the best online bingo site, we would advise that you take the following factors into consideration:
The first thing you need to do is to check if the specific bingo operator supports your chosen payment method for depositing and withdrawing funds.
Pay close attention when you are making your first deposit, as some payment methods come with minimum and maximum deposit limits. If you are depositing a sum of money to get a welcome bonus, then you should also see what the wagering requirement that comes with the bonus is.
Setting Limits
We would highly recommend that you set some deposit limits on your online bingo platforms if you are new to the world of online bingo. Bingo operators have to ask you if you want to set a daily, weekly or monthly deposit limit thanks to responsible gambling policy. You can go in and change your deposit limit after it has been set, but any changes might not occur immediately so have a good think before you set your limit.
Making Withdrawals
On most online bingo platforms, withdrawing your money is just as easy as depositing your money, although it can sometimes take a little bit longer. The length of time that it takes for you to withdraw your money often depends on the payment method that you choose, with an average of 3 days to bank accounts and some e-wallet withdrawals occurring immediately.
Payment Methods – Bingo, Casino, Betting
Find out how fast you can get your winnings according to the specific payment method, what are the limits, how to make safe deposits and more. All you need to know about payment methods when gaming online is here in one place.
What happens if the online bingo site you use goes bust? Are you aware that your funds are not 100% guaranteed if that were the case?
All trusted bingo operators in the UK that hold customer funds are required by law to clearly specify in their terms and conditions what level of protection they offer. There are three different broad categories of protection.
Not Protected
If the bingo website you use goes bust, your funds are considered part of the business and you will likely not recover them.
In case you’re surprised or in disbelief that the likes of William Hill has no protection, keep in mind the following: in the case an online gaming site goes bust, it is still very unlikely to lose your funds. It will in almost 100% cases be taken over by a competitor and the funds kept in your account.
The database and loyalty of the users is much too valuable for other companies to let it go to waste.
3. Awesome Bingo Features
Among the layers of some of the best bingo sites, UK players will find a number of awesome features that really make certain bingo websites stand out more than others. This is because of the amount of competition there is out there, as every new bingo site needs to offer more than the next.
Webcam Bingo
One of our favourite features is the ability to play bingo with webcams. UK bingo players should rejoice, because this means that you get to have your moment of glory whenever you win! If you do partake, then you will also win a bonus. At present, the best bingo site to enjoy this feature on is Bingocams.
Deposit at physical locations
If you go with a registered bookmaker like Coral Bingo, you will also have the option to make your deposits in cash at one of their physical locations. This brings one of the best online bingo websites out of the internet and into the real world.
New Bingo Sites 2024
New bingo websites = new trends! If you are looking for more awesome and fresh features be sure to check out the newest bingo websites there are. Ready for the excitement?
When you are putting your financial details online, you need to make sure that your sensitive professional data is protected.
Luckily, most of the best bingo sites are encrypted with up-to-date SSL security technology, and many of the best online games even feature stringent safety procedures.
SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption is a method used to ensure secure communication between two points on the internet, in this case, your PC and the bingo website.
How do I know if my favourite bingo site uses SSL?
Lock icon in the address bar is a sign of a website encrypted with SSL technology.
What else should I keep in mind when it comes to security?
Update your passwords regularly
Listen to other players’ concerns
Play only with licensed operators
Clear big winnings from your bingo account straight away
Our favourite websites that are known for their reputation with regards to their security include Foxy Bingo and Sun Bingo.
7 Signs of a Trusted & Safe Bingo Site
Payment security, transparency, responsible gaming control… There’s more to gaming security than SSL. Learn the signs of a trusted and safe online bingo website before signing up.
If you have a list of bingo operators that you are currently looking at, then we would highly recommend that you try to work out how transparent they are about things like their RTP.
6. Welcome Offers
Before you settle on your decision, you should take a look at what welcome offers are available to you. We would highly recommend that you start by looking for a no deposit bonus offer. That way, you can start to explore each of the bingo websites that you look at to get a feel for them without any financial outlay.
