What is Bingo?

Have you played Bingo before? No? Head to Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bingo_(American_version) to read more about the game.

Bingo is a game of chance. You have a scorecard that is made up of 25 squares with random numbers on them. Numbers are called out one after another, if you hit 5 squares in a row, you win!

How Zoom bingo is different?

Main goal of zoom bingo is to discover something new about your coworkers, something that will break the ice and will help to kickstart a conversation.

Essentially, you have a scorecard made up of 25 squares with random statements on them. Host of the game reads random statement every 2-5 minutes (depends on how fast you want to go), and people to whom this statement is applicable can share it with the group. Let say host reads statement "Has more than one pet", and Jake shares with the group that he has 3 dogs at his apartment. While people are discussing Jake's dogs and maybe looking at dog's pictures, everyone who sees statement "Has more than one pet" on their scorecard can click on it, upon click square will change its color.

Whoever first gets five colored squares in a row (should share this with the group by saying "Zoom Bingo!"), wins the game.

Important to know

• There are total 50 statements, and on every page load application randomly selects 24.
• If you do not like your scorecard, just reload the page to get a new one.
• If you accidentally close your browser or reload the page, your current scorecard is gone and there is no way to recover it.
• The center square is called "FREE SPACE" and basically a free point for all players. Go and click on it.

Host section

Main goal of zoom bingo is to discover something new about your coworkers, something that will break the ice and will help to kickstart a conversation. So let people talk. Once group is ready for another statement, pick a random one from the list below and read it aloud. You can also copy/paste statement to the Zoom chat, so people who miss it can easily find it without interrupting everyone.

Main goal of any game is to have fun. If you think one of the statements might be too controversial, just ignore it and never call it out.

List of questions

• "Celebrating birthday this month!"
• "Has worked here for 3+ years"
• "Has a YouTube channel"
• "Eats spinach by choice"
• "Prefers tea over coffee"
• "Has more than one pet"
• "Woke up before 6:00AM today"
• "Can speak a second language"
• "Has visited Europe"
• "Has visited China"
• "Has visited Brazil"
• "Has visited Australia"
• "Has visited Africa"
• "Attended a meeting while still in pajamas"
• "Said at least once: Sorry, I was on mute"
• "Joined our team during COVID WFH"
• "Finished last meeting on time"
• "Loves Hawaiian pizza (pineapple + ham)"
• "Born outside of the USA"
• "Has more than one middle name"
• "Started a new hobby during COVID WFH"
• "Mastered a musical instrument"
• "Finished reading a book this month"
• "Not following any sports"
• "Drinks tea with milk"
• "Liked finale of Game of Thrones"
• "Ran out of toilet paper first month of COVID WFH"
• "Worked in a restaurant while in college"
• "Has been in a music band"
• "Scared of clowns"
• "Believes in Santa Claus or Tooth Fairy"
• "Read 'The Twilight Saga' book series, and still prefers movies"
• "Not yet learned how to swim"
• "Never been outside of your home country"
• "Prefers Pepsi over Coke"
• "Likes to sign in a shower"
• "Been to Burning Man"
• "Grew up in the Bay Area"
• "Likes to cook"
• "Knows sign language"
• "Been to more than half of the States"
• "Been to more than 20 countries"
• "Takes care of home garden"
• "Believes that Darth Vader is the best Star Wars character"
• "Have not seen first six Star Wars movies"
• "Can mimic other nation's English accent"
• "Does not like summer"
• "Knows all words to a Queen song"
• "Has published a book"
• "Had their own 15 minutes of fame"
• "Most quiet person on the team"
• "Has more than ten boardgames at home"