Author Archives: Aidan

Where should I go for drinks in Newcastle?

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With a stunning quayside, buzzing nightlife and picturesque surroundings, it’s no wonder Newcastle Upon Tyne is thought of as one of the UK’s best locations for a weekend away. Whether it’s a night out with the lads, the girls, a couple’s weekend or a lively stag or hen do, there’s something for everyone.

Whilst visiting the northern city, it’s only natural to want a taste of the famous nightlife. To make sure you’ve got options – whatever the reason for your trip – Newcastle hostel provider Euro Hostels has gathered together a list of some of the best venues so you can head straight oot on the toon.

For a pint with a view

Name: The Free Trade Inn

Summary: As one of Newcastle’s oldest pubs, The Free Trade Inn caters for real beer and ale drinkers. As well as being a cracking boozer, it also boasts one of the best views of the area – looking down at the River Tyne and its bridges. Make sure to say hi to Craig David, the pub cat, too.

Address: 2 St Lawrence Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1AP

Website: N/a
Get social:

 Facebook

 Twitter
 Instagram

Trip Advisor rating: Four Stars

Trip Advisor mentions include:

  •   Free jukebox
  •   Pub cat
  •   Good selection of real ales
  •   Beer selection
  •   Famous view

Opening hours:

  •   Monday 11:00 – 23:00
  •   Tuesday 11:00 – 23:00
  •   Wednesday 11:00 – 23:00
  •   Thursday 11:00 – 23:00
  •   Friday 11:00 – 00:00
  •   Saturday 11:00 – 00:00
  •   Sunday 11:00 – 23:00

 

 

For a casual drink that can last all night

Name: Lady Grey’s

Summary: Situated in the centre of Newcastle, Lady Grey’s is a gem of a pub. There is something for everyone – with cask ales, craft beers, wines – and top-notch pub snacks like cheese boards and sausage rolls. Lady Grey’s is perfect for a sneaky pit stop, or if you’re looking to settle in for an hour or two.

Address: Shakespeare Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 6AQ

Website: www.ladygreys.co.uk
Get social:

 Facebook

 Twitter
 Instagram

Trip Advisor rating: Four stars

Trip Advisor mentions include:

  •   Sausage rolls
  •   City centre pub
  •   Sunday fayre
  •   Guest beers
  •   Real ale
  •   Friendly atmosphere

Opening hours:

  •   Monday 11:00 – 02:00
  •   Tuesday 11:00 – 02:00
  •   Wednesday 11:00 – 02:00
  •   Thursday 11:00 – 02:00
  •   Friday 11:00 – 02:00
  •   Saturday 11:00 – 02:00
  •   Sunday 11:00 – 02:00

 

For gin lovers

Name: Pleased To Meet You

Summary: PTMY appreciates the craftsmanship of the perfect gin and tonic – it’s truly a gin-lovers paradise. Here, you can design your dream G&T – choose from over 50 gins, add a tonic (anything from herbal to lemon) and finish with a garnish of coffee beans, rose petals, cherries and more.

Address: 41-45 High Bridge, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 1EW

Website: www.ptmy-newcastle.co.uk

Get social:

 Facebook

 Twitter

 Instagram

Trip Advisor rating: Four stars

Trip Advisor mentions include:

  •   Gin menu
  •   Great decors
  •   Sharing platter
  •   Great cocktails
  •   Saturday night
  •   Gins
  •   Fab

Opening hours:

  • Monday 11- 01.00
  •   Tuesday 11:00 – 01:00
  •   Wednesday 11:00 – 01:00
  •   Thursday 11:00 – 01:00
  •   Friday 11:00 – 02:00
  •   Saturday 11:00 – 02:00
  •   Sunday 11:00 – 01:00

 

For dining and drinks

Name: Lola Jeans

Summary: When you need a pit stop from shopping, Lola Jeans is the perfect spot for drinks and lunch to re-charge your batteries. This pub is perfect for lovers of a ‘quirky’ décor, with delicious food (gourmet steak sandwich, anyone?) and cocktails at its core.

