Rhode Island
What is a bingo hall?
So, you're looking to play bingo. Well, the place you'll do that is called a bingo hall! Bingo hall is a very general term, and it covers just about anywhere that hosts a game of bingo. Because of that, your local bingo hall might also double as your local church, school, fire station, or social club! Many bingo games are held in venues that have another purpose because they are held for charity, and most charities cannot afford to run a 24/7 bingo hall! Instead, they usually just rent out a space for a game or two per week. A bingo hall can be big or small, busy or quiet and intimate. Some have huge jackpot games, and others are more social and just have little prizes. There is so much variety between bingo halls, you're sure to find one that suits you perfectly. Despite the variety in bingo venues, you'll often find that once you're inside, things are quite familiar. There are tables and chairs for the players, and a bingo caller at the front to read the numbers. After all, bingo is bingo, wherever in the world you play it!
How To Play Bingo
If you've never played bingo before, you could definitely benefit from a quick rundown of the rules! Bingo may sound complicated, but as soon as you start playing you'll realise how simple it really is. Once you arrive at your bingo hall, you'll be able to purchase your cards. These are a 5x5 grid full of numbers from 1-75, with a blank square in the middle. Each player's card will have different numbers. When the game begins, everyone is silent so the bingo caller can be heard. The caller will then draw and read numbers between 1 and 75. If you have the number on your card, mark it off! You'll be informed at the start of the game what the winning pattern is; keep an eye on which boxes on the grid you'll need to mark to match the winning pattern. The pattern could be anything, but the most common ones are lines, diagonals, and full house. If you match all the boxes for the winning pattern, you need to shout BINGO! It's important to shout quickly; if the caller moves on to the next number, you've lost your prize!
How do I choose a bingo hall in Rhode Island?
When looking for a new bingo hall to join, it can be a little overwhelming! There can be so many halls across your state, that you don't know where to start. Luckily, BingoPort is here to help! We make it easy to find your perfect bingo hall with no hassle. The first thing to consider is location! It's no good looking at bingo halls in Portland, ME, if you live in Newport, RI! If you're looking for halls in Rhode Island, you're already in the right place. To find the halls closest to you, click or tap on the city name that is nearest to you from the list above. This will show you all the closest bingo halls in your area! To choose a hall, you can browse the BingoPort listings to see what each one offers. Some will have food or snacks available, some will not take an entry fee, some have a parking lot... it's all about choosing the hall that looks best to you. You might read that one hall has a very big, buzzy atmosphere, whereas another is smaller and more cozy. Whichever you prefer, you'll be able to decide using the BingoPort hall listings.
What makes a great bingo hall?
So you've found all the bingo halls near to you... but how do you pick one? Sure, you could just go for the nearest one. But with BingoPort's database of venue features, facilities, and more, you can easily choose a bingo hall that will be your perfect fit. Lots of different things can make a bingo hall great, but ultimately, the best bingo hall is the one that suits YOU. If you have requirements like disability access, it's important to know which halls offer this to ensure a good fit. It may be that there are certain amenities that take your bingo night from good to great- do you love it when halls provide food? Or would a smoking shelter really improve your visit? Perhaps you drive, and would love a convenient parking lot on site? Whatever you love, you can see which halls will provide with BingoPort's dedicated listings.
Is gambling legal in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island allows several forms of gambling within the state. It is also quite unusual in that the minimum age to gamble is just 18. Rhode Island has two casinos, and both offer slot machines and other electronic games. A vote was put to the residents of Lincoln and Newport regarding table games at the casinos in their cities; Lincoln voters approved table games at the casino, and Newport voters rejected them, therefore there are only casino table games at the Lincoln casino. Horse racing is permitted in Rhode Island, and, most unusually, greyhound racing is also legal, despite it being banned in most states. That being said, there are no greyhound races run in the state; instead, simulcast races are shown on screen from racetracks elsewhere. Bingo is permitted within Rhode Island for charitable purposes, and there are strict restrictions surrounding this. Charities must have been in operation for at least two years to be permitted to hold bingo games, and the value of the prizes awarded will determine how involved the authorities are with monitoring the games.
Interesting Facts
- Rhode Island is the smallest US state.
- The oldest synagogue in the United States is in Newport, RI.
- John F Kennedy married Jackie Bouvier in Rhode Island, near to where Jackie spent her summers as a child.
- Rhode Island is the most "Italian" state, with 18.9% of its population recorded as having Italian heritage.
- There are 21 lighthouses along Rhode Island's coastline.