Bingo! Holbeck woman’s pension boost
30 June 2008

An admin assistant from Holbeck, who retired earlier this month after turning 60, has won a massive boost to her pension – playing bingo!

But first the lucky winner, who wants to remain anonymous, is sticking to an agreement she made, by sharing the £33,000 prize-money with her older sister with whom she plays at the Mecca Club in Hunslet.

Good fortune struck on the evening of Tuesday, 24 June when she won the National Bingo Game prize of £31,000 plus the Regional prize of £2,000 and the house prize of £146. She completed a full house in 42 numbers, the lowest call in any of the 470 clubs playing nationwide.

The woman has been a member of the Mecca Club in Balm Road for about five years and plays there once or twice a week.  She said her previous best win was £500.

“I phoned my husband, who doesn’t play bingo, from the club to tell him how much I had won and he was gobsmacked,” she said. “We will probably have a holiday and then think about what to do with the rest of the money.

Her sister who has four children, several grandchildren and great grandchildren, was planning to visit a daughter in Florida for three weeks at Christmas and do some home improvements, she added.