Bingo is big business these days – but not just with the elderly. The Bingo Association has revealed 45% of new bingo members are under 35 years old.
To mark National Bingo Week, we sent intrepid young reporter Joshua Whorms right into the heart of the action to have a go as a Bingo caller and get the low-down on the game’s youth revolution…now eyes down everyone…
Incredibly, Bingo has been named as one of Britain’s top 5 five favourite ways to socialise out of the house. I decided to see what all the fuss was about by heading down to Buzz Bingo, Europe’s biggest bingo club in Cricklewood, London. When I got there they said I could have a go at calling out the numbers.
Taking to the main stage I felt like a TV show presenter. In front of me was a vast crowd of bingo fanatics with their heads down, fixated on their cards eagerly awaiting for me to call out the numbers. I was terrified about calling out a wrong number and met with a horde or furious punters.
After getting over the initial nerves and hurdles I started to get into the flow of calling and watching the crowd eagerly scan their sheets to see if they were step closer to a full house. Despite only receiving a few boos and irate punters telling me to “slow down” during my time as a caller it didn’t go terribly.
However Buzz Bingo’s Alvin Maunder, 75, – who’s been a bingo caller for over 50 years – let me know I still have a very long way to go despite me having a bit of “potential.”
Mark Bird, 52, who helps run the club, spoke of the amazing communities the clubs create as they bring people together for a game and a cheeky pint or two.
Mark says: “It’s like having your extended family. People come here for a reason – to associate with their friends, come and meet us, and just enjoy their day out. And it’s like you just grew your family bigger.”
The beloved bingo club even hosts World Cup match watching events as footie fans can enjoy games while filling out a few sheets of the lottery games. The iconic bingo hall attracts customers from all over the UK looking to flick through a couple games of bingo.
Jim Massey, 68, from Hastings, told the Star he comes down to the iconic London Bingo venue four times a year to enjoy a week of Bingo. Recalling how he fell in love with the game, Jim said: “I went first time and I played one book, just one page. And I won the jackpot £50.”
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