The entire setup happens on a single page organized into three sections. Most games are ready in less than a minute. The mechanics are simple. The only decision that really matters is choosing the moments, events, or observations that deserve a place on the card. The rest of this guide walks through each section of the page in order, using the actual screens you'll see as you build your game.
Your squares are things that happen, not numbers
A road trip card has Gas station, Rest stop, Someone asks if we are there yet. A staff meeting card has Circle back, Somebody is on mute, This could have been an email. A birthday card has Wrong candles and Grandad tells the boat story again. The game works because everyone is watching for the same moments, hoping to be the first to complete a line.
Those squares are the game. Everything else is setup. Choosing moments people will instantly recognize, anticipate, or laugh about when they happen. Picking the right two dozen is the part that decides whether the game is any good, Reading Hints and Tips for writing squares is a must-read.
Section 1: Game details
This section covers the basics. It's short, and only one field is required.
Game name is the only mandatory field, with a limit of 35 characters. Players see it when they open your game and again at the top of every bingo card, so clear and specific works better than long and descriptive. Dad's 60th is more memorable than Birthday Party Bingo Game 2026.
Description is optional and allows up to 100 characters.
Start date and Start time default to the current date and time. Leave them as they are, and your game begins as soon as it's created. Set them in the future to schedule the game for a later event. If you change your mind, the Set to now button restores the current time. Start times in the past aren't accepted.
Number of winners determines when the game ends. The default is five, meaning five different players must each complete a bingo before the game closes. If you'd rather end the game as soon as someone wins, set the value to one.
A winning bingo is five marked squares in a straight line. Rows, columns, and both diagonals all count. The game checks every card automatically the moment a fifth square completes a line, so winners are detected instantly without anyone needing to verify the card.
There isn't an end time or game duration setting. A game ends when it reaches the number of winners chosen during set up, when manually ended it from within the game, or automatically 24 hours after it starts. The 24-hour limit is fixed and can't be changed.
At the top of the section is the Choose icon button. It's completely optional and lets you select from a library of built-in icons to give the game a little personality.
Section 2: Call list
Under the default settings, the minimum is 24. A standard card contains 25 cells, but the free center square occupies one of them. Turn off the free center and the minimum rises to 25. The counter updates as entries are added, showing either Enough calls to continue or Add at least 24 calls to continue, along with the current total.
There is no advantage in stopping at the minimum. Each card is drawn randomly from the full list, so a pool of 30 or 40 calls produces more variety from one player to the next. With exactly 24, every card contains the same entries, merely rearranged.
Start from a Template, Then Make It Personal
Start with the Start from a template menu at the top of the section. The first option, Custom Game, opens a blank card. Below it are 27 ready-made templates covering everything from road trips and football to office meetings, baby showers, holidays, and theme park visits.
A template provides a solid starting point. Load one, skim through the squares, remove the entries that do not fit the occasion, and replace them with moments that belong to the group. A few thoughtful changes are often enough to turn a general-purpose card into one that feels as though it was written specifically for the event.
Selecting a template replaces the current list of squares. The builder confirms the change before doing so, making it easy to start fresh or keep the existing list.
Adding, editing and deleting squares
Four things you can do to the list, all of them quick.
Add one. Tap + Add a call and a small box appears. Type the square, press Enter, and the box stays open ready for the next one. Can sit and type all twenty-four without your hands leaving the keyboard.
Edit one. Click the chip itself and it turns into a text field where it sits. There is no pencil icon to go hunting for.
Delete one. Every chip carries a small x. Tap it and that square is gone.
Find one. There is a Search calls box above the chips, which earns its keep the moment your list is past about twenty. It only filters what you can see. It never deletes anything.
There is also a red Delete all, which does exactly what it says and asks you to confirm before it does.
Paste in a list you have already written
If your call list already exists in a note or a spreadsheet, no need to retype them. Import list opens a panel with a large paste box. Drop the lot in and press Import.
It is not fussy about how the list is broken up. New lines work, and so do commas, semicolons and pipes. You can also point it at a .csv or .txt file with Choose a file rather than pasting.
Two things to know: Importing replaces the current list rather than adding to it, and it asks first. Duplicates will be skipped, the message Imported 24 of 26 (2 duplicates skipped) will pop up.
The matching Export as CSV button downloads whatever is currently in the box. That is the one to use when a card works well and you want it back next time without having to rebuilding it.
