- Best Social Media 2019
- Most Socially Responsible Operator 2019
- Best Customer Service 2024
Tombola Bingo Review
5.0 /5
2.8 /5
No wagering requirements- Unique bingo games designed in-house
- 4* mobile app available to download
We can’t take you directly to this site at the moment, but discover many other recommended online bingo sites with great offers to play that we do recommend at our dedicated best bingo sites page.
A Quick Look at Tombola Bingo
Tombola is one of the most recognisable bingo brands anywhere in the online gambling industry. Even if you are not a bingo fan, you are sure to know its name from its sponsorship of the hit ITV show, I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!
With nearly two decades of providing exciting and unique bingo games under its belt, it has become a go-to site for all bingo enthusiasts. What makes this site special is the development and use of its exclusive proprietary bingo software. This simply means that all of the games are developed right here in the UK (in Sunderland in fact), and you will not find them anywhere else! What’s more, its games are consistently updated, so you will always find a new and exciting game to play.
Not only is tombola known for its incredible range of exclusive bingo games and hit marketing campaigns featuring its real players, but it also offers a welcoming community of like-minded bingo players, 24/7 tombola live chat customer support and a downloadable mobile app for both iOS and Android devices.
In 2022, Tombola was purchased and became part of the Flutter Entertainment family alongside other top gambling sites such as Paddy Power and Sky Betting. It has won a range of awards for its top-quality bingo games, customer support and community including WhichBingo awards for Best Social Media and Most Socially Responsible Operator.
This site earns a WhichBingo 5* Rating – here’s how:
- Offers/Promotions/Wagering: There really is not much to complain about with tombola’s offers as you can enjoy no wagering requirements with your welcome bonus and play an array of daily promo bingo games
- Fast Payment/Withdrawals: Simple range of payment methods and withdrawals range from instant to three days. There are no fees.
- Good Game Selection & Navigation: What makes tombola stand out from the crowd is its range of exceptional and unique games that you cannot find anywhere else
- Quality of Mobile Bingo: No stars are lost here as it offers a mobile-friendly site plus a mobile app on iOS and Android devices
- Customer Service: Tombola is known for its fantastic customer support which includes telephone, email and a 24/7 live chat option, plus knowledgeable chat hosts.
- Date Opened: 2005
- UK License Holder Name: Tombola International PLC
- UK License Number: 38613
- Exclusive games you won’t find anywhere else
- 24/7 live chat customer support
- Downloadable mobile app on iOS and Android
- Up to three working days for withdrawals, but many instant
- Limited payment methods might not suit everyone
Looking for Tombola Arcade? Here’s our review >>>
tombola Offers & Promotions
There is a decent, no wagering offer available for new players at tombola, but we can’t take you directly there right now. What players enjoy about tombola Bingo is that there is always plenty of exciting promotions to take part in. One of the biggest talking points is that the site always claimed to be Britain’s biggest bingo site, but as this became harder to prove they have now become the site that offers Britain’s Biggest Bingo Game as well. Starting with a pot of £100,000 it was the biggest bingo game, but then another brand started doing the same jackpot. So, more recently the pot has been seeded at £250,000 by tombola bingo to ensure that no-one wants to try and match it. The pot also rises once ticket sales take the pot above that base level, so they sky is the limit.
We would also recommend checking out the tombola Facebook social media page, as you’ll also find lots of great promotions running there too. Keep checking back with WhichBingo as we will still bring you all the tombola news about all the great new games and promotions that continue to launch.
Daily Free Game
Tombola is no stranger to giving away big prizes. There is not so much in the way of free bingo like you find at some other bingo sites, but what they do really well are the daily free games* they come up with. 2020 started with TRIO and the chance to win a share of the £35,000 weekly prize pot. September 2020 saw the launch of 4FREE with a £40,000 weekly prize fund and this level of payout continued when Merge was launched in May 2021 and again with the Free Vibes Game from January 2022. Free Form went live in May 2023, but makes room for Bug Match when the I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here sponsorship is running in November.
In January 2024 Free Form was retired and instead we saw the birth of a brand new free game based upon the new relationship and licensing with Deal or No Deal.
The top prize each week is £5,000 and the other prizes are £100, £20, £5,£1 and 25p. This level of prize means thousands of winners every week. In the Round 1 based game there are three lines and you need 3 x telephones or 3 x 10p or 3 x 20p in a line to win. For 10p or 20p,that’s what you win – three telephones takes you to Main Game. This has 12 boxes each with a prize amount inside. You choose your box and then you pick 10 of the remaining 11 boxes to eliminate those amounts revealed. You will then get a call from the Banker and then you choose to take the deal or open your box. It’s a daily chance to win up to £1,000.
You have to opt-in and have your mobile number registered to receive a new code each week by SMS to be able to play.
*SMS opt in. Max 1 free game per day. T&Cs apply.
Games & Software
If you want to enjoy a range of unique and exciting bingo games, then tombola Bingo is the one for you. This site uses its own software to deliver a range of terrific in-house designed bingo games. This site is dedicated to bingo games but if you want to enjoy spinning a range of brilliant slots, you’ll want to check tombola Arcade instead.
