Bingo is a game of chance where players mark numbers on cards as they're randomly called out, racing to complete a pattern first. When someone fills their required pattern (usually a straight line), they shout “Bingo!” to claim victory.

The game works like this: each player gets a card with a grid of numbers. A caller draws numbered balls or chips from a container and announces them one at a time. Players scan their cards and mark any matching numbers. The first person to mark a complete row, column, or diagonal wins. Some games require filling the entire card, called a blackout.

Bingo is popular at fundraisers, community centers, and family gatherings because it's simple enough for anyone to play yet still exciting. The suspense builds as you get closer to winning, needing just one more number while hoping someone else doesn't win first.

People also use “bingo” in conversation to mean “exactly right!” If your friend guesses what you're thinking, you might exclaim “Bingo!” It's a way of saying they hit the target perfectly, just like completing a winning bingo card.