Anglesey pensioner wins £22,500 playing bingo

A 75-year-old man from Anglesey, who says he has been playing bingo ‘for donkey’s years’, can finally celebrate after winning £22,500 while visiting Blackpool.

The lucky winner, who does not want to be named, says he and his wife are both very keen on bingo and play at the Mecca Club in Talbot Road whenever they go to visit his brother-in-law, who runs a hotel in Blackpool.

It was on 29 October that good fortune struck and he won the National Bingo Game prize of £22,500 plus the house prize of £186.

The National prize that evening was £45,000 but he had to share with a player in Grimsby, who also completed a full house in 44 numbers, the lowest call out of the 470 clubs playing nationwide.

“Everybody was clapping and shaking my hand after it was announced,” he said. “My wife and I are over the moon.”

He has already bought a new ring for his wife, as while they were on holiday in Blackpool last year somebody broke into their room and stole her jewellery.

He is also planning a celebratory holiday next year and buying himself some new golf clubs.