Arrive early if you haven't played bingo before, or if you have guests to sign in. Binog staff will usually be happy to explain the game to you, if there is plenty of time. Try to arrive at least 20 minutes before the bingo game starts.

Be quiet if you enter the bingo hall whilst book bingo is being played! Otherwise you'll annoy other bingo customers and possibly disrupt the bingo game.

Buy bingo pens. You can use a biro to mark your bingo books if you wish, but the marks can be harder to see on the page. Special bingo dabbers are recommended for beginners.

Make sure that you're playing the right bingo book. If you're not, you won't get any prize money if you shout for a claim.

Shout up as soon as you hear the bingo number you need for a claim being called, and put your hand up to help the bingo checkers find you. If you don't shout in time, and the bingo caller starts the next number, you forfeit your right to the prize money.

Don't...

Be noisy! Apart from the bingo caller, bingo halls are as quiet as libraries during the book bingo. Bring your own food or drink in! Unless the bingo club specifies that this is OK. You wouldn't bring your own booze to a pub or nightclub, would you?

Be frightened to shout loudly if you win. If the bingo caller does not hear you, you will not get your prize money.

Be afraid to ask other bingo customers for help if you get confused over something. Most are happy to help a bingo newbie.

Swear too much - the little old ladies don't like it (although some can probably out-cuss you any day).