Address: 1-3 Market St, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6JE

Website: www.lolajeans.co.uk

Get social:

 Facebook

 Twitter
  Instagram

Trip Advisor rating: Four stars

Trip Advisor mentions include:

  •   Steak
  •   Triple cooked chips
  •   John Dillinger
  •   Audrey Hepburn
  •   Sharing board
  •   Lovely window seater

Opening hours:

  •   Monday 12:00 – 00:00
  •   Tuesday 12:00 – 00:00
  •   Wednesday 12:00 – 00:00
  •   Thursday 12:00 – 00:00
  •   Friday 12:00 – 02:00
  •   Saturday 12:00 – 02:00
  •   Sunday 12:00 – 00:00

 

 

For a bit of live music

Name: Tyne Bar

Summary: For live music and a choice of real ales, visit the Tyne Bar – located in Newcastle’s Ouseburn. Especially popular on sunny days, this pub has a chilled-out vibe and is situated under a bridge arch, which adds to its independent style.

Address: 1 Maling St, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1LP

Website: www.thetyne.com

Get social:

 Facebook

 Twitter

 Instagram

Trip Advisor rating: Four and a half stars

Trip Advisor mentions include:

  •   Sunny day
  •   Beers and lagers
  •   Outside seating area
  •   Free jukebox
  •   Excellent atmosphere
  •   Real ale
  •   Lovely food

Opening hours:

  •   Monday 12:00 – 23:00
  •   Tuesday 12:00 – 23:00
  •   Wednesday 12:00 – 23:00
  •   Thursday 12:00 – 23:00
  •   Friday 12:00 – 00:00
  •   Saturday 12:00 – 00:00
  •   Sunday 12:00 – 22:30

 

How Are UK Dinner Trends Changing?

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With 66% of all UK adults describing themselves as passionate about food and drink, the UK is becoming a foodie nation. We Brits love our grub, and we’ve got big opinions on our favourite meals, how they should be eaten and with whom. What’s our attitude to dinner in particular? Oldrids & Downtown, providers of dinner sets, finds out.

Britain’s favourite dinners

Opinions differ across the UK when it comes to the nation’s favourite dishes – different surveys tend to reveal different results, so we’ll try and give you an overall picture.

According to the Spruce, Britain’s Top 10 favourite British foods are:

  •   Bacon sandwiches
  •   Roast dinners
  •   A Cup of Tea
  •   Fish and Chips
  •   Yorkshire Pudding
  •   Full English Breakfast
  •   Cornish pasties
  •   Strawberries and cream
  •   Teatime Treat, Crumpets
  •   Beer

 

As reported by The Express, a survey commissioned by Welsh Lamb discovered that British food still came out on top – roast dinners and shepherd’s pie are dishes that UK diners favoured when asked which cuisine they would choose. Italian food scooped second place, with dishes like spaghetti Bolognese and pasta, followed by Indian, Chinese and Thai cuisine. The report also found that 56% of Brits are sourcing their food more locally, and paying more attention to where their food comes from.

Family dinners. 

Whilst we are progressively becoming a foodie nation – it seems traditional meal times are becoming a thing of the past, with research showing that fewer British families than ever are eating together, and those that do so tend to eat in front of the television. Over 20% of British families only sit down to dinner once or twice a week, and one in five has family meals in front of the television.According to 60% of parents, ready meals are a preference, as they provide a quick and simple solution when faced with time constraints.

Should we make time for family dinners?

There are a number of benefits in sitting down to eat as a family, according to Health.com.

  •   Children may eat their vegetables. Research has found that children who eat with their families are more likely to eat fruit and vegetables.
  •   More fruit and vegetables means a healthier family. By eating together, a family has a greater chance of eating fruit and veg – making them healthier overall.
  •   Get time to catch up on your day. Eating dinner together as a family is time well-spent. It gives everyone a chance to catch up on their day and talk and listen to each other’s news.
  •   Save money by cooking dinners. As well as being healthier for you, cooking nourishing family meals is much cheaper than eating out. With a little planning – and a little batch cooking – you can make sure you grab a bargain and prepare nutritious meals.

Dinner parties

The formal-style dinner parties of the 80s and 90s has disappeared, according to the Telegraph. Traditional dinner parties of the past had a focus on everyone eating the same meal, with prawn cocktail and fondue on the menu and wine on the table.

