Blackpool woman scoops £503,677!

A 40-year-old woman from Blackpool had the shock of her life on Sunday night, when she went to play bingo for only the third time ever - and won more than £500,000.

And it was a considerable shock to the staff at the Mecca Bingo Club in Talbot Road, which has now had three winners out of the last nine £½m special National Games played by over 500 clubs nationwide.

“It was third time lucky for her and third time lucky for us,” said Mecca Club general manager, Mike Travis. “The odds of being that successful on the same game with so many clubs participating must be absolutely astronomical. None of us could believe that lightening would strike twice let alone three times in the same place. We must be the luckiest club in the country, on the biggest games at least.”

The latest winner, who has asked not to be identified, is single and works in an office. She won the National Game prize of £500,000, plus the Regional prize of £2,500 and the club prize of £1,177, having completed a full house in 41 calls.

She was at the Mecca Club with a friend, with whom she is sharing the prize-money. He will be 40 in May and said the celebrations for his birthday would now be even bigger than he was planning. He is a sales rep and also only began playing bingo quite recently.

“I did play twenty years ago in Scotland where I grew up,” he said. “My mum has been a Mecca member since I was a kid. On Sunday night she was playing bingo in Glasgow, where it was announced that the winning club was in Blackpool. She told everyone, ‘That’s my son, I just know it is. I have a feeling about it!”

He added: “We are still trying to take it in. It was a fantastic experience and is life-changing for both of us. We are both planning to pay off our mortgages and buy new cars. I will look after my mum and brothers and sisters, have a holiday and invest the rest.”

It was on Mother’s Day in March 2003, that a 75-year-old widow from Blackpool won over £500,000. She was planning to use some of the money for a knee replacement operation which she hoped would enable her to walk again.

On 19 December, 2004, a 52-year-old market trader, Helen Hooper won the £½ m Game and shared with her friend, Jean Greenhill.