Abstract: A method of determining whether a winning entry exists in a bingo game with a large number of entrants includes providing entry cards where the spaces on the cards containing numbers are divided into two or more groups. The symbols in the spaces of a group are arranged in patterns and patterns appear on more than one entry card. As numbers are selected as winning numbers in the bingo game, they are compared with a map of all patterns. If winning patterns are found to exist, the set of winning patterns is compared to a group map which lists all the combinations of patterns which exist to form entry cards. If a card exists with more than one group with winning patterns, a winning card exists and no more winning numbers need be selected.