As trends shift, dinner party menus are more flexible now to incorporate dietary requirements, with diet-conscious salads, meat and grains and locally-sourced ingredients.

Throwing a dinner party

Despite the shift to a more relaxed, informal style of dining, dining with friends is still popular with Brits. Here are a few tips to hosting a 2017 dinner party.

 

  •  Go for food you can prepare earlier in the day so you can spend time with guests. Stick something in the slow cooker like a stew or curry that can cook while you enjoy yourself.
  •  Put everything in serving dishes and let guests help themselves. Think big salads, rice dishes, assorted meats and sides.
  •  Don’t be afraid of short cuts. If it’s easier for you to buy the bread and use shop-bought pastry just do it.
  •  Make a playlist to set the mood. Cater to your guests and make it varied and fun – you can even include some songs for a sing along/dance off, depending on the liveliness of your guests.
  •  Relax. If you’re at ease, your guests will feel at ease, and everyone will have a better time for it.

 

Sources:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/597667/Family_Food _2015-09mar17.pdf

http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/food/694587/Britain-top-five-favourite-cuisines-revealed-food- roast-dinner

https://www.thespruce.com/britains-top-favourite-foods-drinks-435511

https://www.thesun.co.uk/archives/news/183424/more-than-a-quarter-of-uk-families-dont-eat-a-meal- together/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/features/death-of-the-dinner-party-the-ultimate-guide-to- hosting-a-modern/

 

The Future of Online Gaming

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Two factors have led to a surge in the growth of online gambling in recent years. The increased availability of smartphones combined with greater access to quality wi-fi has assisted in the boom of this 21st century industry. More online casinos are recognising that mobile gaming is the way the market is heading, and so if your site is not optimized for use on a smartphone you are going to lose a whole lot of customers. The online gaming industry is one which is always looking to the future, so let’s take a look at what lies around the corner for real money gaming products.

One big innovation in recent years has been the impact of skill-based gaming. This allows players to use their skills to influence the outcome of games, rather than just relying on luck. There are a million ways to win the lottery, but even this requires a certain amount of intelligence in terms of which lottery to play and when to play it. The new generation of games is going to take things a step further though. Already companies like Skillzgaming are bringing online games to market which use an element of skill. For example they have a title called Fruit Blast which is basically a real money version of mobile games like Candy Crush and Bejeweled. Adding the element of skill into games allows the player to influence the outcome, which is not the case with traditional slot games, although as with all such games the casino will still have an edge over the player.

The concept of skill-based games taps into another trend which is shaping the future of online gaming. That is the ‘gamification’ of online casinos and betting, which basically means blurring of the lines between gambling and fun online games. The games mentioned above are a perfect example of this, but that’s not the only way that gamification of gambling manifests itself. New casinos are now introducing the concepts of ‘levelling up’ in place of traditional loyalty schemes. You will also find a lot more tournaments where players can complete against each other by playing a particular game, to try and top the leader-board so as to earn greater rewards.

Another interesting development within the gaming industry has been the rise in use of virtual reality headsets. The sky is the limit as far as these devices are concerned, as they could play a crucial role in the way we experience online gambling in the future. Already some online betting sites are incorporating virtual reality into selected games like vipslot77, allowing for a completely immersive gaming experience. The technology is still at a relatively early stage though, meaning that we can expect to see huge changes in the future as VR tech moves into the mainstream.

Online gambling is certainly an industry on the rise at the moment, and it looks like the future is bright for this business. We can only wait and see just what the future will bring.

Skill-Based Games

Virtual Reality

Gamification

2017 National Road Championships Recap

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There was plenty of action for cycling fans to enjoy at the recent 2017 British Cycling National Road Championships, as road bikes stockist Leisure Lakes Bikes has found when looking back at the thrilling June event that took place across the Isle of Man…

2017’s winners

This year’s National Road Championships got underway with the time trial championships on Thursday June 22nd. Three short days later on Sunday June 25th, there were more events to take in courtesy of the road race championships.

