Dundee Regular Wins £50K in Just 13 Calls at Mecca Bingo

_{Lesley King celebrates a £50,000 National Bingo Game win at Dundee’s Eclipse Leisure Park venue. (Image: Mecca Bingo)}

A woman playing at Dundee’s Mecca Bingo in the Eclipse Leisure Park “burst into tears” after scooping a £50,000 jackpot on her regular Thursday night visit.

The winner, who has chosen to remain anonymous, landed the top prize in the National Bingo Game after calling “house” in just 13 numbers, far faster than the 16 calls usually required to trigger the jackpot.

“It was absolutely astonishing,” said Mecca Bingo Dundee’s operations manager, Lesley King. 

_{Lesley King outside the Dundee Mcca venue. (Image: Mecca)}

“To match all ten numbers in 16 calls is always a cause for celebration, but to do it in 13 is just amazing.”

Lucky Strike in Dundee

The National Bingo Game is a linked competition played across the UK, where players can win national prizes alongside their local club’s payouts. To claim the jackpot, all ten numbers on a player’s ticket must be marked within 16 calls.

Winning in just 13 calls is rare, the odds of doing so are estimated to be around 1 in 93,000 according to the National Bingo Game Association.

The Dundee Mecca venue, located in Douglasfield’s Eclipse Leisure Park, has seen several big wins over the years, but staff described Thursday’s event as “one of the most emotional yet.”

A Bingo Resurgence

Britain’s bingo halls have been enjoying a resurgence, driven by community spirit and a wave of younger players returning to in-person games after the pandemic. According to the Bingo Association, more than 3 million people now play bingo regularly in the UK, with jackpot prizes sometimes exceeding £100,000.

Lesley King added that moments like this highlight why bingo remains a social staple in towns like Dundee. “It’s such a fantastic atmosphere when someone wins big. Everyone in the hall celebrates together,” she said.

The winner reportedly plans to use her £50,000 prize to treat her family.