Playing Bingo (or as many of us Kiwis know it, “housie”) on your phone is a bit different from those community hall games we grew up with, but it’s a great way to get your bingo fix when you can’t make it to a live game. After trying pretty much every bingo app available in the NZ Google Play Store during those rainy Wellington weekends, here are the ones I actually kept on my phone.
Quick Takeaway: While these apps are all free on the NZ app stores, my experience shows you’ll enjoy them most if you’re patient and don’t feel pressured to spend.
A Note for Kiwi Players:
Remember that while these are international apps available in NZ, they use US dollars for in-app purchases. Keep the exchange rate in mind if you decide to spend – what looks like $1.99 will actually be closer to $3.30 NZD on your credit card.
4 Best Bingo Apps I’ve Actually Enjoyed Playing
1. Absolute Bingo
Rating: 4.7/5
Developer: Absolute Games: Bingo Games
Number of Downloads: Over 10 million
Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows
Download Links:
- Android: Google Play Store
- iOS: App Store
- Windows: Microsoft Store
This has been my go-to for over a year now. What I love most is that you can play up to 8 cards at once (most others limit you to 4), and you can actually control the game speed. I’m not kidding – when I’m half-asleep, I slow it down, and when I’m feeling sharp, I speed it up.
The best part? I’ve only seen like two ads in an hour of play. After trying dozens of bingo apps that bombard you with ads every 2 minutes, this feels like heaven. Fair warning though – the higher stages do get pricey with bets, but I’ve found you can still have fun playing lower stakes.
2. Bingo Blitz
Rating: 4.6/5
Developer: Playtika Santa Monica, LLC
Number of Downloads: Over 1 million
Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows
Download Links:
- Android: Google Play Store
- iOS: App Store
- Windows: Microsoft Store
Now this one’s interesting. It’s got this whole travel theme where you play bingo in different cities. Cute idea, right? I actually stuck with it for about three months. The graphics are nice, and they’re pretty generous with power-ups at first.
However – and this is a big however – I got stuck in the same “room” for what felt like forever trying to get one specific card. It’s fun at first, but it can get frustrating if you’re trying to progress without spending money.
3. Bravo Bingo
Rating: 5.0/5
Developer: CLASSMOBI CO., LIMITED
Number of Downloads: Over 1 million
Platforms: Android, iOS
Download Links:
- Android: Google Play Store
- iOS: App Store
Here’s one I downloaded recently, and I have mixed feelings. The good stuff first: it’s got these fun puzzle pieces you collect while playing, and the special themed rooms keep things interesting. Plus, their customer service actually responds – I had an issue with missing coins, and they sorted it out pretty quickly.
But let’s be real – after level 20, the coin costs for games shoot up like crazy. I went from playing 4 cards to 2 just to keep playing without spending real money.
4. Bingo Voyage
Rating: 4.9/5
Developer: VERTEX GAMES PTE. LTD.
Number of Downloads: Over 100,000
Platforms: Android, iOS
Download Links:
- Android: Google Play
- iOS: App Store
This is the newest one I’ve tried, and it’s got potential. Love the cruise ship theme – it’s different! The chat room is actually fun (rare in bingo apps), and people are surprisingly friendly.
The downside? It can be glitchy after updates, and I’ve lost progress a few times. Also, like most bingo apps, it gets expensive at higher levels. I usually stick to playing 1-2 cards instead of 4 to make my coins last longer.
Tips From My Experience
- Never spend real money just because you’re on a losing streak
- Start with 1-2 cards until you get a feel for how generous the app is with coins
- Collect daily bonuses religiously – they add up!
- If an app feels too pushy with purchases, there are plenty of others to try
- Don’t chase losses – when you’re out of free coins, take a break
Remember, these are games meant for fun, not fortune-making.
Extra Tips for NZ Players
- If you’re used to traditional housie, these apps play quite differently – they’re faster and more casual
- Watch your data usage if you’re not on WiFi – some of these apps can be data-hungry
- Set your phone to NZD to see actual prices for in-app purchases
- Most apps will work fine even with our sometimes patchy rural internet connections
- The best time to play is usually during our evenings when international players are also online (more players = more fun!)
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