Time trials for the women and under-23 men’s competitions were the first action that fans gathered at the Isle of Man had the chance to enjoy — with both events covering the same routes and distances. Starting and finishing at Tynwald Hill, in St John’s, entrants worked their way around one lap of a 13.8-mile loop. The lap goes clockwise up to Kirk Michael, before turning and going south to Ballig (it’s the same route as the Isle of Man TT course), and then back towards St John’s. While the men’s race took place on the exact same route as the other time trial events, they needed to complete two laps in order to get a time and so were required to race for 27.6 miles. Team Wiggins’ Scott Davies won the under-23 men’s race in a time of 28:20:33, while Claire Rose of Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cycling claimed the women’s time trial title in a time of 32:11:32, and Stephen Cummings of Team Dimension Data the men’s time trial crown in a time of 57:18:66.

Three days later, and the action continued with the road races, beginning with the women’s race that set off from Douglas’ TT Grandstand. From there, riders completed a lap of the 37.7-mile-long Isle of Man TT Snaefell Mountain Course — the Snaefell mountain road climb was a part of this route that entrants needed to pay particular attention to. There were then six laps of a 4.5-mile clockwise finishing circuit to undertake once back in Douglas, before crossing the finish line that was set out alongside the start line at the TT Grandstand.

Those who caught the women’s race would have been familiar with the men’s race route, seeing as though the two shared many similarities except that the men’s event included two more laps of the main circuit and an additional ten laps around the finish circuit. As such, the men’s race encompassed 120.6 miles of tarmac, while those in the women’s race were tasked with completing 64.45 miles for their event. Boels Dolmans Cycling Team’s Elizabeth Deignan won the women’s road race in a time of 2:44:18, while Stephen Cummings completed a prestigious double at the 2017 National Road Championships by winning the men’s road race in a time of 4:28:49.

Prestigious winners of the National Road Championships over the years

By chalking up a victory in at least one of the races at the 2017 National Road Championships, Claire Rose, Elizabeth Deignan, Scott Davies and Stephen Cummings have joined very esteemed company. This is because the following Olympians are all former champions at the prestigious competition:

 

How To Ride The UK’s Best Motorbike Routes

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When the temperatures are high and the sun is shining, it’s a great opportunity for those with a motorbike to head out and enjoy the best that the UK has to offer, before the cold and harsh winter weather creeps back in.

What is especially great for motorcyclists, is that the UK has a variety of incredible motorbike routes, as motorcycle clothing retailer Custom Lids has found when selecting their top five rides that you need to experience this summer:

The North Coast 500 in Scotland

If you want an especially lengthy route, look no further than The North Coast 500. The route totals 516 miles, starting and ending at Inverness Castle. Despite only being created in 2014, the North Coast 500 has already been dubbed the Scottish Route 66.

From the picturesque greenery and architecture of Sutherland to Wester Ross’ white sandy beaches and Caithness’ dramatic coastline, there’s so much to see alone this ride. Of course, because of the length of this route, you’ll need to split the journey over roughly a week, giving you more time to explore the very best of Scotland.

Head to www.northcoast500.com to find out more about this route and tips for planning your ride.

Hardknott Pass in the Lake District

Seek out Hardknott Pass and a challenging ride will await you. Winding through the Lake District, you’ll face steep inclines and twisting turns alongside stunning views of the surrounding areas. You’ll also pass through Eskdale and the Duddon Valley on your way to the small coastal village of Ravenglass.

The Cat and Fiddle, along the A537 from Buxton to Macclesfield

Thrill-seekers must check out The Cat and Fiddle A537 route that stretches from Buxton to Macclesfield before any other ride on this list. A winding 11km-long road with twists and turns at every corner, it’s perfect for getting your heart pumping as you take in the picture-perfect Peak District.

Did you know that this route has been named one of the most dangerous roads in Britain? With this in mind, go easy and abide by the 50mph speed limit and you’ll conquer this must-drive stretch and then be back to visit time and time again.

Cheddar Gorge along the B3135

Cheddar Gorge is Britain’s second greatest natural wonder, with an exhilarating route passing right near it — that makes the B3135 a must-ride route. You’ll start in the village of Axbridge before joining the road towards Cheddar. Prepare for tight bends, twists and turns as you travel into and out of the gorge.