No Deposit Bingo Bonuses
We provide you an updated list of all sites which credit you extra bonuses right after you sign up (before making your first deposit!). It’s the best way to test out an operator without spending your own money.
If you can’t find a no deposit option that suits your needs, then you will probably have to pay a small deposit to meet the requirements that are set out by the promotion. Depending on your chosen bingo operator, UK players might earn a lump sum of money that they can wager, free spins on a slot machine or even access to VIP bingo rooms.
Some of the best bingo sites to win on will offer several introductory offers at once, and it is up to you to decide which one you could make the most money from or enjoy the most.
Best Bingo Bonuses
Find more bonuses here! You will find not only the most lucrative bingo bonuses currently available, but also a complete bingo bonus guide with in-depth advice and tips on how to make the most of the best bingo offers.
One of the best things about playing online bingo in the United Kingdom is the community aspect that can be found enveloping it. When you play bingo online, you are usually playing with a team of like-minded bingo lovers. Some platforms give you the opportunity to communicate with your fellow bingo lovers in monitored chat rooms, giving you something to do in between games.
Our team of SmartphoneGambler experts understands that no one likes using chatrooms that are full of spam, which is why we believe that the best online bingo platforms are the ones that have carefully monitored chat rooms and no spam. Some of the best bingo sites available also have a chat host who you can communicate with.
If you take a look at some of the best bingo sites, UK reviews are pretty thorough and cover this topic well. Two of our favourite sites for their chat features are 888Ladies and Wink Bingo.
8. User Friendliness
When we refer to user-friendliness, we are actually referring to how easy it is to use the bingo websites that you are looking at.
It is possible to play on bingo websites that seem to be cluttered, but you probably won’t enjoy the experience as much as you otherwise would. With so many options available out there, why should you settle for bingo sites that aren’t worth it?
Pre-buy your tickets
The best bingo sites that the UK has to offer also include pre-buy facilities that you can use. These allow players to purchase tickets in advance for some of the games, making play to win bingo a relatively easy affair. You can also set up an automated system that purchases tickets for you.
If you are looking for online bingo websites that are easy to use, then you should start by looking at Betfair Bingo and Bet365.
How to Play Bingo Online?
Pre-buying your tickets is only one of the features to be found on online bingo. Here you will find more features and settings + a walk-through of playing bingo online.
Whether or not a reputable bingo website offers a mobile application that can be used remotely is another important factor that you need to ensure is applicable.
Around the third of all UK bingo players (which is 1.2 million people!) uses their mobile to conveniently play bingo wherever they are.
Try to remember that the introduction of HTML5 to online bingo games means that each game you play will be smooth and hassle-free, offering you an experience that involves no buffering or awkward stops. Every bingo application should feature HTML5 games, including industry leaders such as Mecca Bingo and JackpotJoy.
10. Licensing
Once you have settled on your decision, you should make sure that your chosen provider is licensed. Most of the most popular bingo operators in the United Kingdom are licensed in Gibraltar, by both the local licensing authority and the Gambling Commission.
Most providers operate out of Gibraltar because they don’t have to pay as much tax as they would have to if they operated out of the British Mainland. This means that they can offer larger jackpots and better prizes, as they are saving money in other areas.
If you were to look at a list of bingo sites that are available to players here, then you would quickly notice that we list only licensed operators.
11. Software Provider
What is software when it comes to bingo online?
Basically, it is the underlying platform on which the bingo site runs – and it includes games, side games, chatrooms and so on. Software providers also take care of the sound and graphics of the games.
Usually, when browsing the game lobby you will be able to easily distinguish the providers by their logo appearing on the game’s miniature.
The table below shows online bingo websites by software provider – it will give you an idea which providers are the strongest on the market and potentially help you choose the best bingo site to play on.
