Listen to this article:There was an unforgettable end to 2025 for one regular bingo player in Glasgow, who won the £50,000 National Bingo Game jackpot at Mecca Bingo Glasgow Forge on New Year’s Eve. The win came during a National Bingo Game session on 31 December, and kicked off New Year celebrations in true style.
The winner, who has chosen to remain anonymous, is well known at the Forge club, which is located beside the market on Duke Street. However, she only decided to attend the afternoon session at the last minute in the hope of a relaxing time before the Hogmanay festivities began, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions of her life.
In August 2025, Mecca Bingo Glasgow celebrated and held a week of special events for its 30th anniversary, which culminated in an afternoon party complete with lunch, a gift for every player, and more than £20,000 up for grabs. Speaking at the time, Paul McGlinchey, the general manager, said:
“We welcomed over 15,000 visitors and regular customers through Mecca Forge’s doors last year. We see everyone here – from teenagers coming in to celebrate turning 18 upwards. We can’t wait to bring everyone together to mark thirty years of being an integral part of this amazing city.”
The New Year’s Eve win is just the latest in a string of big wins for Glasgow’s bingo players. According to Mecca, players across the city’s three clubs collectively won around £7.5 million in prize money during 2025. Furthermore, an additional £32 million was won on Mecca’s online games by local players.
According to Stephanie Donlin, duty manager at Mecca Bingo Glasgow Forge, the timing made the moment even more surprising.
“It was relatively quiet for a Wednesday afternoon as lots of people were getting ready for Hogmanay. The winner had made a last-minute decision to come along to the bingo to get out of the house, and she was totally shocked when she realised just how much she had won!”
It didn’t take long for the celebrations to spread around the club, and according to Donlin, after the win was confirmed, everyone started cheering.
Glasgow Forge, in particular, has seen an impressive number of big wins. For example, in late 2024, a local mother and daughter famously won two jackpots within the space of two weeks, including another £50,000 National Bingo Game win.
If you’ve never taken part in the National Bingo Game, then next month will bring the perfect opportunity to do so. From February 2026, the main jackpot is due to increase to £250,000, while the familiar £50,000, £1,000, and £100 prizes will remain part of the game. The structure stays the same, but with the new jackpot prize, playing will be more exciting than ever. Furthermore, the National Bingo Game occasionally rewards players with extra prizes, such as a recent weekend in Scotland, complete with VIP bingo nights, gala dinners, and sightseeing tours in Edinburgh.
As Donlin said after the won jackpot at Mecca Bingo Glasgow Forge, “The latest jackpot is proof that you never know when the jackpot is going to be won,” she said. “I can’t wait to make more winners in 2026.”
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