Bingo at it's best

Air Conditioned

Friendly Staff

Bar & Buffet

Great Atmosphere

North Parade Social Club

Skegness, Lincs.

History of bingo today

The combination of the 1960 Gaming Act, which made gambling legal in members' clubs, plus the social changes and relative affluence of the 1960's, brought about a speedy expansion of clubs. The Government, eager to ensure that the rising popularity of bingo did not lead to exploitation and seeing a revenue source, introduced the 1968 Gaming Act. This heralded the setting up of the Gaming Board to oversee the industry which gave new jobs for the good old boys and has led to Bingo becoming the well organised and reputable game that it is today. Inevitably, after the heady growth of the 1960's, the industry entered a period of consolidation. By 1990 the number of licensed bingo clubs had fallen as had the number of regular players in the big clubs but the independent owners were still doing very nicely thank you very much. The poorer clubs in less attractive premises that had friendly atmospheres had closed whilst the multi-national and more competitive clubs have competed to drive the small clubs out of the game. Prize levels too have changed. Today nearly 700 clubs combine every evening to play The National Game for a single prize of upto £100,000. There are also Sunday games in which the top prize can rise to £200,000. In addition to the National Game several clubs will 'link' up with others to play for joint prizes of several thousand pounds, using new digital linking technology.

Rambling Thoughts

What will happen to bingo in the future? The present day computers can even now do away with the caller, you could even have your favourite persons voice as you play bingo you may be able to choose the voice you hear. The bingo books well Gala tried electronic bingo on screens and smart cards what a load of sh-t that was they got rid of it cos it was borrrrring you only had to press a button and that was it. You can pay by card now so will the winnings go to your card save carrying cash? Bingo is played in some clubs from morning till night now so when will the first 24 hour bingo club open? Will they do cheap bed & breakfast also they seem to do every thing else cheap. Will your winnings be dispensed by a machine at your table for party bingo after all you put money in there why not pay out from there? Will the big boys eventually put all the little independents out of business and then put their charges up? They're trying now. The National game that's changing anyway to a robot calling, (oops sorry interactive DVD state of the art equipment) I just hope it has a sense of humour, it will need it!  To calim now in some places you need only press abutton and the caller knows you have a claim, the caller even knows in advance that a claim will be made before he calls the number, because the equipment is so quick to check each number called, so why not send your money to a bingo club and if you win they can semd some money back just sit at home and do some thing else. How about agreeing to gamble so much each day on your credit card like a standing order and the credit card can be creditted with the winnings.    Bingo must change is some ways but personally I hope it does not change very quickly because I like it the way it is now I think it is just about the right mix of old and new or am I just a sad person.

Ok How to play Bingo for those who really don't know

Many people play more than one card at a time. If six cards are played in one game then every possible number from 1 -90 is covered and therefore, a number is crossed off at each call. In the 60's and 70's, the numbers were printed on ping pong balls which were randomly blown through a plastic tube when they didn't split to be announced by the "caller". However clubs now use computerized random number generators and the numbers appear on screens around the club as well as being announced by the "caller"

Naturally, games vary in duration but all last several minutes. In 90-number bingo up to 60 numbers will be called before a game is completed allowing for false calls (which if made the card is NOT taken off the player as some of the bigger club do).

Prize arrangements vary from game to game (and club to club better value is had at the independant clubs not the big National clubs) but are commonly available for 'a line' - the first player who is first to correctly cross off a horizontal line of numbers; then for two such lines and finally for crossing off all the numbers on card (a 'full house') When players complete the appropriate number of lines, they must shout 'House' or 'Here' to attract the caller's attention before the next number is called. The onus is on the player to stop the game remember that you can NOT shout too loud it's your money.

The last number called must be on the card in the winning combination because a 'late call' is invalid. Winning cards are carefully checked and the prizes handed to the winners. The cash in the envelope should also be carefully checked it's yours.

OK a bit about The National Bingo Game

The idea behind it all came from a group of independent club owners back in the 80s because bingo was going through a hard time and more players were wanted. To this end a meeting was called and as on and the company was formed National Bingo Game Association Limited and each club in the game became a share holder, now you can imagine what this meant to the likes of Mecca, Granada, Top Rank etc., they had a big share holding super they thought. And so it began lets spend money on this that and the other improving the game never mind about what the players wanted NBGA will do it any way. They had a board of directors duly elected (remember who the big share holders are?) and carry on they did employing all sorts of consultants and specialists (good game this lads!) Now it's time to advertise lets spend money lots of it (did it do any good did it hell!) Well after quite a lot of problems and a few sackings the board have finally sorted them selves out may be and the game gets up and running for five or so years. New equipment needed, ECM Burstwick near Hull come on the scene. ECM supply lots of  the bingo gear in Britain and Paul Whitbread is the MD (nice bloke) Ok all new gear is supplied for the next five years and now more new equipment is needed to keep up with developments. Hang on just a minute who is making the money out of the National Bingo Game because it is not the bingo clubs, the game is just another game of the night with a chance to win £200,000 if it did not exist there could be a lot cheaper way of doing it all like the old Golden Scoop game that payed upto £500,000 plus a lot of little prizes of £50 to £1000.  I forgot I know where the money goes on development and salaries and advertising and specialists and consultation and lobbying, who are the big share holders? Ok may be it's just my gripe but surely I can have my say on my page, without prejudice, no refrence to any peson or company is intended to offend or lead to my prosecution for defamation of character or any thing else for that matter. Oh what the hell I don't like the National Game.