Bingo. What a game. Something of a British tradition in many ways, people have flocked to bingo halls for many years. Not only that, but Barbados Bingo is enjoyed across the world, too. An age old game, the first traces of bingo in society can be found in the 16th century with its roots set in Italy. The word ‘bingo’ means lottery in Italian after all.
And, when you consider some of the prizes won over the years from this game of luck and odds, you can see why it’s a lottery. Some of the biggest prizes ever won at bingo are eye-wateringly big. From bingo halls to the phenomenon that is online bingo, life changing amounts of money have been won playing this classic game.
The format has certainly come on a long, long way from the 1500s, with the modern online bingo format being readily available on smartphone devices, tablet devices and desktops. The beauty is that the game still very much has the same feeling at heart, as you wait for your numbers to come up and hopefully walk away with the big money. But how much money can you win playing bingo? Well, this depends where you play, of course.
What online casinos offers bingo?
The nature of online gambling and it’s massive popularity has led to a really competitive industry. Online casinos are competing against each other for customers and what games they offer, with the power very much in the hands of the gambler these days.
For it is they who get to shop around for the best online casinos and the best welcome offers, too. One big factor for many players is of course, whether or not the casino in question offers the game in question; bingo.
Some online casinos are technically more like online bingo galas, specialising in online bingo rather than focussing on the likes of online poker, online roulette and online slot games. While all of the above are popular, bingo’s mass appeal has led to a wonderfully diverse market for the pastime that includes online specialists such as Bounce Bingo, Dear Bingo, Gala Bingo, 888 Ladies and Take A Break Bingo.
Some of these sites will offer side games, so if you like more than just bingo, be sure to investigate what else your potential online bingo provider offers. This, banking options, mobile functionality and good levels of customer support should all be considered when you are signing up to a bingo site.
What are the biggest bingo prizes ever won?
As mentioned, how much you win at bingo is varied depending on where you play, how you play and indeed who with.
However, to whet the appetite for the classic game, we have crafted a list of some of the biggest ever bingo wins. So brace yourself people, because here is what you could have won…
£5.9 million won by father of three
When John Orchard sat down for some online bingo in December 2012, we would have had no idea he would soon be a multimillionaire.
Of course, you always hope for the best when it comes to any more of competition, but winning such a huge amount of money as £5.9 million is not something that likely crosses the mind too often. When you add in the reality that Mr Orchard only bet 30p on that in December, this online bingo win becomes even more extraordinary.
The 60-year-old decided to retire immediately, making the most of his win by going on a holiday or two and buying his daughter a new house. All of that from a 30p bet? Not too bad is it.
Half a million from a 25p ticket?
One lucky bingo winner once won just over half a million pounds by spending just 25p.
While progressive slots are regarded as the most obvious way to turn a humble bet into something rather extravagant, the bingo can payout too. Gil O managed to win this massive sum of money in May if 2012, buying an online bingo ticket for just 25p before watching the numbers all come in.
Choosing to retain her privacy through what was a world record breaking win, Gill O from Nottingham even received a special phone call from Barbara Windsor, congratulating her on the win. We hope she wasn’t just asking for a fiver.
£18,000 in record time
In 2010 an amazing story emerged after Mr Howe, aged 24, set up an online bingo account with William Hill and shortly after, netted an £18,000 jackpot.
Getting calls right from the off as far as his numbers went, all in what was his first ever game of online bingo, Howe beat some crazy odds that were up in the billions to claim what was officially confirmed as the fastest ever bingo win.
From a 90 ball game of bingo, Howe got his full house with 15 numbers in 23 calls, proving to have the luckiest of beginner’s luck you could imagine.
A million won in house
In the Welsh valleys in 2008, a huge win was made at a bingo hall local to Merthyr Tydfil. Christine Bradfield bears all others that night down the bingo hall to claim a prize in excess of one million pounds.
She became a millionaire and a record holder with one full house, in what was the biggest ever win in an UK bingo hall. An incredible story in a very humble part of the UK, you can see why bingo is so ingrained in the culture of Great Britain when you hear stories like this.
The randomness of bingo and the equal chances that all who play have of winning, makes for an incredible spectacle whether it’s online or in a Welsh bingo hall.
All wins are relative of course, with these stories of some of the biggest wins providing great examples of the magic that a game of bingo can provide. If you don’t buy a ticket…
Leave a Reply