Most sites allow you to play bingo for free, but if you have to make a deposit first, the minimum is generally either five or ten pounds. You might want to deposit more if the site offers a cash match bonus with your first deposit.

Now you're ready to play bingo, choose one of the rooms, remember, the busier the room, the higher the prize money, but the less chance of winning. Before you buy your bingo cards, check out the options the site offers - on some sites you can change the colour of your dabber, the way your cards are displayed and other things. Choose the amount of cards you want to play, bingo sites tend to offer you the choice of playing anything from one up to sixty cards!

Keep an eye on the chatroom - there's usually a chance to win bonus money from the chat moderators in there! Bingo chatrooms are very friendly places. As the game progresses, you'll be shown how many numbers you're waiting for, and if you're lucky enough to win, the game will stop automatically for you - some sites have claim buttons, but you don't have to use them, so you won't lose if you have to leave the computer or lose your connection!

To play bingo in a club, you first have to be a member, although with many bingo companies you can now sign up online. It's better to arrive early, especially if you are bringing a party of people - best to ring your local bingo club for details. Also check in advance how much the session's bingo will cost you, as prices can vary widely.

When you enter the club, swipe your membership card if you have one, or collect it from the front of house desk. After that, make your way to the booksales counter to buy your bingo books. You will need to play the bingo games in the correct order, ask the staff to help you out with this, because any wins on the wrong ticket will not be valid.

If main stage bingo is being played in the main hall when you arrive, be quiet when you enter - you can normally tell if it is, as the place will be very quiet, apart from the caller. If the bingo has not yet started, you will probably get the chance to play tabletop bingo games, which are a cross between fruit machines and main stage bingo.

Before the game starts, make sure you have all the tickets that you have paid for, most bingo games are played 'treble chance' - ie, one line, then two lines, then a full house. Make sure you listen to what is being looked for, a common mistake with new bingo players is to shout house for a line when the game is being played for two lines. Remember that you must have the last number called on your card to make a valid claim, and if you do win, remember to shout loudly, if the caller does not hear you properly, the game carries on and you lose your prize money.

If you win, a member of staff will come over to check that it is a correct claim. if it is, you hand them your membership card (keep it handy!), and they will return to your table with your prize money. If you really want to play bingo in a hall though, we think you ought to play bingo online first, to get a feel for the game.