Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about BingoNerd.

  • What is BingoNerd? BingoNerd is the Swiss home of the Nerd Game: every week a live event with exclusive prizes like Pokémon, One Piece, Funko Pop and much more.
  • How do you play? You buy one or more cards for the event. Each card has 15 random numbers, five on each of the three rows. During the live session numbers are drawn one at a time (from 1 to 90). Each event puts up one prize per level: One Line to the first card completing a row, Two Lines to the first completing two, and the Full Nerd to the first card with all 15 numbers — the main prize. The levels stack, so the same card can win all three.
  • How many cards can I buy? The maximum number of cards per participant is shown on each event (usually 1 to 10). The more cards you buy, the better your chances of winning.
  • Are the numbers really random? Yes, and from now on you can check it yourself. When an event is created, before a single card goes on sale, we generate a random seed and publish its SHA-256 on the event page. The draw order of all 90 numbers follows entirely from that seed. When the event ends we publish the seed: you recompute the hash, and it must match the one that was there from the start. With the same seed you also rebuild the sequence, which must match the one drawn live number for number. The algorithm is written out in full on the event page, so you do not have to trust our code in order to check. This proves the order was fixed beforehand and was not touched during the live session. On its own it does not prove nobody built a card knowing that order: the seed is ours from the start. We write it down because a check is only worth something if you know how far it reaches. Events from before this mechanism have no published fingerprint, and their page says so.
  • What happens if two cards complete a row at the same time? Prizes cannot be split: each prize goes to a single card. If several cards complete the same combination with the same drawn number, the outcome is decided by a verifiable draw, not by the order in which the system processes the cards. The prizes still up for grabs are handed out following the draw ranking. Anyone left out automatically receives a voucher equal to the price of one card for that event, usable on future events within 12 months of issue; we also send it to you by email, with the code. The voucher does not apply to players who won another prize in the same round. The same card can win several prizes with different rows, but the same row cannot win twice.
  • Who decides the winner in case of a tie? Can I verify it? Nobody decides, not even us: a public formula does. The draw seed is the list of numbers drawn so far, in the order they came out and separated by commas, followed by | and the internal code for the prize at stake: CINQUINA for one line, DOPPIA_RIGA for two lines, TOMBOLA for the Full Nerd. For each card in the running, the SHA-256 of seed|CARD-CODE#ROW is computed, where ROW is 0, 1 or 2 (T is used for the Full Nerd). The lowest hash wins. Both ingredients are already fixed and public the moment the tie happens: you watched the numbers come out live on the board, and you have had your card code since you bought it. In the game room, under every win awarded by draw, you will find the seed and the hash of each card in the running: recompute them with any SHA-256 tool and check the result yourself.
  • How do I buy cards? Log in to your account, go to the event page and click "Buy Cards". Choose the quantity and complete the payment. Your cards are assigned immediately.
  • Which payment methods do you accept? We accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express credit and debit cards, plus Apple Pay on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Payment runs through SumUp, PCI DSS certified, and is always in Swiss francs. All the details are on the Payment methods page.
  • Can I get a refund? Purchased cards are non-refundable once the event has started. If we cancel the event, you'll receive a full refund within 5 working days.
  • Can I gift cards to someone else? There is currently no direct gifting system. You can however buy cards on one account and share them with whoever you want to play with.
  • What happens if an event doesn't reach the minimum number of cards? Each event has a minimum number of cards that must be sold for it to start. If the threshold isn't reached by the start time, the event doesn't start and is cancelled. If you had already bought cards, you automatically receive a voucher of the same value: you'll find it in your dashboard, under Vouchers, and you can use it to buy cards for a future event.
  • What kind of prizes can you win? Prizes change every week: Pokémon booster packs and sealed boxes, One Piece cards, exclusive Funko Pops, PSA graded cards, nerd gadgets and much more. Check the event page for the specific prizes.
  • How do I receive my prize if I win? You receive an in-app notification immediately. Within 24 hours the BingoNerd team contacts you by email to confirm your shipping address and details. Shipping takes place within 3-5 working days.
  • Is shipping included? Yes, shipping is always included in the prize value. We ship to Switzerland and anywhere in the European Union with a tracked express courier.
  • Do you ship abroad? Yes. We ship to Switzerland and to all 27 European Union countries, always with no shipping cost. Parcels leave from Switzerland, so shipments to the European Union go through customs: any import VAT, duties and clearance fees are payable by the recipient.
  • How do I sign up? Go to /register and enter a username, email and password. No mandatory email verification to get started, but we recommend using a real email to receive prize notifications.
  • I lost my connection during an event. What do I do? Don't worry! The server keeps track of all drawn numbers. Rejoin the game room and your cards will be updated with all the numbers drawn so far.
  • Can I play on my smartphone? Yes, BingoNerd is fully responsive. You can play on any device: desktop, tablet or smartphone, with nothing to install.
  • I found a bug. How do I report it? Write to us via the Contact page or by email at supporto@bingonerd.ch. Describe the problem and, if possible, include a screenshot. Thanks for helping us improve!