Pensioner robbed minutes after bingo win

A news story reports that an 86-year-old man was robbed in the street just minutes after collecting a large bingo win. He had just left the Mecca Bingo hall in Oldham with a "large cash win" (as described by the police) and was suddenly knocked to the ground and robbed, injuring his head and elbow in the process.

He was left "extremely angry and shaken" at the attack which police have described as "defying belief" that a thief would target an elderly man like this. It is very likely that the thief saw an opportunity to attack his victim just after leaving the bingo hall, as it was probable that they would have a significant amount of cash on their person. Police are still looking for witnesses to the attack which happened at approximately 9pm on Sunday 13th July.

This kind of attack is a threat to everyone and is one of the reasons why a lot of people decide to play online bingo as the risks are much fewer. The money is transferred in and out of your bank account instantly and with great ease, meaning that there is no risk of you losing your cask like there is if you play at real bingo halls.

Do people prefer playing at online bingo websites or in real bingo halls? The online experience is much safer and there is less pressure to continue, however some people argue that nothing matches the feeling of winning in a real bingo hall!

Cleaner nets biggest ever bingo win

In March this year, a 38-year-old cleaner from Hamilton, South Lanarkshire scooped a massive £1.1m - which bingo bosses are claiming as the largest win in the history of the game.

This is the kind of win that makes traditional bingo unmatchable by online bingo, despite the recent rise in the popularity of the latter. The stakes in traditional bingo can sometimes reach such heights as in this news story, whereas online bingo stakes usually stay a bit lower, due to the wide range of abilities of the players.

Does anyone think that traditional bingo will ever be taken over by online bingo, both in popularity and stakes?

Bingo payout to be split?

BBC News reports that three sisters are locked in a court battle over £50,000 of bingo winnings. Apparently, 59 year old Edna Sexton had previously agreed to split any winnings equally with her two sisters, Linda Kenny and Doreen Thomas, however has since gone back on the agreement.

Although it was only an oral agreement, should Mrs Sexton be forced to give each sister her "rightful" sum of £16,666, for which she is now being sued?

Figures indicate online bingo is on the rise

8.5 million people are said to have played online bingo at some point during 2007. The average age of players dropped by 15%.

The figures, released by The British Bingo Association, showed that almost half of all players are under 45. The younger generation have clearly been bitten with the online bingo bug. The pull of winning big cash prizes is clearly a draw - but it could pose a risk if they are gambling with money which could be getting them into financial difficulties.

This news comes just days after figures were released at ICWales indicating that many Cardiff women would prefer to play bingo than go to the gym!

Bingo number calls get make over

Everyone has their own favourite bingo calls - personally I like number 4 knock at the door. It just rolls off the tongue so nicely! You can read a full list of bingo calls here.

But a major online bingo game site is said to be 'updating' there current calls with a bunch of rather odd new ones. Gok Wan replaces old favourite Kelly's Eye, while Number 10 has become Corrie couple Deidrie and Ken. Even the Two Fat ladies have fallen victim to the changes, being changed to Needs To Lose Some Weight!

Some of the other highlights from the list include:

6. In The City
11. Ocean’s 11
24. Jack Bauer
41. Facebook fun
77. Don’t date a Kevin
81. Chris Moyles and Jo Whiley

81 made me chuckle... but a Facebook bingo call? How ridiculous is that!