Your Complete Guide to Slingo

Slingo is a popular online game that combines elements of slots and bingo. Originally created in 1994, it offers a unique gaming experience by blending the chance-based spinning of slot machines with the number-marking gameplay of bingo. Slingo boasts an impressive selection of games, with big familiar brands such as Monopoly and Rainbow Riches having Slingo versions available at the top online casinos. 

Find out everything you need to know to play Slingo.

What exactly is Slingo?

In a typical Slingo game, players start with a 5x5 grid of numbers, similar to a bingo card, with a slot reel directly beneath it. Players spin the reel to reveal numbers or symbols, which they can use to mark off corresponding numbers on the grid.

It can look confusing, but once you’ve got the hang of it, it is an exciting, updated version of the classic online bingo game we all know and love. 

How to play Slingo

The goal is to create as many "Slingos" as possible—rows, columns, or diagonals of marked-off numbers, just like in bingo. Special symbols on the reel, like jokers and devils, can either help or hinder progress, adding an extra layer of strategy and excitement.

Many variations of Slingo exist today, often themed around popular TV shows, holidays, or unique gameplay twists, keeping the game fresh and engaging for players of all ages. Whether playing casually or competitively, Slingo offers a fun blend of luck, strategy, and fast-paced action.

The board is completely random, just like in bingo, and you aim to complete lines, or Slingos as they’re called, or to fill in the whole board with matches and get the ‘Full House.’ You can create matches and fill in your board when you spin the reel, usually found below your board. The numbers on the reel might match those on your board, and if they do, you’ve got a match!

How to win

Most Slingo games work with a ‘prize ladder’; the more Slingos you complete, the bigger the wins. If you complete one line, you win a cash prize, but win two, three or more, and you’re in luck. The pay ladder differs from Slingo game to Slingo game, but they generally work similarly.

You set your wager at the beginning of the game, just as with any bingo or slot game. The game then begins with a set number of initial spins. You generally get 10 or 11, but this varies from game to game, and these spins cost just one times the amount of your wager. So, if you had wagered 20p and the game awarded 11 initial spins, you would get 11 spins for 20p. 

Try for extra spins

After these initial spins, you can end the game and collect your winnings, if you have any, or wager more for extra spins. Again, the number of extra spins you can purchase varies depending on which Slingo game you play. 

The value of your extra spins is not fixed. The cost of these extra spins depends on your initial wager, the positioning of plots you have filled out already, and the potential prizes from your next spin. If you were only two plots away from a full house, your extra spin would likely cost more than if you had six remaining plots to fill.

Don’t miss these bonus features

As Slingo is a mixture of bingo and slots, the hybrid game brings bonus elements of slot games to the bingo board. These include a joker, a free joker, a devil, and free spins. 

🃏The Joker:🃏Allows you to choose any empty plot along that line to fill, while the free Joker lets you choose any empty plot on the board. This helps you fill in lines and get to a ‘Slingo!’ faster! If you get three or more Jokers, you’ll be awarded an instant cash prize.🃏

😈The Devil:😈Watch out for the devil as he can block any potential plots along the line being filled for that one roll.😈

🎰Free spins:🎰These are pretty self-explanatory. An extra spin or spins give you more chance to hit that highly sought-after ‘Full House.’🎰

It is also worth noting that some of the themed Slingo games have their own unique bonus rounds, just like their sister slot games. For example, Slingo Rainbow Riches has seven different bonus rounds, which can be triggered progressively as you complete more lines or Slingos.

Try themed Slingo

While most Slingo games use the standard five-by-five grid and a reel, other games use formats that match their theme. For example, Slingo Monopoly uses the Monopoly board instead of a reel, rolling dice to determine where you will move along the board and which plots you can daub off on your board. 

Slingo Advance is completely different in that players progress through levels as they play, accumulating a set number of plots before climbing up a level.

With so many styles and themes available, it is a matter of personal preference for which Slingo game to play.  

Ready to play Slingo? Read our review first.