If you play your bingo online, then I guess you probably use the auto-dauber function, whereby your Bingo cards are automatically marked as the numbers are called. It’s nice ‘n easy- you just sit back and watch the game unfold without the risk of missing a number or failing to claim a win.

For land-based live Bingo (with real people in a real Bingo Hall, sometimes linked electronically to other Bingo Halls) it’s all down to the individual’s concentration, dexterity and equipment. Assuming that you can find a spot in the Bingo Hall where you can concentrate and that’s not full of distractions, then the number of Bingo cards that you can manage per session, and the speed and accuracy with which you mark them, is often down to your equipment.

Your equipment includes your eyes, (spectacles if worn), your ears, and your hands and fingers. But there’s also another item of equipment you will need, unless you are playing Bingo at a place that provides electronic Bingo card markers (more on these later).

You need something to mark off the numbers on your card as they are called. You can use a pen or pencil, but you must make sure that the number underneath is not totally obliterated or obscured: The Bingo Caller or his/her assistant will want to check that the numbers you have marked are the numbers he/she has called. If you have so heavily marked off a number that no-one can see what the number is, your card will be declared null and void.  The favourite tool of Bingo players, myself included, is the dauber (sometimes also called dabber, dotter or spotter). This is a pretty chunky pen-like implement, full of a coloured, but transparent ink. When a number of your Bingo card is called you dab/daub the number with this implement and thus mark it, but without obscuring the printed number underneath.

They can be purchased at Bingo Halls, or online, and come in a bewildering variety of colours, shapes and sizes. We are all individuals and I guess the idea is that they can reinforce your individuality. At one end of the spectrum that can be short, blunt and basic (a bit like my ex-next-door neighbour- ha ha!). If you become attached to your particular dauber, you can buy refills for it when it runs out, and even change the colour. Not only do people get attached to their “lucky” daubers, many also have lucky colours. These can be linked to their Birth sign.

So why have a boring pencil when you can have a fluorescent nice round see-thru blob on your Bingo card? And if you get bored, you can always dab someone’s face with it, and make it seem as though they have some kind of dreaded spotty illness! Red for Chicken Pox, Yellow for Yellow Fever, blue for- I think you are an alien!

I hope you daub many numbers on your Bingo cards in 2012- good luck!