There are two main types of Bingo games: American (US Bingo) and British (UK Bingo known also as Housie and 90 ball Bingo). The original name of Bingo i.e. Housie is sometimes used in Britain since that was the name of the game in Australia and New Zealand where the game was very popular and the winner was called House. In British bingo halls the drawn numbers have nicknames, most of them very funny. Here are some of them:
1 – First on the board, Kelly’s eye; 2 –Doctor who, Little boy blue, One little duck; 3 – Monkey on the tree, Debbie McGee; 4 – On the floor, The one next door; 5 – Jack’s alive; 6 – Tom’s tricks, Tom Mix; 7 – God’s in heaven, David Beckham, one little crutch; 8 – She’s always late, One fat lady, Harry Tate; 9 – Doctor’s orders; 10 – A big fat hen, Downing street, Cock and hen; 11 – Skinny legs; 12 – One dozen, Monkey’s cousin; 13 – Bakers dozen; 14 – Valentine’s day; 15 – Young and keen, Rugby team; 16 – Sweet sixteen; 17 – Dancing Queen; 18 – Now you can vote, Key of the door; 19 – Goodbye teens; 20 – Blind twenty, Getting plenty; 21 – At twenty-one watch your son, Just my age; 22 – Ducks on a pond, Bishop Desmond, Two little ducks; 23 – The Lord’s my shepherd, A duck and a flea, Quack quack; 24 – Did you score, two dozen; 25 – Duck and dive; 26 – Pick and mix, Bed and breakfast, half a crown; 27 – Gateway to heaven; 28 – Duck and its mate; 29 – Rise and shine, in your prime; 30 – Flirty thirty, Dirty Gertie, Burlington Bertie, Your face is dirty, 31 – Get up and run; 32 – Buckle my shoe; 33 – Gertie Lee, Sherwood forest, two little fleas; 34 – Ask for more; 35 – Flirty wives, Jump and jive; 36 – 3 dozen; 37 – A flea in heaven; 38 – Christmas cake; 39 – Jack Benny, Those famous steps; 40 – Naughty forty, Life begins at; 41 – Time for fun; 42 – Whinny the Pooh; 43 – Down on your knees; 44 – Open 2 doors; 45 – Halfway there; 46 – Up to tricks; 47 – Four and seven; 48 – 4 dozen; 49 – Rise and shine, Police Constable; 50 – Half a century, Bulls eye; 51 – I love my mum; 52 – Danny La Rue, Weeks in a year; 53 – Stuck in the tree; 54 – Clean the floor; 55 – Snakes alive, Double nickels; 56 – Was she worth it; 57 – Heinz varieties; 58 – Make them wait; 59 – Brighton line; 60 – 5 dozen; 61 – Baker’s bun; 62 – Turn on the screw; 63 – Tickle me; 64 – Red raw; 65 – Old age pension; 66 – Clickety click; 67 – Made in heaven; 68 – Saving grace; 69 – The French connection; 70 – 3 score and ten; 71 – Bang on the drum; 72 – 6 dozen, A crutch and a duck; 73 – Under the tree, Crutch with a flea; 74 – Candy store; 75 – Big Daddy, Strive and strive; 76 – Trombones; 77 – The double hockey stick, Sunset strip; 78 – Heaven’s gate; 79 – One more time; 80 – There you go matey, Gandhi’s breakfast; 81 – Stop and run, Fat lady and a little wee; 82 – Straight on through; 83 – Time for tea, Fat lady with a flea; 84 – 7 dozen; 85 – Staying alive; 86 – Between the sticks; 87 – Torquay in Devon; 88 – 2 fat ladies; 89 – All but one; 90 – Top of the shop, End of the line.
In Australia and New Zealand the nicknames are not usually used.