WTG Andrew Thorpe, meccabingo.com fan and online slots enthusiast who took home the huge £10,000 jackpot prize. Sponsored by games studio Blueprint Gaming, both online and land-based players came together for the first-ever Mecca Bingo cross-channel tournament. Let’s find out more about the big scoop!
The Magic Happened at Luton Mecca Bingo
Mecca Bingo’s Luton was the hosting venue of the grand final of the first tournament of its kind. After successfully getting through a series of qualifying rounds online and at Mecca’s venues, the 16 finalists were excited to visit the Luton branch. Who wouldn’t be if you had the chance to win a share of a juicy £25,000! £10,000 was the top prize for the overall winner.
The Night as It Happened
On the night, attendees and their guests enjoyed a lovely drinks reception before going head-to-head in a series of knockout games. Only the round’s winner would advance to the next round, though they had another chance to win because they (and their guests) could join in the hall’s main bingo session.
As the two finalists reached the final round, they each had to complete 200 spins over a 20 minute session. Before long, Andrew was crowned the winner!
The other finalists enjoyed some extras too – their overnight stay, goodie bags, a bottle of bubbly and the chance to win again with a free bingo session the next day at the Luton venue.
Andrew On Winning
Aged 40, husband to Kim and father of seven, Andrew from Norwich saw promotional material for the Tournament and thought he’d take part for fun, never expecting to win.
“I expected to go out in the first round as I’m not usually that lucky! Just getting to the final was amazing but seeing my score at the end was a complete shock. I was absolutely buzzing and my heart was beating so fast. It’s such a lot of money to win!
Thanks to everyone involved in the Slots Tournament. It was a fantastic evening, really well put together, we met some great people and the win was the icing on the cake!”.
We couldn’t be happier that Andrew is using his winnings to take his family to Spain or Greece – they’ve not been on a plane before so it will be a huge treat.
Advertiser Disclosure: When you use WhichBingo, there are never any hidden fees or costs. To help fund our work we may earn a referral commission if you create an account via our site. This commission never impacts the impartiality of our reviews and ratings.
New players. Dep (exc. PayPal&Paysafe) & spend £10 on select slots for bonus & spins or in select bingo rooms for bingo bonus. Wagering, max wins & individual promo. T&Cs apply. Full T&Cs Apply.
A Word from BluePrint Gaming and Mecca Bingo
On the tournament, head ofMeccabingo.comRobert Lee said: “We were delighted to welcome both seasoned slots players and newcomers at our first ever cross-channel Slots Tournament. It was great to see players from across the country come together to experience the joy of what Mecca has to offer – from slots to bingo!
The whole team extends their thanks to all that took part. A special thanks to our tournament sponsors, Blueprint Gaming and of course a huge congratulations to our Slots champion, Andrew. We look forward to hosting our next tournament very soon”.
Jack Lawson, account manager at BluePrint Gaming said: “It was a pleasure to be involved with and sponsor the Mecca Bingo Slots Tournament 2024 in Luton. Well done to everyone involved in making the whole event a huge success. We’re very much looking forward to showcasing more of our product portfolio at events in the future”.
Mecca Bingo has been busy recently launching a suite of new initiatives, including this slots tournament, Spingo which combines spin classes and bingo at its venues, line dancing classes for free, and digital Loose Women-themed scratchcards. What’s next? Watch this space.
Our Online Slots UK page makes it easy to compare your options.
If you asked a room full of people why they have a flutter, you might expect a mix of answers. But according to a recent survey of 20,000 UK players, there is one main reason – and it’s probably not surprising. Top of the list was the chance of winning big money, cited by a hefty 84% of people who gamble. The survey, run by the UK Gambling Commission, also…
If laughter is the best medicine, write out that prescription, doc. The winner of Dabbers Bingo Comedy Caller Contest 2026 (sponsored by yours truly, WhichBingo), is <<insert drum roll>> Gwen! On Friday 17th July, comedian Rachel Baker was in role as her alter-ego Gwen became the Queen of bingo. Gwen ate up the laughs all the way to the top, pipping fellow grand finalists Tara Boland as Dusty Creases and…
No stranger to being in front of the camera himself, Charlie Shakespeare jumped at the chance to check out BingoPlus, the UK’s most popular live-streamed bingo product filmed and streamed from snazzy studios in Hull. What is BingoPlus? BingoPlus is an entertainment-first, live operation airing bingo and games from 10am to midnight, seven days a week. You can choose from over 800 slots to play from, too. The live chat…
Is there anything better than a night in? The kind of night where everything (and everyone!) has been accounted for, all variables considered, and you’ve given yourself the best possible chance of an uninterrupted evening doing exactly what you want to do. If that evening involves tombola, this checklist is for you. How to Prepare for a Perfect Night In with tombola The Potential Interruptions Brief your partner on noise…
If you asked a room full of people why they have a flutter, you might expect a mix of answers. But according to a recent survey of 20,000 UK players, there is one main reason – and it’s probably not surprising. Top of the list was the chance of winning big money, cited by a hefty 84% of people who gamble. The survey, run by the UK Gambling Commission, also…
If you’ve signed up to a UK slot site recently (or are planning to), you’ve probably noticed a few similar games being mentioned. So, we did the numbers and found the top 5 slot games in UK casino bonuses so far in 2026. If you sign up for free spins, there is a good chance you’ll be playing one of these games, so here’s a bit of a preview of…
