One lucky Rushden bingo player at Flutters Bingo received an unexpected boost to her Saturday evening at the club, when she called house on a life changing £50,000 Jackpot on the National Bingo Game.
Nurse Practitioner, mother of two and bingo fan, Emma Wilkinson (57), was at Flutters Bingo Rushden on Saturday 13th August for the evening session, when the night took a sudden and shocking turn. While playing the National Bingo Game she realised her claim for the house prize was in fact the winning claim for a £50,000 jackpot!
Emma, who was born in Wellingborough, first started playing bingo years ago with a friend in Kettering, but when her friend moved away she stopped going. A new friendship years later, with Stacey the assistant manager of the practice where Emma was working, reignited her love of bingo. Stacey was a regular player who attended with her mother Janet and suggested that Emma join them. This quickly became a regular bingo group that also included Stacey’s sister Sheena, Emma’s daughter Annie and occasionally Emma’s son Josh and husband of thirty three years.
The group’s usual night for bingo is a Monday, but due to Emma’s work it was agreed that Saturday 13th August would be bingo day and Stacey, Janet, and Sheena agreed to go. Son Josh was home visiting from university in Stafford, where he is training to be a nurse, made a last minute decision to join them, as Man United were playing so badly in a match that he could not bear to watch: daughter Annie, also a nurse, was away on holiday.
Emma said, “We were all having a good time, focussed on playing the National when I realised I only needed two numbers to win, 1 and 25. No sooner had I said the numbers I was waiting on than out they came. I had not been paying attention to exactly how many numbers had been called at that point and calmly made my claim. Suddenly Stacey starts getting all excited saying you’ve won, you’ve won! I said “yes, I know”. To which she said, “no I mean you’ve ‘really’ won”.
“It was then that the caller confirmed my claim was valid and that my prize was a £50,000 jackpot. I was stunned and still am!”
In true bingo style Emma has decided to share her Jackpot prize equally, with Stacey, Janet, Sheena and Josh, who will each receive £10,000.
“We always share our winnings when at bingo and friendship is worth so much more than money, so I felt that this win should be no different. We will each get £10,000, which is a lovely treat and bonus to a night at bingo with friends. I know that Josh has already ordered a PlayStation5, something he has been dreaming of for a while, the others are thinking about holidays and I am planning a trip to New York with Annie – she has always wanted to go and as she wasn’t there on the night of the win it can be her treat. I am not sure yet what my husband me will be doing, but a lovely holiday sounds great.”
Emma continued, “We all really love playing at Flutters in Rushden. It’s not a big club, but everyone is so friendly and the staff all know your name – you always get a lovely welcome. On the night of the win everyone in the club was coming over and congratulating me on my win and genuinely wishing me well. It was lovely.”
Harrison Ward, Assistant Manager at Flutters Bingo Rushden was present on the night and said, “It was amazing to watch Emma’s reaction as she realised how much she had won on the National Bingo Game and great to see other players applaud and cheer the win. We are looking forward to celebrating with everyone at the club when we host a special cheque presentation. Flutters Bingo may not be the biggest club, but we are certainly one of the friendliest.”
Alastair Stewart, Head of Commercial Operations at the National Bingo Game said:
“We are thrilled for our lucky National Bingo Game £50,000 Jackpot winner at Flutters Rushden and delighted that Emma has decided to share her good fortune with her bingo buddies who were present on the night of the win. We hope that they all enjoy spending their winnings: clubs big and small can all win BIG on the National Bingo Game and we love making winners.”
To find a participating club and for further information on the National Bingo Game visit www.nationalbingo.co.uk or follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/NationalBingoGame) and Twitter.com @nationalbingo.
All players must be aged 18 or over. The National Bingo Game is played under the provisions of The Gambling Act 2005 and played under National Bingo Game Players’ Rules. Players should always gamble responsibly. For more information and advice visit www.BeGambleAware.org
