"Odds" Games Can Add An Interesting Twist to Your Bingo

What are "Odds" Games and why should your bingo consider them?

"Odds" game are known by a number of names, but the basic concept is that you create a bingo game with different levels of prizes that depend on how many numbers it takes for a player to bingo.

For example, you could design a coverall game that pays the winner $500 for the first player who fills their entire bingo card. However, you could add a feature to that game and also pay, say $750, if a player bingos in 50 numbers or less on their bingo paper.  You have now created an “Odds" Game. And, if you want, you can add more than one additional pay level to your game. For instance, say in addition to the $750 payout for 50 numbers or less, you add a $1,000 prize if someone finishes their coverall in 48 numbers or less.

Bingo players usually love these "Odds" Games. It gives them a chance to win a bigger than normal prize for a particularly exceptional bingo win. A number of "Odds" Games scattered throughout your bingo program can add a lot of excitement.

These games don’t have to be played on coveralls and don’t have to only be played for large jackpots. For example, you could add a $10 bonus to your regular straight-line bingo games if a player bingos in 6 numbers or less. In fact, "Odds" Games can be played on just about any bingo pattern you want.

Some people may think that these "Odds" Games don’t work at smaller bingo games. But, that’s not true. Often, because of prize payout limits, smaller bingos are where these games can work the best. That’s because at smaller bingos where the bingo program can’t afford to pay out the allowed maximum for a bingo session, "Odds" Games still give the chance to win a big prize.

For example, let’s look at two bingos, one a small community bingo and the other a large bingo at a commercial hall. The small bingo averages about 75 players per session, while the larger bingo averages 150 players. The small bingo can only afford to pay out $2,000 in prizes, while the larger bingo pays out the maximum in prizes their state allows, $3,500.

Through "Odds" Games, the smaller bingo has room in their program to offer a number of large prizes that usually won’t pay off (especially all at once). They can offer a $1,000 prize if a player bingos in 48 numbers, on their normal $400 jackpot game. So, even when someone hits the $1,000 prize, the smaller bingo will still be under their prize limit. The smaller bingos can offer big prizes like larger bingos, but remain within their budget.

However, unless the larger bingo lowers some of their prize payouts, they can’t offer higher paying jackpots for "Odds" Games. This is because if there already paying out the state maximum, then when there’s an occasional winner, they will exceed their legal payout limit.