£100,000 bingo shock for Bedford man

A 42-year-old Bedford man says he is still ‘gob-smacked’ after winning £100,000 playing bingo at the Mecca Club in London Road.

The lucky winner, who does not want to be named, plays at the club once or twice a week with his wife, and said that they were both tearful when his massive win was announced.

It was on Sunday evening, November 11 that good fortune struck when he won the National Bingo Game prize of £100,000 plus the house prize of £205, after completing a full house in 43 numbers, the lowest call in any of the 470 clubs playing nationwide.

He has been a bingo player for five years and has been a member of the Bedford Mecca for the past twelve months. His previous biggest win was £1,000 at another Mecca club two years ago, but he never expected to win such a large amount this time.

“I was just happy when I realised I had won the house prize, let alone the big one,” said the man, who works in fire safety.

He intends to save half of his winnings and use some of the money to pay off debts and buy a new car.

“I’m also going to put the money towards retirement,” he said, “It’s certainly going to give us an easier life now.”