Pensioners Get Lucky

Two men in their sixties are celebrating after winning five-figure fortunes in the National Bingo Game within a week of each other. First, a 65 year old man from Edinburgh won £20,000 when playing at his local Gala club. The prize was worth £100,000 and he shared this with four other players who joined him in making a full house within 45 numbers. Whilst most of us would have been willing to let the excitement of winning get to us, this chap had a very good reason to try and keep calm.

“I have had a triple heart by-pass and I have a spray to use for angina,” he explained. “But I managed not to get too excited and I didn’t have to use it.”

The winner joined his local Gala club in 1996 and has been playing nearly every day since, usually in the mornings and afternoons. He has an adult son and plans to use his bingo windfall to look after his family.

Within a week of that win, a 68 year old man from Derby scooped £50,000 playing at the North Parade Club in Skegness. He plays there twice a week, which is really something when you consider that he has to travel 160 miles to get there and back! What’s even more impressive is the fact that he has been playing at that particular club for more than 25 years, simply because “the staff are friendly, there’s a warm welcome and it’s an enjoyable night out.”

The winner has two children and four grandchildren, and was playing the game with his daughter when he made a full house in 41 numbers. Even though he had been playing for over 25 years, the £50,000 win (plus £98 house prize) came as a complete shock. The commuting bingo player plans to save most of the money, but intends to treat his family as well.