An East Kilbride woman is celebrating a fantastic start to 2008, thanks to winning £264,288 at Mecca Bingo in Hamilton yesterday, a share of a £1million giveaway in free games that took place across the country!

The anonymous woman is a 40-year-old who lives with her partner. She gave up work to raise her two children, aged six and four.

“I am shocked but also feel really fantastic”, said the winner, who was at Mecca Hamilton with her mother and sister. She added: “I was actually waiting for the number 35 to complete a double line and then needed five numbers for a full house. I just couldn’t believe it when they came out in just seven calls”.

The woman, who has been a member at Mecca Hamilton for 12 years, has only won £1000 in the past. She intends to pay off her mortgage and the family may go on holiday to see another sister in Australia.

“To say I’m overjoyed is a complete understatement; it’s just brilliant news and an amazing start to the year”, she said.

The huge win was thanks to the Mecca Millionaire game, launched on 1 September 2007, which saw Britain’s first ever million pound giveaway by any high street bingo operator.

The Mecca Millionaire game is possible thanks to new gambling laws in this country, giving bingo operators the ability to retain a percentage of the player’s stake and give away huge accumulated jackpot winnings. Mecca has made three players millionaires in the last four months alone…including two at Britain’s luckiest club, The Forge, in Glasgow.

All 103 clubs around the UK took part in a Mecca Millionaire bonanza yesterday, with the two daily games played for free (normal price £2). Players had the chance to win one of three prizes each game, with one line winning £100,000, two lines winning £150,000 and full house winning £264,288.50.

Gillian Burke, operations manager of Mecca Hamilton, commented: ‘The atmosphere in the club was electric. We are delighted that through the Mecca Millionaire game we are able to give people real life changing amounts of money. I am sure our big winner will agree that Mecca really does put on the best game in town!’

A total of £3.5 million has changed the lives of 16 Mecca Millionaire players since September, with nearly £6 million in jackpot payouts across the UK bingo industry as a whole.