Software Provider
2018
2017
2016
Dragonfish
181
192
194
Cozy
113
106
95
Jumpman Gaming
34
42
41
Playtech / Virtue Fusion
31
31
42
Microgaming
8
9
10
Gamesys
6
8
13
Proprietary
5
4
4
Daub
4
4
4
Leapfrog
4
4
4
Bede
3
7
4
Relax
3
4
3
Parlay
2
7
10
B-Live Gaming
1
2
2
12. Liquidity
Liquidity refers to the amount of potential win in a specific bingo room.
Think of the prize as a collective pot – each player joining the room will put into it some amount of deposited money to play with.
So simply: the more players in the bingo room – the bigger the prize amount that you can win – the higher liquidity.
Bingo Sites FAQ
Can you win money on online bingo?
Yes! Many of the prizes available in bingo games are cash prizes which means you get real money back in your account if you win. The rule of thumb is if you use real money to buy bingo cards then you will win real money if you manage to claim a prize from that game.
What’s the best bingo app?
The best online bingo applications are responsive, easy to use and often aesthetically pleasing, with several different features that you can benefit from.
The average online bingo game will last around 6-8 minutes. It all depends on the type of game but you’ll find that all games will be under 10 minutes each. Even land-based bingo games take on average 10 minutes to complete.
Is bingo just luck?
Yes, bingo is pure luck and no matter what spin you put on it, it all comes down to luck. However, buying more bingo cards per game will increase your chances of winning but there are no secret strategies that will keep you on a winning streak.
Ok, but I’m completely new to this. How do I even start?
Head over to our ‘how to play bingo online’ guide – you will find all the information you need in one place! We walk you through everything from opening up your account to various game settings and rules specific to bingo online.
Conclusion
There you have it, the world of online bingo in the United Kingdom is easy to understand and easy to dive into. Find a site that you like, create your account, make a deposit or benefit from a no deposit welcome offer and you will be ready to start playing with your fellow chatroom players.
By carefully going through the topics we’ve covered on this page, you’ll quickly be able to navigate through the online jungle and find the very best bingo sites the market has to offer. And considering there are literally hundreds of bingo operators in the UK, a little guidance comes well in hand.
As physical bingo halls are closing all over the country, the online bingo industry is flourishing like never before. Easy access through smartphones and tablets, coupled with the great products and social interaction that bingo sites provide these days, many players are going for an online bingo experience rather than making their way down to the local bingo hall.
And when you add in generous bonus offers, it’s not hard to understand why we’re seeing such a massive shift in player trends. Our cultural heritage has simply kept up with the times, and an increasing number of players are shifting to playing bingo on their smartphones. Today, a third of the UK’s bingo players are playing on mobile, and that number will certainly keep growing.
Considering the recent changes in the bingo market, we’re likely to see even more great bingo sites emerge in the coming years. And that’s where SmartphoneGambler comes into the picture – we keep scanning the market tirelessly to find the very best bingo sites the UK has to offer.
This means that while the tips and recommendations on this page are set in stone, our top lists are not. We’ll keep updating this page with our latest recommendations, giving you easy access to the best bingo sites in the UK. In other words, our top lists are always up to date and show the most relevant bingo sites right now.
And we carefully evaluate every bingo site, making sure it meets all twelve quality factors before we recommend it on our site.
By looking at the top lists, you can quickly compare the bingo sites and find the one best suited for you. And if you feel like you need more information about a particular site, a full review is only a click away.
We’d love to hear from you
Did you find this article helpful? Pass it along to your friends or family who love bingo too. Do you have any feedback? Feel free to contact us – we are always happy to hear from you!
Updated: 2024
New bingo websites = new trends! If you are looking for more awesome and fresh features be sure to check out the newest bingo websites there are. Ready for the excitement?
We provide you an updated list of all sites which credit you extra bonuses right after you sign up (before making your first deposit!). It’s the best way to test out an operator without spending your own money.
Find more bonuses here! You will find not only the most lucrative bingo bonuses currently available, but also a complete bingo bonus guide with in-depth advice and tips on how to make the most of the best bingo offers.
Pre-buying your tickets is only one of the features to be found on online bingo. Here you will find more features and settings + a walk-through of playing bingo online.
