Press Release
8th November 2007
First bingo player to become a hero sharing her Gala High 5 874,208 jackpot with 369 bingo players
Margaret Ann Venables, a Gala Bingo member in Fenton, last night became a local hero as a result of the brand new Gala High 5 game.
Margaret Ann, who has four children, shared her massive 874,208 jackpot with all of the clubs 369 members playing the game that night, making Gala Fenton the luckiest bingo club in the country.
Margaret Ann, 52, who plays bingo every Wednesday says: My mother died two months ago and I was sitting in her seat, playing with my youngest sister I really felt her presence with me all night. Im delighted to win such a huge amount which Ill be sharing with my sister. I feel like my mum who supported me when she was alive has made sure Ill be ok without her. Its amazing. This win has not only changed my life but has made a difference to the lives of all of my friends at the club. Everyone was coming up to me thanking me. I felt like Christmas had come early!
The single mums great win came on Wednesday 7th November when she was playing with all of Galas other members across the UK in the Gala Bingo High 5 jackpot game. When calling full house on the number 5, Margaret Ann scooped 50 per cent of the jackpot, winning 437,104, and shared the other half with her fellow club members who were also playing the game at the Fenton club.
The Gala High 5 win came as a huge surprise to Margaret Ann who initially thought shed won the full house prize of 7,362 but because she called house on the number 5, her win rocketed (by a factor of 59) to 437,104 and left other club members reaching for the champagne when realising theyd won too.
The Gala High 5 game was launched as a direct result of the new Gambling Act 2005 which now allows bingo clubs to run cumulative jackpots. Margaret Anns win is the first full jackpot payout for the game and a fantastic bonus for the club and local players. Over the last two months, nearly 1.7m has been paid out as a result of the Gala High 5 game, which creates more winners more often. It follows on from Gala Bingos million pound jackpot game (played online, on TV and in club), KerChingo, which was won three months ago.
Chris Quigley, Club manager, Fenton comments: Were delighted to have the first full jackpot winner of Gala High 5 in our club. The way the game works is very simple; if house is called on number five, players can claim 50 per cent of the rollover jackpot, whilst the remaining 50 per cent is shared by all the other players at the club.
