An American in a UK Bingo Hall

I went to bingo for the first time in the UK.  It was very different than a bingo experience in the US. Much faster and lively including people of all ages. I went to Gala Bingo with my boyfriend and his mom. She says "wanna go bingo"? Not "go TO bingo". It's "go bingo".

Anyway, there are two Gala Bingo halls in this town referred to as “top of town” and “bottom of town”. If you lose at the top of town in the afternoon, you go to the bottom of town for your evening game. At this point I don’t know if I’m coming or going much less top or bottom of town.

Once inside, people have their designated spots. Certain tables belong to them. No problem, I can relate but as a newbie how do I know if I’m stealing someone’s table? Ya don’t! You plop down, say three Hail Marys and hope for the best. These people are hard core. Since they have the same table each time they go, they know the people around them that also have the same table each time they go.

Bingo starts and I’m completely lost. The cards are different and the calls are fast. I mean really fast. There's no falling asleep during bingo here. Not so sure blue haired little old ladies would cut it. You gotta be able to  move your a$$ to make it here. Meanwhile, there is a man sitting a few tables back. He was mumbling on and on and seemed to be chanting at times. By the end of the game he had engaged in a full conversation with himself.  The tears were rolling down our faces from laughter.

So back to me and my confusion…. My sweetheart’s momma had to keep taking my card and catching me up on all the numbers I was missing. Right about now I’m feeling like a real dumbo. In 90 ball bingo you have ALL the numbers on your card. His mom kept saying follow the columns. Just follow the columns. Huh? I’m looking around and everyone is dabbing away. Finally, my boyfriend explains the way the cards are laid out. Sometimes I wonder about him. I really do. I mean c’mon that key info would’ve been useful before we started. The number sequences are numerical in each column. For example, column 1 = numbers 1-9 and column 2 = 10-19 and so on. It’s so different when you’re dabbing yourself. Online I don’t even pay attention to those details. All is well and now I’m a speed demon. I was managing two cards by the end of the night he he he.

No one yelled out BINGO! They yell something else. Um, sounds something like EEEORE! Some just say YEAH! or YEP!

There are a series of breaks between games. People play Gala Link Games. I didn’t play but from what I observed, you put money in a machine on your table. There are wooden boards with numbers on them in different colors. For example, the call would be 3 red. You cover 3 red. There’s little “sliding doors” in the board used to cover each number. Some chick with a tattooed neck won over £400 on that game. I better get in on that next time. On second thought, maybe it was the tattoo that brought her luck. I’m not doing that.

Now here’s something I found interesting. There are slot machines in the bingo hall. You’ll never find that in the US. I was amazed and once again confused. I played some slot I’ve never seen that looked like a Monopoly type game with hold buttons. I have no idea what I was doing. I do know this though, losing is the same no matter what country you're in.

I have much to learn so I am going back tonight. Free bingo on Monday and Thursday. Whoo hoo! Just need to decide whether it will be top or bottom of town. Ah, I’ll just leave that up to the momma.

LOL  Sounds like a lot of fun!!!  You're a good writer, too!  Good luck on your next Bingo outing!  ;)

Thanks, i will need the luck. I absolutely love playing bingo here. It's so different and so much fun!

and thanks for the compliment  ;)

Oh froggy i love that story. So different from the halls here in the US. And you got to play slotsss!!! Try to if you can to take pics of the cards and the hall. Would love to see it.

What i find so darn funny is how risky it is if you took someone else's seat! I guess that is a universal bingo law.

Do they allow you to smoke there? Oh yeah did the caller rhyme like they do online?

Lips

No smoking and no rhyming. I will definitely take pics.  ;)

Sounds awesome Froggy.  Makes me want to go play bingo.  It's been years but it doesn't sound any different.

As for the call "EEEORE" - that would be "here you are" but without the H, without the "ou" of you and with the are.   "ereyare".  

Fingers crossed for a nice win next time and definitely steer clear of the fruit machines - they are set for you to lose.

Will we get any more installments?  I really enjoyed reading.

blue

Lmao, Froggy LOVED the story and i love the title.. and "EEEORE!!!" Frreeee Monday Bingo!!!

Ok so I played bingo again yesterday. TWICE! Free afternoon bingo at the top of town and free evening bingo at the bottom of town.

It's free but you pay up for the extras. They have a few extra games like the High Five, Cash Climber and Last Chance.

High Five gives you big money if you bingo on the five or a number ending in five.

Cash Climber gives you big money but you are playing along with other Gala Bingo players at other halls.

Last Chance is exactly that. I don't think there is any bing money in that one. Must not be because I noticed that most leave after the last regular game. They don't stick around for a last chance. My bf's momma does so we do.

His mom received a belated Christmas gift from one of her bingo buddies last night. For some reason she thought it was chocolate and was asking everyone if they wanted a chockie.

She opens the bag to get the chocolates that everyone is drooling for at this point and guess what. It's make up. No chockies for anyone. I was wondering why the lady that gave her the gift wasn't responding and looked at her funny when she asked her if she could eat the chocolate now. It was in a gift bag and was practically jutting out the top. That's what made it even funnier. She just assumed it was chocolate. We all had a good laugh.

I sat down with my cheese and onions crisps or chips as I know them and dabbed away. I wasn't even remotely close to a win. My sweetie must've been a little on edge because he was shaking his leg like crazy. So much so that the guy behind him asked him to stop. Oh the look on his face! Well you know what, that's what he gets for not explaining the game to me on my first trip to Gala Bingo. Ha!

As i'm sitting at bingo I wonder how could I stick out even more. Hmm, let's see. Bring your camera. People will think I'm crazy for sure. Unfortunately, I forgot it last night but I will take the plunge and look like a tourist next time.

I stayed far away from the slots. I didn't even try to figure them out. I never thought I'd say this but I think I'm bingo'd out! At least until Monday when it's free all over again!

Looking forward to your next "episode" Froggy.  Thoroughly enjoyed reading it and looking forward to you telling us you had a win.

blue

Thanks blue. I will be framing the card when I win. Oh and thanks for the tip on the fruit machines. No wonder people are scarce in that area.

he he he going to play some free bingo. It's free bingo Thursday!!!! Hope to share my experiences with ya when i get home!  :-* :-* :-*

Went to the top of town with my future mother-in-law. She sneaks herself some wine in a ginger ale bottle....Shhhhhhhh

She likes her dabber to match the color of her cards. As for me, I couldn't care less. We missed the  first half because she feels that her luck is better in the second half. Who am I to mess with a seasoned bingo player?

This little man sitting at the next table was so cute. He kept telling me which color card we were on. I must've looked like I was in need of assistance. It was too cute. LMAO

Well here's one of my loser cards.

Since we missed half of the game, I only got half of the experience. Until next time....

Some very expert dabbing there Froggy.  Looking forward to your next (hopefully) wnning experience.

blue

Oh wow that is so cool! They look just like the cards online!!  :P :P :P

Lips

Fun stuff!  We have slots here in TX at the bingo parlors, but shhhh!!!! some of them aren't supposed to be there.  8-liners they are called, or something like that.  They give out payouts on slips of paper you can take and buy some beer or food.  Or bingo cards.

Those bingo cards DO look just like the online 90 ball cards!