Barrier
A barrier, in bingo terms, is a box section that contains playing consoles and coin slots, usually on both sides. Inside, there is a conveyor belt which moves money taken at the coin slots to a cash-box at one end of the barrier. Players sit facing each other across the barriers.

Book
See ticket

Caller
The person who calls out the numbers as they are drawn; machines are normally used to randomly generate these numbers. Most clubs use two callers; the job of the main stage bingo caller tends to involve more showmanship than a prize or parti bingo caller's.

Cash-in-prize
A form of bingo where the prize is a cash payout. This is taken from the money paid in, and must be a minimum of 50% of the available stake.

Inlaid card
A pre-printed number card, usually in 4x4 format. It is usually laid into a table, and black discs are used to cover the numbers as they are called out.

Main stage bingo
The "main event" of a session of bingo, and the one said to draw the most customers. Players purchase a page (or book) of pre-printed bingo tickets to use as game boards.

Mushroom
A group of bingo displays which takes its name from its shape - it has a narrow tubular base, and a wider head with the machinery used to play the game and collect money from players. Customers sit around the mushroom to play, and there are usually 6 to 8 positions at each.

Parti
Short for participation bingo, a type of slot bingo or cash bingo where the prize is cash (and depends on the number of players, since it is at least 50% of the money paid in). The most common boards used for parti bingo are inlaid cards and hand-held shutter boards.


Pod top
This is the unit which sits on top of the barrier and contains the mechanisms used in the game - typically the coin mechanisms, valid & credit displays, and claim buttons. Most pod tops have the equipment for 4-6 playing positions.

Prize bingo
Until recently, this game was only played for a set prize or vouchers. Recent changes in UK law mean that the prize may be cash of up to £15.

RNG
Random Number Generator; the machine used to pick the numbers for a game of bingo. Most are electronic.

Saddle
See pod top

Shutter board
A hand-held plastic board with pre-printed numbers, usually in a 4x4 format. These numbers are marked off by closing shutters over them
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Stage displays
Most large bingo clubs use electronic displays to show information to the customers - from the current called number and ticket sales to prize money and advertisements.

Ticket
These are printed pages the on which main stage bingo is played. They are laid out in grids, and normally come in books. Some tickets have bar-codes which describe the numbers on them and are used to help check claims.