Step into the world of online bingo games at Jackpotjoy and you'll quickly discover there's a whole language going on inside the chat box. Part shorthand, part inside joke, bingo lingo is the unofficial secret handshake of the bingo community - and once you've cracked the code, you'll feel like a proper regular in no time.
Whether you're brand new to playing bingo online or you've been dabbing for a while but still find yourself blinking at "BLNT" or "1TG", this guide has got you completely sorted.
Bingo has always been a social game, full stop. Half the joy is sharing the experience with others, cheering on a fellow player when their bingo ticket is just one number away from a win, or swapping a friendly "UL" when the numbers simply don't fall your way.
When you're playing online bingo, that community spirit lives inside the bingo chat room. Whether you prefer to sit back and watch the bingo numbers roll in, or dive straight into the conversation, the choice is entirely yours - but if you do fancy a natter, you can be cracking jokes with the chat host, celebrating wins with fellow bingo players, and enjoying every moment of the fun.
The great thing about playing online bingo is that your bingo card is auto-dabbed for you, so you're free to focus on the chat, but with the numbers calling and the conversation flowing, nobody has time to type out full sentences mid-game anyway. That's exactly where bingo lingo earns its keep.
Right, let's get down to brass tacks. Below are the bingo chat abbreviations you'll come across most often when playing online bingo at Jackpotjoy. Bookmark this page; you'll be rattling these off like a seasoned pro before you can say "two fat ladies".
*H* - Hug
*K* - Kiss
*S* - Smile
*W* - Wink
AFK - Away from the keyboard
BBIAM - Be back in a minute
BK - I'm back
BLNT - Better luck next time
BRB - Be right back
BTW - By the way
CM - Chat master/monitor/moderator
CYA - See you later
E1 - Everyone
FYI - For your information
G2G - Got to go
GG - Good game
GLE - Good luck everyone
GM / GN - Good morning / Good night
GTSY - Good to see you
HAGD - Have a good day
IMHO - In my honest opinion
JK - Just kidding
LOL - Laugh out loud
LTNS - Long time, no see
NP - No problem
OMG - Oh my goodness
ROFL - Rolling on the floor laughing
SRY - Sorry
TBH - To be honest
TIA - Thanks in advance
TTFN - Ta ta for now
TY / TYVM - Thank you / Thank you very much
UL - Unlucky
WB - Welcome back
WD - Well done
WTG - Way to go
XOXOXO - Hugs and kisses
YW - You're welcome
These are unique to online bingo and well worth knowing before you dive in:
1TG - One number to go until bingo
2TG - Two numbers to go
3TG - Three numbers to go
?4U - Question for you
A/S/L - Age/sex/location
SAC - Sorry, all close (said when a game is full)
When you spot a flurry of "1TG!" messages in the chat, things are about to get very lively indeed - that's your sign to have your fingers poised over the keyboard, ready for the celebrations.
Our bingo chat room is the beating heart of the Jackpotjoy community. It's lively, wonderfully silly at times, and packed with players who genuinely want to have a good time together. Our fabulous chat hosts are the life and soul of the room - making announcements, hosting chat games, answering questions, cracking terrible puns, and generally keeping things entertaining.
Getting involved couldn't be simpler. Log in to your Jackpotjoy account, pick a bingo game, and you'll see the chat box on the side of your screen. Type your message, hit send, and before you know it, you'll be getting "GTSY" messages from players you've never met but already feel like you've known for years. All we ask is that you keep things friendly and avoid anything that'd make your Nan raise an eyebrow.
Knowing the lingo is one thing; being a brilliant roomie is quite another. Here are a few quick pointers to help keep our chat-mosphere on top form:
Be warm and welcoming - a "GLE" or a "WD" costs nothing and means everything to a new player. Treat fellow players the way you'd want to be treated: with a bit of respect and good-natured banter.
Don't spam the chat - there's a real difference between joining in the fun and sending the same message over and over during your bingo session. Keep it fresh and keep it friendly.
Follow your chat host's lead - our CMs (Chat Moderators) are a lovely bunch who work hard to keep the room a great place to be. If they step in with a gentle nudge, take it in good spirit.
Keep conversations PG - we're all here to have a good time, not to make anyone feel uncomfortable. If in doubt, just ask yourself: would your Nan approve?
Never share personal details - your safety matters to us enormously, so please keep things like your full name, address, or contact details well out of the chat.
Our community is a brilliant one. Please do your bit to keep it that way so we can all enjoy it in all its glory.
One of the best things about playing at Jackpotjoy’s online bingo site? You can take it anywhere with you. Our mobile bingo app brings the full experience - bingo chat room and all - to your phone or tablet, wherever you happen to be. Whether you're settled on the sofa, commuting, or enjoying a few bingo tickets on your lunch break, the fun travels with you.
Best of all, it's completely free to download on both iOS and Android from the App Store or Google Play - you can get started in just a few taps. Once you're in, you'll have access to all our exciting and unique bingo, slots and Slingo games.
Not bad for a game that used to require a hall, a dabber, and a slightly sticky plastic chair, right?
Now that you've got the bingo lingo down, you're all set to jump in and make yourself at home in our chat room. Whether you're a newbie finding your feet or a returning player brushing up on the basics, the Jackpotjoy community is a warm and welcoming place to be.
And if you fancy mixing things up beyond bingo, why not give Slingo a go? It's a brilliant mix of bingo and slots that's well worth a try once you've got comfortable with the games. Think: Slot reels meet bingo grid, with the chance to win free spins thrown in.
Right then, see you in the chat room!
Bingo calls are the fun, rhyming nicknames for each number - like "two fat ladies" for 88. Bingo lingo refers to the chat room shorthand players use during the game to communicate with each other, such as "GLE" (good luck, everyone) or "1TG" (one to go).
Bingo slang is the casual language players use in the chat room; from quick abbreviations like "WD" and "BRB" to game terms like "full house" and "bingo ticket". For a full breakdown, check out our complete bingo terminology guide.
The key ones to learn first: GLE (good luck everyone), 1TG/2TG/3TG (numbers left to go), WD (well done), BLNT (better luck next time), BRB (be right back) and CM (chat moderator). You'll spot these in every single session.
Log in, pick a bingo game, and a chat box will appear on the side of your screen. Type your message and hit send - it's that simple. Chat hosts, marked with "HOST", are always on hand to keep things moving and answer any questions you may have.
Absolutely. Jackpotjoy chat rooms are monitored by professional chat hosts around the clock. Our bingo community guidelines keep things friendly and welcoming for everyone, and anyone not playing by the rules can be removed from the room.
Ready to put your new bingo lingo to the test? Play online bingo games at Jackpotjoy and join a community of bingo players who love a good natter as much as a great game - or head over to our Jackpotjoy blog for more tips, guides, and everything in between.
All offers mentioned correct at the time of writing but may be subject to change.