Should you buy an additional board set in the blackout (coverall) round?
| Sets | Boards | E[Payout] | Marginal EV | Net | Decision |
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This tool calculates the expected value (EV) of buying an additional board set in the blackout (coverall) round of a cash-prize bingo game.
Many bingo nights include a coverall round — you must mark every number on your board to win. A cash jackpot is awarded if someone achieves coverall within a set number of calls (typically 50–60). If nobody wins within that limit, a smaller consolation prize is paid out instead.
In the coverall round, players can often buy additional board sets. The question this tool answers is: Given the number of players, the prize structure, and the call limit — is spending money on an additional set a positive or negative expected value decision?
A board set refers to one or more bingo boards sold together on a single sheet of paper. For example, a sheet with 3 boards printed on it is a board set of 3. Use the "Boards per Set" option under Advanced settings to match the format at your venue.
This calculator assumes standard 75-ball bingo: five columns (B-I-N-G-O) with 15 numbers each (1–15, 16–30, 31–45, 46–60, 61–75), a 5×5 grid, and a free center square — giving 24 numbered spaces per board. This is the most common format in the United States and Canada. If your game uses a different number of balls (e.g., 80 or 90-ball bingo, common in the UK and Australia), this calculator does not apply.
The calculator uses a deterministic, iterative probability model. For each possible winning call number (24 through 75), it computes:
It sums these contributions to produce an exact expected payout, then compares the marginal value of one more set against its cost.
Jackpot Amount — the fixed dollar amount awarded if someone achieves coverall within the call limit. This works for any fixed-prize format: a flat jackpot, a progressive/rolling jackpot (enter the current accumulated value), or a guaranteed prize. It does not need to be funded by that night's revenue.
Jackpot Call Limit — the maximum number of balls that can be called for the jackpot to be eligible. If no one achieves coverall by this call, the consolation prize applies instead.
Non-Jackpot Payout % — the consolation prize, expressed as a percentage of the coverall round's total revenue (number of sets sold × cost per set). For example, if 200 sets are sold at $2 each and the payout is 50%, the consolation prize is $200. If your venue pays a flat consolation amount instead, you can approximate it by calculating what percentage of revenue it represents and entering that value.