How do penalties work in Bunco Drinking?

Whenever you lose a round, you take a drink. If someone rolls a Bunco (three of the current round number), they can assign drinks to anyone at the table, including you.

What happens if you roll three 1s?

Rolling three 1s counts as a Bunco during the first round, letting you assign drinks to others. In later rounds, it's just a regular roll and doesn't trigger penalties or rewards.

What’s the final penalty for losing?

The overall loser of the game has to take a double drink, often chosen by the group, such as chugging or finishing their current beverage.

Can we play with fewer than eight people?

Yes, but you'll need to reduce the number of tables to one and adjust rotation rules to keep the pace manageable. Penalties and rewards stay the same regardless of player count.

Bunco Drinking - Drinking Game Rules & How to Play

Bunco Drinking is a drinking game in the Dice Games category for 8-12 players that takes about 15-30 min with a easy difficulty level.

Party dice game with drinks

Equipment Needed

Dice
Drinks

Setup

Divide players into two tables of four to six people each, with each table getting three dice and a score sheet. Players rotate clockwise after each round, and winners from the tables move up while losers stay seated. Drinks should be ready at each table for penalties and rewards, and make sure there's enough space for everyone to comfortably roll their dice without bumping into drinks or other players.

How to Play Bunco Drinking

Set up the game according to basic rules
Players take turns or play simultaneously
Penalties result in drinking
Success means assigning drinks
Continue until winner emerges
Loser faces final penalty
Winner earns bragging rights
Adjust rules as needed for your group

Tips & Strategies

Always roll the dice firmly but not too aggressively to avoid knocking over drinks on the table. Watch for Bunco triggers, like rolling three of the current round number, since it lets you assign drinks to anyone at the table. Keep an eye on the scorekeeper's tally because losing track of scores can change the pace of the penalties. If you're losing a lot of rounds, pace your drinks during penalty moments or switch out table positions for better luck.

Variations

Double Penalty Bunco: Losers drink for both their loss and every Bunco rolled at their table during the round.. Reverse Bunco: Instead of losers drinking, winners drink every time they roll a Bunco.. Speed Bunco: Players roll simultaneously instead of waiting their turn, making rounds faster and more chaotic.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do penalties work in Bunco Drinking?: Whenever you lose a round, you take a drink. If someone rolls a Bunco (three of the current round number), they can assign drinks to anyone at the table, including you.
What happens if you roll three 1s?: Rolling three 1s counts as a Bunco during the first round, letting you assign drinks to others. In later rounds, it's just a regular roll and doesn't trigger penalties or rewards.
What’s the final penalty for losing?: The overall loser of the game has to take a double drink, often chosen by the group, such as chugging or finishing their current beverage.
Can we play with fewer than eight people?: Yes, but you'll need to reduce the number of tables to one and adjust rotation rules to keep the pace manageable. Penalties and rewards stay the same regardless of player count.

Players: 8-12 | Duration: 15-30 min | Difficulty: easy

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