Frequently Asked Questions

Bingo Caller provides free on-device tools for running professional bingo nights at pubs, clubs, and village halls — including Georgia K voice, UK rules checks, the night desk, and verifiable reports. Cloud venue sync and staff accounts arrive when the Workers API is connected.

No. The free tools run entirely in your web browser. On supported phones you can also install Bingo Caller to the home screen from the browser menu (it uses the site web app manifest and starts on Setup). It still works without installing.

Yes. Open the caller once while online so the service worker can cache the shell and the Georgia K MP3 pack (90 calls with the double pause before the final number). After that, calling keeps working offline. The night desk also stays on this phone and will sync when cloud sync is connected.

That is usually an old offline page from before a site update. Pull to refresh once (or close and reopen the tab) while online so the app replaces the stale shell. After that, pages should open already styled; the service worker keeps the caller and ticket tools available offline without pinning outdated Astro pages.

Yes. On the period report, use Export all JSON (shown once this browser has closed nights) to back up every archived night without picking a date range first. Copy that file to the other phone, then use Import JSON archive on the same page. After you load a range you can also download a range-scoped JSON, CSV or Save PDF. CSV is for spreadsheets; PDF is for printing or filing; JSON restores the on-device archive used for weekly £2,000 checks and report links. Clear archive only after you have a backup.

Use Period and Nights in the top nav. Period rebuilds weekly £2,000 checks from the on-device archive, with Export all JSON, range Download CSV / Save PDF / JSON, import, and clear controls. Nights lists open and archived nights on this browser without forcing a cloud login. Open a closed night’s night report for that night’s CSV, PDF or JSON. The hall display at /live also reads this phone’s night when the Workers API is offline.

Three places, all free and on this device. Night report (/report) — after you close on the desk, use Download CSV or Save PDF (print dialog → Save as PDF), plus JSON. Period (/period) — load a date range, then CSV / PDF / JSON for the period, or Export all JSON for a full archive backup. Card Bingo (/tools/cards.html) — Money tab statement CSV / PDF, and Sheets tab uniqueness hash JSON / CSV / PDF. CSV is for spreadsheets; PDF is for printing or filing.

Both 90-ball bingo (classic UK bingo with numbers 1-90) and Card Bingo (playing cards in a 3×3 grid) are fully supported. Open Card Bingo from /tools/cards.html — on the Money tab use Copy statement, Download statement, Download CSV or Save PDF before you clear a night. Sold-sheet SHA-256 uniqueness hashes are appended automatically. On Sheets, uniqueness proofs download as JSON, CSV or Save PDF. Card Bingo warns when rolling 7-day stakes on this phone (Card Bingo archive plus night-desk archive) approach the £2,000 weekly limit. Desk period totals still live under Period with Export all JSON.

On the caller, check or Scan QR each claimed ticket. The verdict shows which call number completed the 1st line, two lines, and full house. Checked tickets collect in Compare claims — earliest call for that prize wins; the same call number means a share. The night desk has the same timing plus Add to compare.

Every sheet has a unique ID made from tonight’s game code plus the sheet number (for example PETX-0007). Under one game code, each sheet number is assigned a different set of nine cards — there are over 3.6 billion possible sets, mapped so sold sheets cannot share the same cards and produce a duplicate claim. Each set also gets a SHA-256 hash (plus a short printable fingerprint on the sheet). On the Sheets tab, Bingo Caller hash-checks the sold or print range, shows a batch fingerprint, and lets you download the proof as JSON, CSV or Save PDF, or Verify hash report later from a saved JSON or CSV by rebuilding the same hashes from the IDs. The same ID always rebuilds the same layout and the same hashes. Check a claim / Scan QR rebuilds from the ID. Use a new game code for the next event so old sheets cannot be claimed again.

Subscriptions are not yet available. We're building the hosted platform and will announce when sign-ups open. In the meantime, use our free browser tools to run bingo nights today.

Yes. Cancel anytime. Transparency reports you've published remain accessible after cancellation. You can always downgrade to the free tools.

When a game opens, a cryptographic seed is generated and its SHA-256 fingerprint is published immediately. This seed determines the complete draw order, which is kept secret until the game closes. When the game ends, the seed is revealed so anyone can verify the draws matched the pre-committed order. This is a "commit and reveal" scheme that proves draws were predetermined and fair.

The hosted platform (when available) includes offline mode. The draw order is stored encrypted locally when the game opens. If the connection drops, you can continue offline, and all events sync to the cloud when reconnected. The free tools run entirely in your browser and don't require internet once loaded.

No. The hosted platform uses an append-only log with cryptographic hash chaining. Events cannot be edited or deleted. If a correction is needed (e.g., an error was discovered), it's recorded as a new, visible addendum that references the original entry.

Not initially. The platform is a Progressive Web App (PWA) that works on phones, tablets, and desktops. You can install it to your home screen for an app-like experience. Native mobile apps may come later if there's demand.

The caller uses static Georgia K MP3 clips (lead line, pause, then the final number) cached by the service worker. Open the caller once online to download the pack; after that it works offline. Additional voice packs may be offered as a Premium feature later.

No. Players don't create accounts. QR codes on sheets link to public player pages that show the sheet and results, but no personal information is collected or stored.

No. Venues sell sheets for cash or card at the bar just as they do now. We only handle venue subscription payments (via Stripe) for the platform itself.

The hosted platform (when available) will store data in the EU or Switzerland with GDPR/UK GDPR/Swiss FADP compliance. The free browser tools store data locally in your browser only.