We did it again! WhichBingo has been named Best Bingo Affiliate for a second year in a row! WhichBingo was officially recognised as the best bingo comparison site in the UK at the iGB Awards 2026 on 2nd July. It’s the second year running that WhichBingo has topped the category and sixth iGB award we’ve won. We’re extremely honoured to be recognised for all the hard work we put into giving UK players…
The rules of the game are evolving, and the UK’s biggest bingo and casino brands are responding by putting players first. We spoke to the WhichBingo Awards winners to get their thoughts on success, what makes them stand out, and what UK players can expect next. Foxy, Coral, Ladbrokes: Giving Back to the Player Entain, the company who run Ladbrokes, Coral – and Best Promotions winner Foxy Games emphasised their commitment to…
If you’ve signed up to a UK slot site recently (or are planning to), you’ve probably noticed a few similar games being mentioned. So, we did the numbers and found the top 5 slot games in UK casino bonuses so far in 2026. If you sign up for free spins, there is a good chance you’ll be playing one of these games, so here’s a bit of a preview of…
The rules of the game are evolving, and the UK’s biggest bingo and casino brands are responding by putting players first. We spoke to the WhichBingo Awards winners to get their thoughts on success, what makes them stand out, and what UK players can expect next. Foxy, Coral, Ladbrokes: Giving Back to the Player Entain, the company who run Ladbrokes, Coral – and Best Promotions winner Foxy Games emphasised their commitment to…
Nearly half a million votes were cast by real players in WhichBingo Awards 2026 – and with so many votes cast its crazy how close it was. One category was decided by just 18 votes. We’ve gone behind the numbers to reveal the other interesting statistics and stories that went into voting. The Race Decided By Just 18 Votes Thousands of votes were cast but Best Promotions was decided by…
After a record-breaking 500,000 votes from across the UK (nearly double last year’s total) the WhichBingo Awards 2026 winners have been crowned. Players decided 12 Main category winners. Four Editors’ Choice winners were selected by the WhichBingo editorial team through hands-on testing, WhichScore data, and years of tracking how brands actually perform. The winners were revealed on the night at the Sunborn Yacht Hotel, Gibraltar. And for the first time…
If you asked a room full of people why they have a flutter, you might expect a mix of answers. But according to a recent survey of 20,000 UK players, there is one main reason – and it’s probably not surprising. Top of the list was the chance of winning big money, cited by a hefty 84% of people who gamble. The survey, run by the UK Gambling Commission, also…
Brits are turning to VPNs in huge numbers to access illegal gambling sites, racking up an estimated 150-200 million minutes on dodgy casinos in January 2026 alone. And seriously risking their money in the process. VPN usage in the UK has surged since the Online Safety Act came into force in July 2025, and Gambling Commission research recorded around 20 million visits to illegal gambling sites that month. Often marketed…
You, the public have spoken. Over 480,000 votes cast across the main categories… and now it’s our turn. While the player vote decides the 12 winners in the Main categories, like Best Bingo Site and Best Slot Game, plus the 5 Pre-Show categories like Best Bingo Caller, there are a handful of categories at the WhichBingo Awards 2026 that an expert judging panel decides. These are the 4 Editors’ Choice…
Have you noticed UK casino bonuses looking a bit different in 2026? A major tax just came into effect that we expect will impact the bonuses you get at UK casino sites. But there is some good news for bingo players. We unpack what this all means for UK casino and bingo players. So What’s Actually Changed? The government has significantly increased the Remote Gaming Duty with the aim of…
If you asked a room full of people why they have a flutter, you might expect a mix of answers. But according to a recent survey of 20,000 UK players, there is one main reason – and it’s probably not surprising. Top of the list was the chance of winning big money, cited by a hefty 84% of people who gamble. The survey, run by the UK Gambling Commission, also…
If laughter is the best medicine, write out that prescription, doc. The winner of Dabbers Bingo Comedy Caller Contest 2026 (sponsored by yours truly, WhichBingo), is <<insert drum roll>> Gwen! On Friday 17th July, comedian Rachel Baker was in role as her alter-ego Gwen became the Queen of bingo. Gwen ate up the laughs all the way to the top, pipping fellow grand finalists Tara Boland as Dusty Creases and…
No stranger to being in front of the camera himself, Charlie Shakespeare jumped at the chance to check out BingoPlus, the UK’s most popular live-streamed bingo product filmed and streamed from snazzy studios in Hull. What is BingoPlus? BingoPlus is an entertainment-first, live operation airing bingo and games from 10am to midnight, seven days a week. You can choose from over 800 slots to play from, too. The live chat…
Tom Clare shot to fame on Love Island All Stars where he found Molly Smith. The couple are now engaged, house-hunting and planning for their wedding while Tom is planning a return to non-league football, and he spoke exclusively to WhichBingo about discipline, mental health, routine and why he’s doing two of the most stressful things in life at exactly the same time. “Football Keeps Me Sane” Tom is unequivocal…
by
Shaun Frackleton
4min
Updated June 3, 2026
Esther Rubin
Content Editor
Esther Rubin is a bingo and slots specialist with years of hands-on experience in the online gaming industry. Having worked as a bingo chat host, VIP manager, and promotions strategist, she has a deep understanding of online bingo platforms, community engagement, and player rewards. At WhichBingo, Esther reviews bingo sites, game variations, and promotions, helping players find the best platforms for a fun and fair gaming experience. She also analyses slot games, offering insights tailored for bingo players exploring slots. With a player-first approach, Esther’s reviews break down bonuses, jackpots, and game mechanics in a way that’s clear, engaging, and community-focused.
3min 
Reader comments