Funny Bingo Calls to Liven Up Bingo Night
Bingo is a social event that’s loud, lively, and even slightly chaotic when someone shouts, “BINGO!” before double-checking their card. It’s embarrassing, but it happens to the best of us.
The ring leader of the hullabaloo is the bingo caller – the DJ dauber, the one who keeps the energy alive. A great caller doesn’t just shout numbers; they bring them to life with wit and charisma.
The tradition of funny bingo calls has been around for decades, with many originating from rhyming slang, pop culture, and even history lessons. These quirky quips and clever rhymes turn a simple game into an unforgettable night.
Whether you’re prepping for bingo night at home or tackling the mic at your local hall, with these bingo funny calls, “Time for fun” (41) starts with you.
What are bingo calls?
Bingo calls are fun little phrases or rhymes that make calling out numbers more entertaining. Instead of just shouting out “9,” you get “Doctor’s orders,” which has a funny backstory tied to World War II. Or take “Legs eleven,” pointing out the elegant long legs of the number.
In the UK, bingo calls are a big deal, full of cheeky rhymes and humor. Bingo callers get super into it, shouting, “83, time for tea,” while the audience chimes in. They haven’t caught on as much in the U.S., but that’s starting to change. Calls like “Two little ducks” for 22 or “Knock at the door” for 4 are becoming more popular in bingo games – and we’re here for it!
Traditional Bingo Calls – the complete 1-90 list
Bingo phrases like “Snakes alive” for 55 and “Jump and jive” for 35 are quickly turning bingo into a “Time for fun” (41).
This is the complete list. There’s no quiz at the end, but if you’re “Young and keen” (15), you might “Get up and run” (31) through the numbers and “Ask for more” (34).
1 – Kelly’s eye
2 – One little duck
3 – Cup of tea
4 – Knock at the door
5 – Man alive
6 – Tom Mix/Half a dozen
7 – Lucky seven
8 – Garden gate
9 – Doctor’s orders
10 – [Prime Minister’s name]’s den
11 – Legs eleven
12 – One dozen
13 – Unlucky for some
14 – Valentine’s Day
15 – Young and keen
16 – Sweet 16 & never been kissed
17 – Dancing Queen
18 – Coming of age
19 – Goodbye teens
20 – One score
21 – Royal salute/Key of the door
22 – Two little ducks
23 – Thee and me
24 – Two dozen
25 – Duck and dive
26 – Pick and mix
27 – Gateway to heaven
28 – In a state/Overweight
29 – Rise and shine
30 – Dirty Gertie
31 – Get up and run
32 – Buckle my shoe
33 – Dirty knee/All the threes/Fish, chips & peas
34 – Ask for more
35 – Jump and jive
36 – Three dozen
37 – More than eleven
38 – Christmas cake
39 – 39 steps
40 – Life begins
41 – Time for fun
42 – Winnie the Pooh
43 – Down on your knees
44 – Droopy drawers
45 – Halfway there
46 – Up to tricks
47 – Four and seven
48 – Four dozen
49 – PC5 – Man alive
50 – Half a century
51 – Tweak of the thumb
52 – Danny La Rue
53 – Here comes Herbie/Stuck in a tree
54 – Clean the floor
55 – Snakes alive
56 – Shotts Bus
57 – Heinz varieties
58 – Make them wait
59 – Brighton Line
60 – Five dozen
61 – Baker’s bun
62 – Turn the screw/Tickety-boo
63 – Tickle Me 63
64 – Redraw
65 – Old age pension
66 – Clickety click
67 – Stairway to heaven
68 – Saving Grace
69 – Favorite of mine
70 – Three scores and ten
71 – Bang on the drum
72 – Six dozen
73 – Queen bee
74 – Hit the floor
75 – Strive and strive
76 – Trombones
77 – Sunset strip
78 – 39 more steps
79 – One more time
80 – Eight and blank
81 – Stop and run
82 – Straight on through
83 – Time for tea
84 – Seven dozen
85 – Staying alive
86 – Between the sticks
87 – Torquay in Devon
88 – Two fat ladies
89 – Nearly there
90 – Top of the shop
Where do the bingo calls come from?
Looking through this list, you might believe some bingo calls are clear, like “Three dozen” for 36, or 69, “Favorite of mine”. (Alright, alright, let’s not be a “Dirty Gertie”, number 30). But others are more perplexing, such as “Shotts bus” for 56 or “Torquay in Devon” for 87.
So, where in the world do some of these bingo calls come from?
Many of the classic calls are simply there for the rhyme, like “Cup of tea” for 3. Others are a nod to history, and some bingo calls are local references (“Shotts bus” supposedly refers to a Scottish bus route numbered 56), cultural quirks, or regional humor.
Bingo Calls With Historical References
History plays a big role in casino games. Just look at the history of slot machines to see how they’ve shaped online gaming as we know it today. Bingo calls are no exception – they “Strive and strive” (75) to reflect the past as much as the playful present.