Bingo Games
| Bingo Software provider: | Tombola |
| No of Bingo Variants: | 15 |
| No of Bingo Rooms: | 23 |
At tombola Bingo, players can choose from over 21 bingo rooms with unique games. At this site, you can enjoy games of 90 ball bingo, 75 ball bingo, 30 ball bingo and 80 ball bingo, plus there are games of 60 ball bingo and many others that you may not have tried before.
Unique games to try at tombola Bingo include Cinco where you’ll need to match just five cards to potentially be the winner of a big jackpot and the colourful 30 ball Stakeback Bingo game where you’ll have to choose a colour at the start of the game and if the winning tile is the colour you picked, you’ll get your bet back. Morph is another great game to check out where you’ll be matching shapes rather than bingo numbers. At tombola Pulse is one of the most simple games featured – 36 balls in the game and you are allocated 12. The first person to pop all 12 wins, and we love the way the ‘pulse’ quickens and the colour changes as you get closer to the win.
Many of these great games are available to play from 1p, 5p and 10p per ticket, and the maximum bet permitted is £2, so no matter what your budget is, there are lots of great games to enjoy at this site. New unique games ae being added all the time with the latest being a card-based game called Nevada and a very peculiar game for tombola, The Machine. Not sure how long that last one will be around, as it’s a bit slow and complicated, but some people like it.
What Jackpots are available at Tombola Bingo?
Tombola Bingo has many big bingo jackpot games with jackpots of up to £20,000 in Bingo Blocks, three jackpot of up to £20,000 in the Potion bingo game and up to £20,000 jackpots in the Pulse and Cinco bingo games. There’s a progressive jackpot in the 90 ball bingo rooms, the others tend to be fixed jackpots.
How to Deposit & Cash Out
Tombola does not have the widest array of payment options to choose from and for a long time only had bank card options, and while the minimum withdrawal is £10, but the processing time is down to just a few hours. At the end of 2023 the brand added ApplePay to the list of payment methods, but you still need add your personal debit card on your account and make your first deposit using card payment. After that, Apple pay will be available for all subsequent deposits.
This site is also ahead of the game when it comes to promoting safe play and was the first we know of to actively adopt lower weekly deposit limits and net deposit limits.
Depositing
There’s a minimum deposit of £10 on any transaction and the upper limits can vary by player as of May 2021. The site always had an upper deposit limit of £250 per week for new depositors and £500 for returning players. This now applies to setting your own personal limits in place. The policy as of May 2021 is that there are also weekly net deposit limits of £250.00 and of £500.00 monthly, which cannot be exceeded regardless of your personal deposit limits. This is to encourage people to withdraw when they accrue winnings to enable them to continue to play.
The net deposit amount is the difference between total deposits and total withdrawals each calendar month. So, if you have deposited £400 this month, and have withdrawn £150. Your current net deposit amount would be £250. You will have to keep an eye on those maximum net deposit limits of £250 per week and £500 per calendar month. If you have deposited £250 but not withdrawn, you will be unable to make further deposits to your account that week.
A new thing I noticed about the tombola deposit limit rules recently is that if you set a daily limit of say £40 and you put that in and spend it – if you have had a win and you have withdrawn say £20, you could go back later in the day and still deposit another £20, even though you had already put in your £40 limit! I’m not sure I quite approve of that one.
The deposit process itself is fast and painless as long as you remain within the boundaries set.
| Deposit Method | Minimum Deposit | Processing Time | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa debit | £10 | Instant | No Fee |
| Mastercard debit | £10 | Instant | No Fee |
| Visa Electron | £10 | Instant | No Fee |
Cashing out
The withdrawal options are the same as the depositing options and the processing time is very fast in most cases. Depending on your card and bank the tombola withdrawal time is fantastic and you could have your winnings in just a couple of hours – although they do cover themselves and say it could be up to three days.
| Withdrawal Method | Minimum Withdrawal | Processing Time | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa debit | £10 | 3 hours to 3 days | N/A |
| Mastercard debit | £10 | 3 hours to 3 days | N/A |
| Visa Electron | £10 | 3 hours to 3 days | N/A |
How do I upload my ID to tombola bingo?
Uploading your ID to tombola Bingo is incredibly easy and takes just a few minutes to do. This process is completely normal and you will be asked to do this at all UK gambling sites as the regulations mean you cannot withdraw your winnings without your identity being verified. Try and do this as soon as you sign up to get your winnings as quickly as possible and avoid long withdrawal times. To upload your documents follow these steps:
- Login to your tombola account
- Head on over to My Account
- Click on Update Personal Details and then Identification Upload
- You can then be asked to upload a range of documents including a valid passport, driving license, utility bill and/or debit card statement.
Did you know…?
● Every single game you find at tombola (and tombola Arcade) is unique to them.
● This is one of the busiest and friendliest online bingo sites around. Great prizes and great banter 24 hours a day.
● The unique Playmates* scheme lets you share in your friend’s jackpots!
● Real players star in the tombola TV adverts – I know, I’ve been in one!