The Horseshoe Pass of the A542 in North Wales

Rolling hills and breath-taking beauty are among Wales’ standout features. The Horseshoe Pass is a winding road that sweeps through the valleys, offering the best of both worlds: challenging inclines and enjoyable declines.

Be prepared to be 1,400ft above sea level when you reach the route’s peak. So, if you want to take your riding to new heights — quite literally — this is for you. You’ll feel like king of the world as you survey Wales’ lush scenery.

 

Why Nassau Should Be On Your Bucket List

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Source: Wikimedia

The coldest part of winter is finally upon us, which means that many Canadian snowbirds are starting to migrate south in search of the warm reprieve of a sunshine holiday. And who can blame us! Months of cold weather and dark days on the East Coast are enough to drive anyone to dream of hammocks and cocktails on an idyllic white sand beach. What could be better that spending some of your hard-earned time off on the impeccably named Paradise Island in the Bahamas? With increasingly low airfare to Nassau, it’s easy to see why so many people are realizing the potential of this beautiful spot as a holiday destination.

Better known as the jewel in the Bahamian crown, Nassau Paradise Island is one of the most colorful and vibrant capitals in the world. Its crystal clear turquoise waters, bustling downtown district and old-world colonial charm lure people from across the globe to the unique atmosphere. Favorited by a wide spectrum of holidaymakers, from honeymooners to health- conscious backpackers, Nassau is a great destination for those seeking the best of all worlds.

What to do: Originally a favored hangout spot for pirates, Nassau boasts a protected harbor along with kilometers of sparkling white beaches and epic stretches of thriving coral reefs. With waters so blue they can be seen from space, this idyllic island is perfect for those who enjoy all kinds of water sports including snorkeling, diving, and fishing. In fact, the island regularly hosts one of the biggest international freediving competitions, with as many as 56 athletes from 21 countries competing at Dean’s Blue Hole for titles such as world’s deepest free diver. Snorkeling is also hugely popular in Nassau, with several underwater wrecks to explore as well as the opportunity to swim with and feed sharks.

The tropical monsoon climate in Nassau makes it home to a spectacular range of wildlife, which has led to the creation of Clifton Heritage Park, The Retreat Garden National Park (The Retreat), and Primeval Forest National Park to help preserve the species indigenous to the area. Flamingos “march” three times a day at Ardastra Gardens, Zoo and Conservation Centre, where visitors can also enter their enclosure to feed the birds.

In addition to the stunning natural beauty and favorable climate, Nassau also features some of the best nightlife in the Bahamas. From an open-air dance hall overlooking the harbor to raucous pool parties, the nightclubs here do not disappoint. The distinctive regional music emanating from the local bars and restaurants set the mood for a night out as pulsing African rhythms blend perfectly with Caribbean calypso melodies to create a typical Bahamian party atmosphere.

Where to eat: The cuisine in Nassau is mainly centered around the deliciously fresh seafood, which is widely available in the area. Conch is a staple of the Bahamian diet with many food stalls offering cracked conch, conch salad, or conch burgers at rock bottom prices. Doc Sands’ Conch Stall is a must for anyone traveling to the Bahamas on a budget, but for a special treat, the fine dining of Café Matisse is sure to impress even the fussiest of eaters.

 

When to go: Nassau has rainfall for most of the year, with May to October being the wettest part of the season. June through to November, however, is hurricane season, which is something to be aware of if you are planning on booking your holiday during that time.

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network recently recognized Nassau as a Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art, a title belonging to only three Caribbean cities. To really get a measure of the folk art available here, it is advisable to visit during one of the city’s colorful festivals. The main festival is Junkanoo, a vibrant street parade featuring brightly colored costumes, loud music, and festivities until the early hours of the morning, is a must-see.

 

Starting an Online Business Has Never Been Easier

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– simply-communicate.com

Even in this day and age you’d be surprised to hear that there are still many businesses out there yet to join the online revolution. Companies have been taking full advantage of the digital boom for years now, and with new and exciting emerging platforms and devices helping us get connected and online more easily than ever, there’s no better time to try and break into that ever-increasing online market.