Take “Doctor’s orders” for 9. This one goes all the way back to World War II, when soldiers were given a laxative pill nicknamed “Number 9.” Then there’s “Royal salute” for 21, which references the traditional 21-gun salute used to honor royalty and military. “Kelly’s eye” for 1 is said to come from Ned Kelly, a famous Australian outlaw, with one eye reportedly covered by his helmet.
Bingo Calls In The Us
Bingo calls and funny bingo rhymes haven’t quite taken off in the US the way they have in the UK, but that doesn’t mean you can’t put a local spin on them.
Instead of “Prime Minister’s den” for 10, you could go with “President’s pad” to Americanize it. Or take “Brighton Line” for 59, a reference to a British train route, and swap it for something like “Route 66” to fit American culture. “Torquay in Devon” for 87 could become something like “Mile High” for Denver.
The beauty of these phrases is that they’re adaptable, so you can take the ones that don’t quite fit and turn them into something relatable for American bingo. That’s the “Saving Grace” (68) of bingo calls.
While bingo has its routes in old-school gaming, these days, you can play bingo online with crypto. When you deposit with crypto at Cafe Casino, you “Hit the floor” (74) with bigger and better Bitcoin bonuses, including higher matches and exclusive deposit bonuses.
Food-themed Bingo Calls 1-30
Given that we’re called Cafe Casino, we couldn’t resist adding our own flavor to bingo with food-themed calls. Start off your bingo game with a “Hot cross bun” (1), indulge in “Chicken stew” (2), and end the night with a rich “Glass of wine” or a banana cream pie (that last one’s not a bingo call, we just wanted to show off our famous recipe. Shameless? Perhaps).
You’ll notice the numbers stop at 30. That leaves room for you to whip up the rest with your own delicious bingo calls. Grab your dauber and “Stir-fry alive” (25) with this mouthwatering bingo call list.
Number 1 – Hot cross bun
Number 2 – Chicken stew
Number 3 – Cup of tea
Number 4 – Bagel and more
Number 5 – Freshly baked pie
Number 6 – Pancake mix
Number 7 – Strawberries in heaven
Number 8 – Chocolate cake
Number 9 – Glass of wine
Number 10 – Crispy chicken again
Number 11 – Slice of heaven (pizza or cake)
Number 12 – Marshmallow melt
Number 13 – Sweet ice cream
Number 14 – Jellybean
Number 15 – Waffles and cream
Number 16 – Lick the bowl clean
Number 17 – Leafy greens
Number 18 – Gravy and beans
Number 19 – Coffee caffeine
Number 20 – Berry plenty
Number 21 – Donut fun
Number 22 – Barbecue
Number 23 – Tea with brie
Number 24 – Pickle jar galore
Number 25 – Stir-fry alive
Number 26 – Candy mix
Number 27 – Dinner at seven
Number 28 – Cookies on a plate
Number 29 – Lemon and thyme
Number 30 – Sweet and flirty
How do you make bingo calls funny?
One way or another, you’ve been granted the prestigious honor of being the resident bingo caller, either at your own gathering or at your local bar or bingo hall. Congratulations. Now, aside from being born with natural Henry Cavill charisma (British charm goes a long way), how can you be a funny bingo caller that your players will remember?
It all comes down to timing and a bit of creativity. Instead of just shouting the numbers, really lean into the moment with the bingo calls. Make it a performance. Liven up funny bingo numbers with voice inflections, over-the-top gestures, or even props to bring the calls to life.
You can even customize the calls for your crowd or mix in inside jokes for extra laughs. While bingo has rules, your calling style doesn’t – so have fun with it!
How to host a fun bingo night?
Hosting a casino-themed party is your chance to shake up the usual get-together, and there’s no better crowd-pleaser than bingo. We have some handy tips to make sure your night is “Top of the shop” (90). On bingo day, “Rise and shine” (29) and get everything ready before your guests “Knock on the door” (4).
Tailor Your Bingo Cards
Get creative with your bingo cards by swapping out traditional numbers and using movie quotes, famous memes, inside jokes, or snacks.
High-energy Breaks
Don’t let a lull take over in between games. Spice things up with quick mini-games like trivia, speed bingo, or progressive slots.
Bingo Side Hustle
To make your bingo party truly casino-related, create clever side bets for real cash. Guests can wager on who will get the first bingo or whether the next call will be odd or even.
Include Novelty Bingo
If there’s a game on, print Cafe Casino’s free NFL Bingo cards and cross off key moments in the game or in the actions of the people watching (like shouting, “He was wide open!”). If a move is involved in your bingo night, print off our free Movie Night Bingo cards and win bingo based on what’s happening on-screen.
The party is almost perfect – you’re “Nearly there” (89)! All that’s left is…
Collect Your Cash
Since everyone’s already assembled, pass around a sign-up link for Cafe Casino. For each friend who makes a successful deposit, you receive a cash referral bonus to play games at Cafe Casino.
Knowing the calls means you’re “Halfway there” (45). The next step is to grab the mic and spit out these funny bingo calls for a memorable night of bingo, then “Clean up the floor” with laughter.