*£20 bonus money when your playmate deposits and spends £20 real money. Bonus money valid on all games except for tombola Roulette. Winnings can be withdrawn immediately. Bonus money can not be withdrawn. T&Cs apply.
Community & Customer Service
As one of the biggest bingo sites in the UK, you can expect a high level of customer service at tombola as well as a welcoming online community with lots going on.
Community
- Bingo rooms with chat hosts 24/7
Tombola Bingo has a large online community and so you’ll have a great time interacting with other players and the bingo chat hosts inside the bingo rooms. You can also keep up to date with promotions and new games via their Facebook page which is updated daily. The site also has a Twitter page but this has not been updated in years.
Customer Service
- 24/7 live chat
- Customer support telephone
Players have a wide range of options available to them should they need to get in touch with the tombola team. The easiest way is via tombola live chat which is available 24/7 but there is also the option to contact them by email or phone which is toll free.
Overall, the payment system at tombola Bingo is good but we would like to see more payment options added such as PayPal and Paysafecard, to give players a wider choice when depositing. The minimum withdrawal amount is fairly standard as well as the processing times, with many withdrawals happening within an hour.
Tombola Bingo on Mobile
If you’re looking for round-the-clock entertainment that you can slip into your pocket or handbag, this site is a great choice for you. With both a mobile optimised site and a tombola Bingo app, you can access the bingo games from a range of different devices including iOS, Android and Windows phones and tablets.
Both the app and mobile responsive sites are similar to the desktop version in the layout so navigation is not going to be a problem. The app is available for iOS, Android and Kindle and once you’ve logged in you can do all the things you can do from desktop including chat with other players, deposit and withdraw funds and reach out to customer support 24/7.
The simplicity of the games makes playing on mobile a breeze with touch screen optimised controls that display really well on a smaller screen. With the mobile version and app, you don’t have to miss out on any of the action, no matter where you are.
Should I Play at tombola Bingo?
Tombola Bingo online is one of the few truly unique bingo sites out there, and it’s the perfect choice for anyone who’s looking for something a bit different. Because their games are all designed and created in house, you won’t find yourself playing the same games as you do everywhere else and they have some truly unique offerings. You may have seen the tombola adverts on TV that say they feature real players and how they all have a wonderful time. We can confirm that they really are real players as I’ve been in one back in 2013!
Because it’s not part of a huge bingo network, the feel here is friendly and down to earth with a strong sense of community. It might not offer all the bells and whistles of some of its rivals but if you’re looking for a place to play an excellent range of bingo games without any distractions, you’ve found it. Their mobile platform and app make it easy to take your gaming experience out on the road with you and the 24/7 customer support, especially the tombola live chat team, mean someone is always on hand if you run into any difficulties.
As the only truly specialised bingo site out there, you’re guaranteed an experience like no other. Why not take a look today and give one of their unique games a whirl?
We Want Your Tombola Bingo Review!
Have you previously played at Tombola Bingo UK? If so, did you have the same experience we did playing here? Let our players know in the comments below your experience playing at this bingo site and if you would recommend it to others!
Tombola Bingo FAQs
What are the minimum deposit and withdrawal limits at Tombola Bingo?
The minimum deposit and withdrawal limits are £10.
Is it safe to play at Tombola Bingo?
Yes, this site is 100% safe and secure as it is licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission.
Can I set gameplay limits at Tombola Bingo?
Yes, you can set gameplay limits at Tombola Bingo including time outs, self-exclusion and deposit limits.
Can I play Tombola Bingo games for free?
Yes, there are special Tombola Bingo games available to play for free and these games run daily.
What is the maximum amount I can withdraw from my Tombola account?
The maximum you can withdraw from your Tombola Bingo account is £20,000.
Tombola Latest News
Tombola spreads the word on Safer Gambling
14/08/2023
Tombola is well known for being a leader in the Safer Gambling arena and really caring about the wellbeing of the tombola playing. The brand Safeplay team features a different topic each month in amongst the normal info about promotions and prizes to ensure that the whole community is kept aware of the excellent Safeplay tools available on both the main bingo site and the slots and instants tombola arcade site. They also utilise social media channels and its TV and radio advertising slots.
The brand has tools to enable players to monitor how much time they’re spending on site and to keep abreast of how much money being spent. The MyPlay feature breaks down daily, weekly or monthly spend by game, date, and time to highlight patterns or increased time spent on site.
Players can then use that information and use the available Safeplay tools that enable setting time limits, stake limits and freezing access to triggering games that take a lot of time or money.
Safer Gambling and positive play is a great goal for everyone.
Author And Managing Editor
Anita is well-known and respected within the online bingo industry, she loves all things bingo and slots and has been involved with online bingo and gambling sites since the late 1990’s. She has been the full-time writer and Editor of WhichBingo for much of that time and is respected by operators and players alike for her no-nonsense judgments and opinions. Anita has seen the highs and lows of the industry she loves, has seen it grow and develop and contract again into what it is today. She has worked with the biggest names in the industry and has a reputation for being fair and to the point in her writing.
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