Friday the 13th, Bingo Habits, and a £250,000 Jackpot

The National Bingo Game clearly doesn’t care about omens because, despite it being Friday the 13th, they have just launched a new jackpot.

To celebrate the launch, they’ve also released new research into the quirky habits and traditions of bingo fans across the country.

A quick heads-up: Whether you’re wearing your lucky socks or sitting in your “magic” chair, remember that bingo is a game of pure chance. We love a good routine, but at the end of the day, the balls don’t have favourites!

• Rituals and Lucky Charms
• The £250,000 Jackpot: Where and How to Play

Rituals and Lucky Charms

To mark the launch of this huge bingo prize, some pretty interesting research has come out about how we Brits handle luck. It turns out we are a deeply superstitious bunch, especially when there’s a dabber in our hand.

Editor’s Note: Bingo is a game of pure chance. We all have our own routines but ultimately no one can affect the outcome.

According to the National Bingo Game’s latest study:

• Lucky Charms: 38% of us have a “lucky” item. Whether it’s a worn-out gonk, a specific coin, or a photo of a grandchild, these items are staples on bingo tables across the UK.
• Rituals: 75% of us follow specific rituals even if we admit there’s no logical reason for it!
• Lucky Number 7: 50% of Brits say they have at least one ‘lucky’ number, with 7 being the most common.

Want to learn more about how ‘luck’ actually works? Read this: 3 Ways Your Brain Works When You Gamble (And How You Can Play Smarter)

The £250,000 Jackpot: Where and How to Play

If you’re heading to the club to chase that new £250,000 jackpot, here is everything you need to know to get started. Don’t worry, it’s one of the easiest games to jump into, even if you’ve never set foot in a bingo hall before.

1. Where to Play

The National Bingo Game is played in hundreds of licensed bingo clubs across the UK. Think of it as a “linked” game—while you’re sitting in your local club, you’re playing alongside thousands of other players in different halls nationwide at the exact same time.

• Top Spots: Major bingo halls like Mecca Bingo and Buzz Bingo are the big players, but many independent clubs like Castle Bingo, and Apollo Bingo also participate.
• Finder: Use the “Find a Club” tool at the National Bingo site to see which venue near you is hosting the game.

2. When to Play

The game runs twice a day, every day of the year (except Christmas Day).

• Afternoon Session: Usually takes place around 2:00 PM.
• Evening Session: Usually takes place around 8:00 PM.

3. How to Play

When you arrive, you’ll buy your National Bingo Game tickets at the “books” desk or via an electronic touch-pad.

• The Tickets: You typically buy them in bundles (e.g., £1 for 2 tickets or £2 for 5).
• The Goal: The National Bingo Game is a Full House game. You need to mark off every single number on one of your ticket grids.
• Dabbing: As the caller shouts the numbers, you mark them off on your paper with a “dabber” or simply watch your electronic screen do it for you.
• Claiming: If you complete your grid, you must shout “HOUSE!” (or “Bingo!”) loud enough to stop the caller. If you don’t stop them before the next number starts being called, you might miss out!

4. How to Win the Big One

There are two ways to win during a National Bingo Game session:

1. The Club Prize: The first person in your specific room to call “House” wins the local club prize.
2. The Jackpots: This is where the magic happens. If you call “House” within a certain number of calls, you trigger a fixed jackpot on top of your club win.

What is the National Bingo Game?

The National Bingo Game is Britain’s premier “linked” bingo session, connecting hundreds of clubs across the UK in a single, massive game. Launched in 1986, it allows players in local bingo halls, from major chains like Buzz and Mecca to small independents, to play for the same national jackpots simultaneously.

While you compete for a “Club Prize” against the people in your room, you’re also playing for national prizes. By calling “House” in a specific number of calls (like the new 14-number limit for the £250,000 jackpot), you win regardless of what’s happening in other clubs.