I was at a bingo the other day at Red Rock and it was a pretty small crowd. Does the house edge depend on the crowd size and is it possible to get an edge?
Yes, crowd size can affect the expected value (EV) of playing bingo, but the effect depends on the game format, prize structure, and house rules. In most common bingo setups, a smaller crowd tends to reduce EV for players, but there are exceptions. In a few specific circumstances, a player can gain a theoretical or practical edge or at least swing the expectation close to breakeven.
One of these is as you state: when there's an overlay, with a fixed payout regardless of how many players buy cards. If attendance is low for, as an example, a $1,000 coverall, the casino may be paying out more in prizes than it collects in card sales.
Say 25 players buy in for $25 cards and the casino collects $625 on the $1,000 payout. The players now have a positive EV situation. In the case where a payout is fixed, buying more cards doesn't change EV by itself, but it does capture a larger share of an overlay and reduces variance relative to the field. Basic strategy would call for playing during off-hours and/or track which sessions routinely don’t fill seats.
Another situation involves progressive jackpots, especially those approaching “must-payout” thresholds. Progressives are usually negative EV — until they’re not. Just like at video poker and must-hit-by slots, as the jackpot grows, the expected value rises. Like progressives, carryover jackpots can also provide a player edge.
A third bingo possibility consists of promotional subsidies, such as free cards, matchplays, and bouncebacks. Casinos often hand out free paper or electronic cards, offer points multipliers or food comps tied to bingo play, and run loss rebates. All these have real bingo value.
