How to run BingoBoardTV

Q: Can I make the board match a theme, like a Western or 1950s night?

Yes. Click Customize the look in the app and pick a ready-made look (Wild West, 50s Diner, Vegas Night, 80s Neon, Christmas, Halloween, or Stars & Stripes), then change the colors, fonts, background picture, banner and logo if you like. Nothing changes on the TV until you press Save, and you can save looks to reuse for your next event.

A simple, start-to-finish guide. No tech skills needed — if you can plug in an HDMI cable, you can run a bingo night.

📸 Prefer pictures? See the step-by-step tutorials with real screenshots — the TV board, calling, printing cards, phone play, verifying winners, and music bingo.

1. Connect your laptop to the TV

Plug an HDMI cable from your Windows laptop into the TV or projector. Set Windows display to Duplicate or Extend. Open Chrome or Edge, sign in, and go to bingoboardtv.com/app. (No HDMI? See other ways to get numbers on a TV.)

2. Call the numbers — two easy ways

Let the app draw for you — no ball machine needed. Tap 🎲 Draw ball for each number, or turn on Auto-call and it draws every few seconds by itself. Turn on 🔊 Voice (top-right) and it announces each call out loud.
Or call them yourself. Using a real ball machine? Click a number on the board, or type 52, G52, or G-52 and press Enter.
The Last Called number shows huge at the top; the last 5 calls show underneath.
Undo removes the most recent call (shortcut U); the ✕ in the history removes any specific call; Reset clears the game (it asks first). Call a number twice and you’ll get a duplicate warning.

3. Put it on the big screen

Fullscreen — click ⛶ TV / Fullscreen (shortcut F) to fill the screen.
Separate TV display window — click 🖥 Open TV display to pop out a clean board (no buttons) that you drag onto the TV, while your controls stay private on your laptop.

Use the layout buttons up top to pick Camera + Board, Board Only, Split (last call on one side, board on the other), Camera Only, or Last Call.

4. Someone shouts “Bingo!” — verify it instantly

If you printed cards with our card generator, checking a win takes one step. Open ✅ Verify a winner's card, type the Set code and card number printed on their card, and the app rebuilds that exact card and tells you Valid or Not yet for the current pattern — no squinting, no arguments.

5. Print your bingo cards (free)

Need cards for players? Our free card generator makes unique 75-ball cards — pick how many, add your event name, and print. No signup. Each batch has a Set code so you can verify winners in step 4.

6. Add a camera (optional)

Only if you use a real ball machine and want to show the balls. Click 📷 Camera On/Off and allow camera access when asked.
Pick the right camera from the Source list. Use Mirror, Rotate, and Zoom to frame the ball.
If the camera is denied or missing, the board keeps working — you don’t need it.

7. Between games

Tap 🏆 Winner screen to put a celebration on the TV, or ⏸ Intermission to show a break screen with a countdown so players know when the next game starts.

8. Give your board a theme or your own look

Running a Western night, a 50s sock hop, or a Christmas party? Your TV board can match it. You choose the look; nothing changes until you do.

Open bingoboardtv.com/app and click 🎨 Customize the look (just under Open the TV display).
You’re now in the Customizer — you’ll know because a purple striped bar runs across the top and the board shows a “Preview — not on your TV yet” tag. Your game is safe in here: nothing is called and the TV doesn’t change while you design.
Pick a look: 🤠 Wild West, 🍔 50s Diner, 🎰 Vegas Night, 🕹️ 80s Neon, 🎄 Christmas, 🎃 Halloween, ⭐ Stars & Stripes, or Classic Blue. The preview board changes right away.
Change anything you like (all optional):
- Colors — background, number squares, called numbers, the last-called highlight, title, and each B-I-N-G-O letter. If a color would make the numbers hard to read from the back of the room, you’ll see a warning with a one-click Fix it.
- Fonts for the title and for the numbers.
- Background picture — your hall, a flyer, or any themed photo. Use the slider to darken it so the numbers stay easy to read.
- Banner, logo & frame — type your event name, pick a banner style (plain, ribbon, sign, or marquee lights), add your hall logo, and turn the decorative frame on or off.
Use Preview the other screens to see the Winner and Intermission screens in your look too.
Click ✓ Save & use this look (top right). Your TV switches to it immediately. Changed your mind? ✕ Cancel leaves everything as it was.

Tip: type a name under My saved looks and click Save look to keep it for next time — then load it in one click before your next themed night. To go back to the plain board, choose Dark, Light, or High Contrast under Display options.

Want to move things around too? Open 🎨 My layouts to drag any block, resize it, or hide parts you don’t need, then save the whole arrangement (including your look) as a named layout.

Themes are in the web app at bingoboardtv.com/app. The offline Windows download will get them in its next update.

Your game is saved automatically

Every call is stored in your browser. If the page refreshes or the laptop sleeps, just reopen bingoboardtv.com/app and your game is still there. Running at a hall with no Wi-Fi? Download the Windows app — it works offline for up to 14 days.

Accessibility

Switch to the High Contrast theme for maximum readability. Numbers are large by design and the last call is highlighted in its own color. Built to be easy for seniors and volunteers.

Frequently asked questions

Does BingoBoardTV work on a Mac?

It runs in a web browser, so there is nothing to install. We build and test it on Windows with Chrome and Edge. Chrome on a Mac should work too, but we haven't tested every Mac setup yet. The offline download app is Windows only. If anything looks wrong on your Mac, tap the Feedback button and tell us.

Do I need a ball machine?

No. Tap Draw ball, or turn on Auto-call, and the app picks each number at random. If you already have a ball machine, you can type or click the numbers it draws instead.

Can it call the numbers out loud?

Yes. Turn on Voice and the app announces each number, in English or Spanish.

Can I make the board match a theme, like a Western or 1950s night?

Yes. Click 🎨 Customize the look in the app and pick a ready-made look (Wild West, 50s Diner, Vegas Night, 80s Neon, Christmas, Halloween, or Stars & Stripes), then change the colors, fonts, background picture, banner and logo if you like. Nothing changes on the TV until you press Save, and you can save looks to reuse for your next event. Step-by-step instructions.

Do I need internet at the hall?

The web version is meant to run with an internet connection. For halls with no Wi-Fi, download the Windows app, which keeps working for up to 14 days without internet.

Can players follow along on their phones?

Yes. Players scan a QR code on the TV to get a card on their phone and tap the numbers as they are called.

What happens if the page refreshes or the laptop goes to sleep?

Nothing is lost. Every call is saved in your browser, so reopen bingoboardtv.com/app and the game is right where you left it.

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