Edition: Danish banko with the numbers 1 to 90 and cards with 3 rows and 15 numbers, much like 90-ball bingo in the UK. Last checked October 25, 2026
Banko Rules: How to Play Danish Bingo
Banko is the classic Danish version of bingo, played in community halls, at Christmas parties and at home. One person calls the numbers and everyone else covers them on their cards. It works like 90-ball bingo, not the 75-ball game most Americans know. Here are the rules and answers to the questions that often cause arguments.
- Players
- 3 or more
- Age
- 5 and up
- Playing time
- 30 to 90 minutes
How to win: Be the first to cover a full horizontal row, two rows or the whole card, and shout banko before the next number is called.
Who is right?
The classic arguments at the table when you play Banko, Danish Bingo.
Can you call banko on one row, or only on a full card?
It depends.
There is no single official rule. The most common Danish way is three prizes per game: one row, two rows and a full card. The caller should say what counts before the first number is drawn.
With small prizes or short games, many people only play for a full card.
What happens if two people call banko at the same time?
Split the prize or draw lots.
If both have a valid card on the same number, they have won equally. The usual solution is to split the prize or draw lots, for example by each drawing a number from the bag, with the higher number winning.
At home both often get a small prize so nobody walks away disappointed.
Does it count if you notice your banko after the next number is called?
Usually not.
The common rule is that you must call before the caller draws the next number. Otherwise the win is lost and the game goes on.
With young kids, people are often kind and accept the row anyway if it was complete before the new number.
Does a vertical or diagonal line count?
No.
In Danish banko a row is always horizontal. Columns and diagonals do not win anything. This is different from American bingo, where diagonals often count.
Some families add bonus prizes, like the four corners, but agree on it beforehand.
What you need
- Banko cards, one or more for each player
- The numbers 1 to 90 as balls, tokens or slips of paper in a bag
- Something to cover numbers with, like chips, coins or a marker
- Prizes
Setup
- 1Choose a caller who draws the numbers and reads them out loud.
- 2Give each player one or more cards.
- 3Put all 90 numbers in the bag or drum and mix them well.
- 4Agree before you start which prizes you are playing for and what happens if two people win at the same time.
How to play
- 1The caller draws one number at a time and says it clearly, ideally twice.
- 2If the number is on one of your cards, cover it.
- 3The caller sets the drawn numbers aside so they can be checked later.
- 4The first player with a complete horizontal row shouts banko.
- 5The caller checks the card by reading the numbers in the row and comparing them with the numbers drawn.
- 6If everything is right, the player gets the prize, and the game continues for two rows on the same card.
- 7Finally you play for a full card, where all 15 numbers must be covered.
- 8Once someone wins the full card, the game is over. All numbers go back in the bag and a new game can start.
What a banko card looks like
A Danish banko card has 3 horizontal rows and 9 vertical columns.
- Each row has 5 numbers and 4 blank squares.
- Each card has 15 numbers in total.
- The first column holds 1 to 9, the second 10 to 19, and so on.
- The last column holds 80 to 90.
Prizes in one game
- One row: a full horizontal row is covered.
- Two rows: two horizontal rows on the same card are covered.
- Full card: all 15 numbers on the card are covered.
House rules
Pick the rules you want to play with tonight. Everyone at the table has to agree.
Our Banko, Danish Bingo rules for tonight
Everything else follows the official rules.
Frequently asked questions
How many numbers are in Danish banko?
There are 90 numbers, from 1 to 90. Each card has 15 of them spread over 3 rows with 5 numbers in each.
What is the difference between banko and American bingo?
Danish banko uses 90 numbers and cards with 3 rows. American bingo usually uses 75 numbers and a 5 by 5 card with a free space in the middle.
How many cards can you play?
As many as you can keep track of. The organizer can set a limit, especially if the cards cost money.
Source: Common Danish banko tradition from clubs, community halls and family parties. The rules are written in our own words. Ask the referee if you are unsure.