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.
New players only. Deposit (excluding PayPal & Paysafe) and spend £5 in selected bingo rooms to qualify. Wagering requirements, maximum win limits and promotional restrictions apply. Full 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.
UK bingo players are in for an exciting winter as Playtech has just announced Bingo Blizzard, with £675,000 in prizes to be won over three months. The three-month competition starts on 2 November 2026, and there are £75,000 in prizes in November, £100,000 in December, and a massive £500,000 in prizes for the January Final. WhichBingo is Playtech‘s partner for the competition, bringing all the participating bingo sites together in…
If you want to get more treats than tricks, we’ve created the ultimate guide to the best Halloween bingo games, online Halloween slot games, and the spookiest bingo events. Featuring ‘ugly drag queens’, slasher fishermen, and more – we’ve got Halloween bingo events from Bongo’s Bingo, our favourite Halloween slots, and more for October 2026. So, forget ghosts and ghouls, the scariest thing this Autumn would be missing out on…
Ever had one of those bingo nights where the numbers just seem to fall your way? One player at Mecca Bingo Dundee won two games in a row, and the second came with a £50,000 jackpot. The lucky Dundee resident has chosen to stay anonymous, so we can’t tell you her name. What we can tell you is how it all played out, and what it was like in the…
Twenty-plus series in to I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and the Bushtucker Trial has become classic British television, though it is hard to watch if your dinner time falls between 9pm and 10.30pm. tombola, home to some of the most unique online bingo and arcade games ever (and sponsor of I’m a Celeb for eight years), asked us to count down the five most memorable trials in…
If you want to get more treats than tricks, we’ve created the ultimate guide to the best Halloween bingo games, online Halloween slot games, and the spookiest bingo events. Featuring ‘ugly drag queens’, slasher fishermen, and more – we’ve got Halloween bingo events from Bongo’s Bingo, our favourite Halloween slots, and more for October 2026. So, forget ghosts and ghouls, the scariest thing this Autumn would be missing out on…
As the chancellor is reported to be considering a higher taxes on slot machines, WhichBingo warns that players are still at risk from illegal gambling sites, as operators warn of closures. Speculation around John Healey’s first budget on October 28 has focused on potential increases in Machine Games Duty, which applies to slot machines, electronic roulette and fruit machines. The proposed increases are intended to reduce gambling harm, but WhichBingo…
For 26 years, WhichBingo has helped players discover, compare, and share their opinions on bingo, slots, and casino sites. What began as a directory of UK bingo sites in 2000, has grown into a hub featuring hundreds of brand reviews, a record-breaking annual awards event, original entertainment and coverage of land-based bingo halls and events, and a community that continues to shape what we do. Much has changed during that…
Players tend to cash out small, with most aiming for modest amounts. Our 2026 Bingo & Casino Player Survey asked 1,915 respondents, recruited through WhichBingo, how much they aim to reach before cashing out. These findings describe our respondents and are not a nationally representative picture of UK players. We also asked how much they typically stake and withdraw per month. These measure different things from the amount respondents aim…
UK bingo players are in for an exciting winter as Playtech has just announced Bingo Blizzard, with £675,000 in prizes to be won over three months. The three-month competition starts on 2 November 2026, and there are £75,000 in prizes in November, £100,000 in December, and a massive £500,000 in prizes for the January Final. WhichBingo is Playtech‘s partner for the competition, bringing all the participating bingo sites together in…
If you want to get more treats than tricks, we’ve created the ultimate guide to the best Halloween bingo games, online Halloween slot games, and the spookiest bingo events. Featuring ‘ugly drag queens’, slasher fishermen, and more – we’ve got Halloween bingo events from Bongo’s Bingo, our favourite Halloween slots, and more for October 2026. So, forget ghosts and ghouls, the scariest thing this Autumn would be missing out on…
As the chancellor is reported to be considering a higher taxes on slot machines, WhichBingo warns that players are still at risk from illegal gambling sites, as operators warn of closures. Speculation around John Healey’s first budget on October 28 has focused on potential increases in Machine Games Duty, which applies to slot machines, electronic roulette and fruit machines. The proposed increases are intended to reduce gambling harm, but WhichBingo…
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…
New Prime Minister Andy Burnham plans to ‘crack down’ on betting shops to clean up Britain’s high streets. Burnham associated betting shops with ‘dodgy businesses’ and vape shops as contributing to a decline in the high street. Burnham’s announcement comes about four months after Remote Gaming Duty on online gaming almost doubled, rising from 21% to 40% in April 2026. The Betting and Gaming Council says the increase has affected…
If you have ever slid past a long screen of terms and conditions without understanding much of it – you are not alone. According to our 2026 Player Survey of 1,915 UK players, only 22% of people say terms are easy to understand. But fear not, we’re going to break down the 5 key things to look for. The 78% of Players Our 2026 Player Survey asked 1,915 UK players…
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…
Welcome to week seven of my column for WhichBingo. Halloween week gave us a surprise three-way dance-off, a very tight leaderboard and, for once, a week where I found myself agreeing with the judges more often than not. Here’s my take on the scores, the dance-off and where I think the show needs to go from here. A little more from WhichBingoAlongside our guides to bingo sites and slot sites,…
Welcome to another week of my exclusive column for WhichBingo. I’TS HALLOWEEN WEEK! Here’s my thoughts and predictions, including scoring from last weekend, where we saw the first tens of the series. A little more from WhichBingoAlongside our guides to bingo sites and slot sites, we bring you exclusive interviews and a chance to join the conversation. Halloween Week Preview: Who I think will do well and who won’t I…
If you want to get more treats than tricks, we’ve created the ultimate guide to the best Halloween bingo games, online Halloween slot games, and the spookiest bingo events. Featuring ‘ugly drag queens’, slasher fishermen, and more – we’ve got Halloween bingo events from Bongo’s Bingo, our favourite Halloween slots, and more for October 2026. So, forget ghosts and ghouls, the scariest thing this Autumn would be missing out on…
Welcome to my column for WhichBingo. Another elimination done, and plenty to get into on the scoring, the presenters, and why I think the show needs to get back to basics. A little more from WhichBingoAlongside our guides to bingo sites and slot sites, we bring you exclusive interviews and a chance to join the conversation. My Thoughts on The Show So Far Three hosts still isn’t working I’m still…
by
James Jordan
15min
Updated July 30, 2026
Esther Barnett 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