Besides receiving a telegram from Her Majesty the Queen to congratulate her on her 100th birthday, Muriel Walton received a great present from her local Gala Bingo Club: 100 days of free bingo. Also, the bingo club located in Station Road, Harrow, organized a party to celebrate with one of their most loyal customers.

The celebration included a special birthday cake and, of course, bingo games. “It was really nice for everyone to go to so much effort, it was great. I had a party on Saturday too and it was the first time in 12 years that all my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were in the same room together,” Muriel said.

Three bingo players from different parts of the United Kingdom saw their luck change when they scooped the National Bingo game jackpot. The three players, who do not know each other, hit the big prizes during last week and added up £90,000 worth of winning between them.

First, a man won £32,000 at his local Winners Club in Guildhall Street. The lucky father of three commented that he will use the money to go abroad on a holiday with his wife and children, pay off some debts and buy a new car.

It was revealed this week that a court decision could mean that the British Revenue and Customs authorities would have to pay a big sum to bingo operators, such as the Rank Group.

Apparently, the tribunal considers that Value Added Tax on the bingo activity contravenes European Union regulations.
The Rank Group, owner of Mecca Bingo clubs, filed the case a few months ago claiming that VAT is applied to some bingo machines in the UK but not to all of them, creating a contradiction.

In spite of the smoking ban, the recently approved gambling laws and the double tax burden the bingo industry is facing, Rank Bingo has informed that it has experienced a modest improvement in trading at its Mecca halls.

"We have achieved a degree of success in adjusting to the smoking ban and the new gaming regulations and have taken timely action to protect profits. Nevertheless we are conscious that the difficult consumer climate is likely to make 2008 a challenging year for the gaming sector," a spokesperson for the company explained in a statement.

A 40 year old woman from England has just won an incredible prize of £80,000 – approximately 102,000 euros – playing at her local Bingo club and she has already decided that she will take a luxury holiday to Jamaica with the money won.

To protect her security as many winners do, the lucky lady wishes to keep her identity anonymous, but National Bingo authorities were able to get her first impressions after winning. She told National Bingo that she jumped for joy when she found out of the amount of the prize because she was very excited.

A very lucky grandmother and bingo fan, who lives in London, recently took home a £34,000 National Bingo Game jackpot, which will allow her to visit her daughter in France. The winner was playing at the Mecca Bingo Hall in Eltham Hill, London, when she called bingo.

“It’s really going to change my life and I couldn’t thank bingo enough if I tried. Now we’ve got the money we can say, Yes, I can have this’ or ‘Yes, I can do that’ without even thinking about it. It’s lovely,” the lady said in tears. She scooped the National Bingo Game, plus the regional prize and the Mecca Bingo in house prize.

Alistair Darling, the announcer of the Bingo Budget, announced that VAT will not be removed from the budget and that their taxes will be doubled. Neither Casinos nor Betting Shops have to pay 17.5%; Bingos are the only ones who will now need to pay this and a gross profit Tax of 15%.

The chief executive of the Bingo Association, Paul Talboys, speaks in reference to this: “This is a slap in the face for bingo players across the country. There is no reason why they should continue to be penalized by double taxation when other gambling products pay only a single ta

From 23 April 2008, Venice will host the ECA European Dealer Championship 2008, which will allow dealers from all over Europe to show their skills at Blackjack, Baccarat and American Roulette tables. This will be the second edition of the event but it has already become one of the most important tournaments in the European gaming calendar.
“A good dealer might make it look simple, but dealing a table game is no easy matter. It takes a true professional to deal a busy Baccarat, Blackjack or Roulette table and still entertain guests at the same time,” Ron Goudsm.

A woman from Chester, who has requested not to be named, took home a £23,000 bingo jackpot from a Mecca Bingo Club in Brook Dale Place. The 43-year-old mom won the National Bingo Game prize of £20,000, plus the regional prize of £3,301 and the house prize of £169.

“I couldn't believe it when I found out how much I had won. I thought I might be in with a chance for the regional prize but never thought I'd scoop the national,” the lucky winner commented. “Everyone in the club was congratulating me and there was a great atmosphere.”

It is known that the bingo industry is not at its “golden years” and day by day there are more land based bingo clubs being shut down due to regulations.

The former Gala Bingo hall in Nuneaton has been put up for sale for £1.5 million, although the price for removing asbestos from the building, which stands proudly since 1937 in Abbey Street, is not included in this price. The building used to be a Ritz cinema during the Second World War and served its movie fans until 1984, when it became a bingo hall.