A bingo caller from Houghton Le-Spring, Washington is celebrating 50 years in the business after starting his bingo calling career way back in 1973 in the Empire Bingo Club.
Despite reaching this major milestone of half a century as a bingo caller, Billy Ritchey says he has no plans to retire in the near future. He still loves his job and stated that he wants to carry on doing it for as long as possible.
Ritchey used to attend the prize bingo as a child with his mum, which is what started his passion for bingo and lead to him taking his first bingo caller job at the Empire Bingo when he was 18. He worked at various bingo halls in the North East before making his home at Buzz Bingo in Washington in 1994.
Well done and congratulations Billy.
Latest Casino and Bingo offers
Other Latest Industry News
11. Feb 2026 15:34
Charlie Shakespeare is on his travels again (he doesn’t sit still for a minute, does he!). This time, Charles is in the big smoke to uncover the magic of the famous venue: the Hippodrome. Opened over 120 years ago, the Hippodrome has been everything from an arena with a 100,000-gallon water tank sunk into the floor to where escapologist Harry Houdini performed in 1904, and a Peter Stringfellow-run club. Now, father…
by 
2min 
6. Feb 2026 16:51
UK romantics are officially ditching roses, chocolates, and teddy bears in favour of experiences and memories. According to recent survey data, a massive 70.9% of Brits now prefer a shared experience over a physical gift. But, the survey of over 500 UK residents also revealed that nearly 64% of people agree that spending money isn’t a valid measurement of love. From fancy dinners to high-energy bingo raves, the focus has…
by
3min 
2. Feb 2026 09:21
The time has arrived. The WhichBingo Awards 2026 voting is now open! It’s now over to you. Celebrate the very best in bingo, slots, and casino. The sites, the games, the teams, the food, the personalities… every vote makes the difference. If you missed what’s new this year, including the brand-new Pre-Show Awards, you can catch up in our What’s New for 2026 piece. For now though, the important bit…
by
5min 
21. Jan 2026 11:47
Grab your dabbers bingo fans, the WhichBingo Awards 2026 are officially on the horizon. Now in our 13th year, the WhichBingo Awards are all about recognising the sites, games, venues, and people that players love. Winners are chosen through a mix of player votes, editorial insight, and expert opinion. From the bingo sites you keep coming back to, to the chat teams that make every session more fun, this is your chance to have your…
by 
3min 
Updated October 16, 2024
Reader comments