Game guide
Bingo apps: real-money bingo on iPhone and Android
How real-money bingo apps work at UK-licensed sites, which operators publish app details, how apps compare with the mobile browser and what to check first.
A bingo app is a licensed bingo operator's own application for iPhone or Android, giving you the same rooms, chat, balance and account as its website. A bingo app for real money must come from an operator licensed by the Gambling Commission for remote bingo, and your deposit limits, verification and GAMSTOP status are shared between the app and the site. Some operators run bingo only in the mobile browser, which gives you the same games without an install.
The online bingo sites hub lists the licensed operators. This page covers mobile bingo apps specifically: which operators publish app details, how an app compares with the browser, and what to check before you download.
On this page
Bingo apps from operators with published details
- tombola - tombola's help pages tell players to "find 'tombola bingo' on the iOS or Android app store" and install it; the app covers its bingo games and chat rooms. tombola Arcade players use the same tombola account, and tombola's own FAQ answers whether the app is free to download.
- Coral - Coral's help centre refers to its Android apps for sports, poker, casino and bingo, and says Google Pay deposits work in those apps. Coral's deposit rules read: Shown in the cashier; Google Pay min £5; single deposits capped at £2,000.
- Amazon Slots and Costa Bingo - both offer bingo, but their app details are set out on their own sites rather than in the documents available, so check the operator's site for current app or mobile-browser access.
- Register-only bingo brands - Butlers Bingo, Rosy Bingo and Zingo Bingo hold bingo activities on the Gambling Commission register; their current app and payment details are in their own terms, which change often.
Popular bingo brands not covered on this site may also have apps. The same checks below apply to any of them.
App or mobile browser?
| Native app | Mobile browser | |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | Download from the App Store or Google Play, then update | None; open the site and log in |
| Account and balance | Same account as the website | Same account as the website |
| Game start alerts | Push notifications, if you allow them | Usually none |
| Storage | Uses space on your phone | Uses only browser cache |
| Game range | Usually the full lobby; occasionally a smaller selection | Usually the full lobby |
Neither is safer by default; both run under the same licence and the same rules. Apps are handy if you play regularly and like a reminder when a pre-bought game starts. The browser suits occasional play and keeps gambling off your home screen, which some players prefer. Our mobile casinos page compares the same choice for casino games.
What a good bingo app should let you do
- See the timetable of rooms, ticket prices and prizes before you buy.
- Pre-buy tickets and see clearly what you have bought for later games.
- Auto-daub, so you never miss a number on a small screen.
- Chat with clear rules and moderation.
- Set limits. Since 31 October 2025 GB-licensed operators must prompt new customers to set a financial limit before the first deposit and make limit-setting the default. The app should let you change deposit limits, set reality checks and take a time-out without leaving it.
- Show your history of deposits, tickets and winnings.
- Withdraw as easily as you deposit.
Downloading a bingo app safely
- Download only from the official App Store or Google Play listing, or from a link on the operator's own website.
- Check that the app's publisher matches the brand or its licence holder, and that the brand's domain appears on the Gambling Commission register. Our licence check guide explains how.
- Be wary of apps that promise real money but are not linked to a licensed operator. Many free bingo apps are social games with virtual coins and no cash prizes, and some sell those coins.
- Allow notifications only if you want them. Marketing messages need your opt-in for each product and channel since 1 May 2025, and you can withdraw consent at any time.
Payments in bingo apps
Bingo apps generally take the same payment methods as the website: debit cards, and where the operator offers them, wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. Coral, for example, lists Google Pay for its Android bingo app. Credit cards cannot be used for gambling in Great Britain (since April 2020), including through e-wallets funded by a credit card. Pay by mobile, where offered, is capped by UK networks at £40 per transaction and £240 a month and is usually deposit-only. See Google Pay casinos for how wallet payments work.
Connections and dropped games
Mobile connections drop more often than home broadband. Tickets bought before a game starts usually stay in play and are marked automatically, and any prize is credited to your account. The room rules say how disconnections are handled, so read them once, especially if you pre-buy for games you will not watch live. Bingo calls run regardless of whether your app is open.
18+ only. An app puts bingo on your phone around the clock; decide when you will play and set a deposit limit in the app. Our responsible gambling page explains limits, time-outs, GAMSTOP and free support.
UK-licensed casinos, ranked by our score
Order = score out of 10. Every operator holds a Gambling Commission licence.
| # | Casino | Score | Welcome offer and significant terms | Payments | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place 1 |  Tombola ArcadeTombola (International) Plc | Score: 6.9 out of 10, good | No welcome offer listed in the terms we read. | Not listed | Visit Tombola Arcade (opens the operator site in a new tab)Read the review: Tombola Arcade |
| Place 2 |  CoralLC International Limited | Score: 6.8 out of 10, good | No welcome offer listed in the terms we read. |
| Visit Coral (opens the operator site in a new tab)Read the review: Coral |
| Place 3 |  Amazon SlotsJumpman Gaming Limited | Score: 7.7 out of 10, good | Chance to win up to 500 bonus spins on Starburst Significant terms 18+, new players, £10 min fund; bonus spins winnings subject to 10x wagering; max bonus conversion equal to lifetime deposits up to £250; only bonus wagers count |
| Visit Amazon Slots (opens the operator site in a new tab)Read the review: Amazon Slots |
| Place 4 |  Costa BingoBroadway Gaming Ireland DF Limited | Score: 6.0 out of 10, fair | 50% games bonus up to £100 on a £10+ first deposit Code GAME50 Significant terms New players; min deposit £10 with code GAME50; 10x games bonus wagering; instant games only; 5-day expiry; winnings capped at £100 plus bonus; withdrawal forfeits bonus | Not listed | Visit Costa Bingo (opens the operator site in a new tab)Read the review: Costa Bingo |
Ad We may earn a commission if you open an account through links on this page; it does not change our scores or the order of operators. How we score · Advertising disclosure
Questions readers ask
Are bingo apps safe to use?
An app from a GB-licensed bingo operator, downloaded from the official app store or the operator's site, runs under the same licence and rules as its website. Check the brand on the Gambling Commission register first.
Can I win real money on a bingo app?
Yes, if the app belongs to a GB-licensed bingo operator and you play in real-money rooms. Social bingo apps with virtual coins pay no cash prizes.
Do I need an app to play bingo on my phone?
No. Licensed bingo sites also run in the mobile browser, with the same account, rooms and balance.
Is my bingo app account the same as the website account?
Yes. The balance, limits, verification and self-exclusion status are shared between the operator's app and website.
Can I set deposit limits in a bingo app?
Yes. GB-licensed operators must prompt you to set a financial limit before your first deposit, and limits can be changed in your account on any device.