A BINGO hall must be "charmed" - that's the verdict after another lucky punter scooped a massive cash jackpot.
Tony McDaid, of Acomb, York, is the latest big winner at the Clifton Bingo Club, and will pocket more than £100,000. Tony - who works for Evening Press publishers York & County Press - said the winning feeling was "unreal".
He was playing the game with his wife, Silvana, on Thursday night, when he completed a full house in only 39 numbers - the lowest call among the 500 clubs playing nationwide.
That meant he won the club prize of £156.36, the regional prize of £1,334.03, and, of course, the national prize of £100,000 - a grand total of £101,490.39.
Tony, an assistant transport manager at our Walmgate offices in York, said: "It was absolutely terrifying. It was frightening enough waiting to see if I had won the national prize - when I heard that I had, it got even worse.
"The feeling that it puts in your stomach is just unreal.
" I have had to go out walking for hours to get my head round it." Tony, 49, and his family are still deciding how to divide up the money.
He said: "My youngest daughter, who is 19, is moving to a place of her own soon, so I will give her a £10,000 nest egg. Another daughter is getting married in June, so I will give her £5,000 towards that.
"What's left is for me and my wife to enjoy. She's asked for a tummy tuck - so I have said she can have that done." Silvana said: "I am ecstatic, but at the end of the day, it's only money. I'll be back in work as usual - but it will make a difference."
Tony usually plays bingo only on a Tuesday and Wednesday - and the most he has ever won up to now has been £800. By chance he decided to go along on a Thursday.
When he turned up at the bingo hall, staff gave Tony a toy leprechaun as a reward for his loyal custom before he sat down to play.
Andy Bridge was calling the numbers. He said: "We have always been really lucky in the national game here - the place must be charmed. Tony went in 39 numbers, so we knew he would have a fighting chance, but we had to wait a long time for the result to come out."
Andy has called other national-winning games - but this is his biggest jackpot so far. He said: "Tony is a regular customer, so I am over the moon for him. It's always nice when someone you know wins the 'Holy Grail'."
The Clifton club saw a spate of winners last year, including an £18,000 prize and a national £101,000 jackpot in the space of only two nights.
In April 2005, a retired HGV driver drove off with a lorry-load of loot - £202,000.
In 2003, a mother-of-five, also from Acomb, won £86,000 there, and another mum picked up £26,000.
Updated: 09:55 Saturday, March 18, 2006
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article