Tears of joy as bingo player wins £19,000

A woman from Penycae says she was ‘flabbergasted’ after learning she had won more than £19,000 playing bingo.

The lucky winner, who wants to remain anonymous, was playing at the Mecca Club in Wrexham on Tuesday, 11 March when she won the National Bingo Game prize of £17,255, plus the Regional prize of £2,172 and the house prize of £133.

The National prize that evening was £34,510 but she had to share with a player in Carlisle, who also completed a full house in 40 numbers, the lowest call in the 470 clubs playing nationwide.

“I couldn’t believe it when I realised how much I had won,” said the woman, who is 39 and married, “I sat there with a big smile on my face but tears running down.”

She has been playing bingo for 10 years and plays once every four to six weeks at the Mecca.  She plans to use the money for home improvements, a holiday in the sun with her husband and save the rest ‘for a rainy day.’

“I like the Mecca Club,” she said,  “and it’s much better since it became no smoking.  A lot of people say that.  It’s a nice place to go, friendly and with a good atmosphere.”