It’s an incredibly fast-moving marketplace but it’s safe to say that if your business is not already online then it definitely should be. No matter what industry you may work in, no matter who your customer base is or even where they may be its very important for you to have some form of online presence. Long gone are the days where having a website was an expensive and time-consuming chore. Nowadays thanks to many cost-effective and innovative systems and facilities you can have your very own website up and running in a matter of hours.

Getting started with a new website is a straightforward experience. First off you will require a domain name as well as a hosting package, so it’s important to find a suitable provider. The hosting side of things allows you to effectively “park” your site on the web as well as control other aspects of how you would like your site to be seen, how errors are handled and other more technical aspects of website ownership.

Packages and the prices included will vary greatly dependent on what exactly is required. For example, if you’re just looking for a basic package for a simple 5-10-page site then you could probably pick up a decent package for as low as £10 per month. If, however, you are looking to start and build a more sizeable website with lots of pages of content or an e-commerce site you could pay anything up to £100 per month. The prices will also determine the amount of traffic that can pass through your site as well as how much webspace you’ll be entitled to.

When you have the basics setup then you’ll want to think about how best to go about designing, developing and putting your site together. Of course, you have the option to work alongside a professional web developer or development team, but if keeping costs down is important then you’ll be pleased to hear that you can piece together your own website using intuitive drag and drop builders which require absolutely no web scripting knowledge.

The usability of these drag and drop builders go hand in hand with the recent surge in popularity of online affiliate marketing websites. In this system, a larger brand will provide you software to use on your site and pay you a percentage of every transaction from your site, in exchange for driving qualified traffic to that brand.

There are numerous online sectors where this is possible, with travel booking, comparison sites and gambling affiliate sites like this being some of the most popular.

Once your new site is up and running then it’s a case of getting the word out. Social networking has become a fantastically useful way to drive people to your website though having useful, interesting and relatable content on your site will always be the main traffic driver.

 

3 Types of Online Bingo for Beginners to Get Started with

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frostWith over 3 million people in Britain playing Bingo in halls and community centres along with over 100 million playing online and on mobile worldwide, it is fair to say that the game is quite popular. If you are one of those who are intrigued by the games’ popularity you may be looking for information on how to get started playing bingo. Likewise, if you enjoy playing the game offline and would like to try the extremely popular online versions of the pastime then see below for three types of online bingo for beginners to get started with.

30 Ball Bingo

Thanks to advances in technology, bingo today has evolved form being the preserve of players of a certain generation in Bingo halls to become a widespread pursuit. One of the most popular versions of online bingo and a good place to start for beginners is 30 Ball bingo.  There are a number of variations in terms of themes and prizes but the format is largely the same and new players can discover online bingo sites easily online and on mobile. This iteration of Bingo futures 30 balls as the name suggests, but this makes it is easy for new players to keep track with the fast paced game as they learn.

Many people now play the game online and on mobile through smartphone applications and mobile-optimised websites, and 30 Ball bingo is the preferred entry point for many of them.

75 Ball Online Bingo

75 ball online bingo generally features a card with a 5 x 5 grid of numbered squares, except for the one in the centre which is left empty to round the squares off at 75. This online bingo game tends to have 5 prizes available to be won: jackpots are paid out for 1 line, 2 lines, 3, lines, 4 lines, and 5 lines. The first player to have all their numbered squares called out in either a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line wins a 1 line prize and so on. The main difference of 75 Ball online bingo comes in the winning patterns that are available to players.

90 Ball Online Bingo

While the variations in types of Bingo mentioned in this post seem to be just in the number of balls, they are different games in many ways. For example 90 ball online bingo differs from the 75 ball version of online bingo above in the winning patterns and in that its tickets are made up of 9 columns and 3 rows of numbers. In addition, there are only 3 prizes available to be won with a jackpot for 1 line, one for 2 lines, and a prize for getting a full house. Its simplified version makes 90 ball bingo a great game to start out with for beginners.

If you’re new to online bingo the three versions of the game mentioned above are good places to start exploring this extremely popular and enjoyable pastime. Once you have mastered one of the above you can move on to more complex types and themes of bingo with a better prospect of success.

 

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