World records come in all shapes and sizes, from the incredible to, well, the bizarre. But did you know that everyone’s favorite game holds a few records of its own? With such a loyal and widespread fan base, it should come as no surprise.
If bingo is one of your all-time favorite online casino games, you’re sure to be intrigued by some of the unique, unusual and, in some cases, downright unbelievable bingo records that fans of the game have set over the past few years. Read on as we take a look.
1. The Largest Bingo Game to Date
Who: Organized by Almacenes ÉXITO
Where: Bogotá, Colombia
When: December 2, 2006
In December 2006, Almacenes ÉXITO, the largest retailer in South America, attempted to break the world record for the largest bingo game in one place. When 70,080 people showed up, it certainly did! The crowd managed to win around $350,000 worth of cash prizes and break a Guinness World Record, all while having a smashing time (although we imagine that people would have had to yelp “BINGO” into a megaphone for others to hear them!)
2. The Largest Online Bingo Game to Date
Who: Organized by Coca-Cola Japan
Where: Tokyo, Japan
When: September 3, 2010
With the internet part of the fabric of our daily lives, it’s no surprise that the record for the world’s biggest game of bingo online was set a few years after the record for the world’s biggest game of traditional bingo had been set. The new record naturally surpassed the former with the attendance of an incredible 493,824 people! Coca-Cola Japan organized the event, resulting in Coca-Cola’s social media community coming together (online) to play what could only have been a massively intense game of online bingo!
3. The Biggest Bingo Hall Win to Date
Who: John T.
Where: California
When: 2014
The biggest bingo win at a traditional bingo hall goes to John T., who won an incredible $3.3 million. For years, John had been an avid bingo player hoping to win a substantial prize. His wish finally came true when he struck the jackpot at a special bingo event.
4. The Biggest Online Bingo Win to Date
Who: John Orchard
Where: Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
When: 2012
John Orchard, a factory worker from Lincolnshire, United Kingdom, achieved the largest online bingo win ever recorded in 2012. One evening, he casually logged on to a bingo site and wagered a mere 30p, which turned out to be a life-changing decision. He hit the jackpot of £5.9 million (about $7.2 million) and his winnings made him the most significant bingo winner in history.
With his newfound wealth, the 60-year-old retired immediately from his job at a local job center and treated himself to a luxurious Jaguar XF. This stroke of luck completely transformed John’s life, making him the most successful online bingo player of all time.
5. The Tallest Stack of Daubers
Who: Doug McManaman
Where: Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, Canada
When: February 18, 2013
Bingo fanatic and world record specialist Doug McManaman made his mark on the world with, well, bingo markers — 82 to be exact — when he created the world’s largest dauber tower with plastic bingo markers. He must have two of the steadiest hands in the business!
6. The Fastest Online Bingo Jackpot
Who: Darryl Howe
Where: Online, in the UK
When: January 22, 2010
Overcoming the odds of 93 billion to one, Brit Darryl Howe managed to score a 15-number full house in just 23 calls, scoring him the quickest bingo jackpot ever, at an enjoyable £18,000 (around $25,000.) Howe’s win came just 40 minutes after registering at an online bingo site, giving new meaning to the term “beginner’s luck!”
7. The Highest Game of Bingo
Who: Gala Coral
Where: Mount Everest Base Camp, Nepal
When: November 3, 2009
Taking bingo (literally) to new heights, 24 employees of the Gala Coral Group, an online bingo and casino company based in the UK, played the world’s highest game at around 17,500 ft above sea level. The employees made an incredible trek all the way up to Mount Everest Base Camp to play a few rounds of bingo and managed to raise £100,000 (almost $140,000) for UK charity Sue Ryder Care doing so! We’re certain this record will remain untouched for quite some time, as it definitely stands as one of the most extraordinary games of bingo to date.
8. The World’s Biggest Balls
Who: Gala Bingo
Where: The “Coronation Street” set in Manchester, UK
When: July 18, 2014
Gala Bingo is a popular bingo site in the UK that has secured its place as the world-record holder for (drumroll please…) the biggest bingo balls! To raise money for the Male Cancer Awareness Campaign, Gala Bingo employees played bingo on the set of the British soap “Coronation Street” in Manchester, where 24-inch giant bingo balls were thrown down from surrounding windows. In doing so, the stunt broke a record while managing to raise £10,000 (around $13,900) for the cause.
9. Balancing a Basket of Balls
Who: Doug McManaman
Where: Nova Scotia, Canada
When: July 6, 2011
Mr McManaman’s at it again! A very talented individual — and a dedicated fan too! When not building bingo marker towers, McManaman can be found balancing a basket of bingo balls on his chin using an elongated pole! His current record is one minute and 19.4 seconds (which we must note, ended because he chose to give up, not because the basket fell,) putting the rest of us normal bingo fans to shame.
10. Largest Bingo Card
Who: Gila Rivers Hotels & Casinos
Where: Lone Butte, Arizona
When: April 6, 2019
In April 2019, Gila Rivers Hotels & Casinos in Lone Butte, Arizona, set a record for the Largest Bingo Ticket/Card. The ticket was a remarkable 400 square feet in size.
11. Largest Bingo Drum
Who: XFLAG Studio
Where: Japan
When: December 2017
Nowadays, electronic systems have largely replaced bingo drums in bingo halls. Regardless, in December 2017, XFLAG Studio in Japan set a world record for the Largest Bingo Drum despite the humble tombola falling out of fashion. The drum was over three meters in diameter and was used for a special event called Monster Bingo.
12. Biggest Game of Bingo Played in an Office
Who: TaskUs
Where: The Philippines
When: 2012
TaskUs in the Philippines decided to liven things up at the company by organizing the largest recorded game of bingo in an office, with 97 employees participating! The energy must have been electric. This event epitomizes the “work hard, play hard” attitude; TaskUs now holds the world record for office bingo.
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