Section 3: Game options
Four quick choices:
Free center square will be at the center of each player's card. It doesn't have to read Free center. You can customize it, up to twenty characters. The default is Free Square, but naming it for the occasion is a free bit of personality. For example, on a road trip card, call it Fun for Miles.
Bingo text is the five letters across the top of the card. Exactly five characters, upper-cased automatically, and spaces become asterisks. PARTY, Bride, or GAME! works, or any other five characters you chose
List this game publicly is off, which means the game is private and unlisted from the start. It never appears in the public game list, and the only way in is the link you send. Making it public is the opt-in, not the other way round. This keeps the game private, just for your group.
Shared marking is also off, read more about that feature below.
Shared Marking, what is it?
Shared Marking
Shared marking is disabled by default. Each player receives a different card, built from the same pool of squares but shuffled independently. Marks belong only to the player who makes them. If one person spots the gas station, only that card is updated. Everyone has to find the moments for themselves.That setup suits most games because it keeps the competition intact. Every player is racing to complete a line first.
Enabling Shared marking changes the game. Cards are still shuffled individually, but every marked square appears on every player's card. It works well for groups playing cooperatively or when one person is spotting the moments for everyone else. The setting is fixed once the game begins, so the choice is made before the first card is dealt.
The activity feed changes as well. With private cards, the feed announces that a player marked a square without revealing which one, keeping the game fair. Bingo announcements, however, always identify the winner in either mode.
Create the game and share one link
Create the Game and Share the Link
The Create Game button remains disabled until every required field has been completed. A message above the button lists exactly what is missing, whether that is a game name, additional calls, or another required setting. There is no guesswork.
Once the game is created, a confirmation window appears with the game's QR code and four sharing options.
- Save Invite creates a calendar event containing the game details and join link, making it a good choice for scheduled events.
- Copy Link places the join link on the clipboard for sharing by text, email, or group chat.
- Download QR Code opens a high-resolution version of the QR code for presentations, printed material, or display on a screen.
- Go To Game opens the game immediately.
The join link is the invitation. It takes the form
myeventbingo.com/playgame/xq7k-2m9p, with a randomly generated code
at the end that identifies the game. Anyone with the link can join, making it
suitable for invitations, group chats, and event emails.
What Players see when they open the link
Opening the link brings players to a welcome screen rather than directly to a bingo card. It displays the game name, description, and either the scheduled start time or, if the game is already underway, an invitation to join immediately.
Before entering the game, each player can choose a display name and avatar. The Playing as badge opens the name editor, while the avatar icon opens the avatar picker. Both are optional. Selecting JOIN GAME deals the player's card and enters the game.
Access opens automatically when the scheduled start time arrives. Until then, the game remains closed to new players. There is no manual start button to press. Once the scheduled time passes, the JOIN GAME button becomes available. If the welcome screen has been open for a while, a quick page refresh may be needed before the game appears.
For a closer look at the player experience, see How to Play: Join From Anywhere and Get In on the Fun . For games played over Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet, see How to Host Virtual Bingo .
Editing a game
A game remains fully editable until play begins. Once the game starts or the first player joins, the settings and call list are locked to preserve the same experience for everyone.
Before finalizing, confirm the title, schedule, and call list before sharing the invitation. Once the game starts, it cannot be edited.
If the start date or time changes after invitations have been sent, send an updated invitation so everyone has the revised schedule.
A few final details
Can a bingo card use custom text instead of numbers?
Yes. Every square contains text rather than numbers, allowing each card to be
built around a specific event, group, or occasion. A ready-made template can
also be loaded and customized.
How many squares are required?
Twenty-four with the free center square enabled, which is the default setting.
Twenty-five when the free center square is turned off.
Is it free?
Yes. Games are free to create and play. There are no purchases, no real-money
wagering, and no prizes with monetary value.
How long does setup take?
Most games are ready in less than a minute. Starting from a template and
making a few changes makes it even quicker.
Can a card be reused?
Yes. Select Export as CSV before the game begins to save the
call list. A future game can import the same file using
Import List.
How is a winner determined?
The game checks every card automatically. A bingo is recorded the moment five
marked squares complete a row, column, or diagonal. Play continues until the
configured number of winners has been reached.
Can a game remain private?
Yes. Games are unlisted by default and do not appear in the public game list.
Access is limited to anyone with the invitation link.
Do players need an app or an account?
Neither is required. The invitation opens in any modern web browser, where
players choose a display name and join the game.
How long does a game stay active?
A game closes automatically 24 hours after its scheduled start time. It can
also be ended manually at any time or paused if play needs to stop
temporarily.