Bingo! Lee hits £25,000 jackpot

A bingo newcomer says it was a case of beginner's luck after landing the jackpot prize on his first attempt.
Lee Darrington won a £25,000 jackpot at Apollo Bingo Hall, Mansfield. Lee is pictured with main stage caller PhilLee Darrington won a £25,000 jackpot at Apollo Bingo Hall, Mansfield. Lee is pictured with main stage caller Phil
Lee Darrington won a £25,000 jackpot at Apollo Bingo Hall, Mansfield. Lee is pictured with main stage caller Phil

Lee Darrington, from Forest Town, was on his first visit to Apollo Bingo and Social Club in Mansfield, and was overjoyed to have picked up the £170 club prize during the national game - when clubs all across the country join in.

But when news filtered through from National Bingo Game HQ that the Apollo in Mansfield had the winner with the lowest number 
of calls, players began cheering.

“When I first arrived I wasn’t quite sure what was going on, I just grabbed my tickets and my dabber and started playing,” said 28-year-old 
Lee.

“When I found out I had won my friends were just shouting and screaming.

“Then they won £1,000 just after, on the Rainbow Grand.

“In total what with all the games we played that night we won just under £27,000.

“Everybody was so polite, people we’re coming from all over the place to congratulate me and shake my hand.

“They were saying they’d never heard it called on numbers that low before. It was mad!”

Lee’s family members have been regular bingo players and he recalls accompanying his auntie many years ago on a Sunday afternoon, but hasn’t been back since.

When asked what he plans to spend the money on, Lee, who works as supervisor for industrial paint spraying firm, PC Contractors, has said he will be splitting the 
jackpot cash between his friends and family who were there with him that night.

He said: “There were five couples there so we’ve decided to split it.

“That’s £5,000 each so everybody is over the moon - but if we win in future we all want a share!”

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