tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39275585838552516992008-07-23T00:06:52.914+01:00Dio Bachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16617561451901472333noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-26619936817644608942008-07-22T22:30:00.002+01:002008-07-22T22:47:55.979+01:00

just reading up on recent events on this website and I couldn't help but feel for the 86 year old pensioner who got mugged after winning £1,000 at the bingo in Manchester. I am pleased to say that nothing like that has ever happened in the clubs that I have worked for, but we did have security measures in place, including free escort and taxi home for any big cash winners. Especially working in

COTY Brett Gala TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120104242581157912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-5484912928671057892008-07-16T12:26:00.004+01:002008-07-16T12:37:06.445+01:00

A recent survey this week found that bingo players were more amorous when they had had a win at the bingo! I for one am encouraging my girlfriend to visit the bingo halls more often now and I'm sure lots of other partners of bingo players will be doing the same!! (Although I'm not too sure about the statement in the same survey that a quarter of players would leave there other halves if they

COTY Brett Gala TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120104242581157912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-27973822060663773652008-07-10T15:01:00.005+01:002008-07-11T03:29:43.277+01:00

Just been reading this article in the press about bingo clubs across the midlands applying for licences for 'mini amusement arcades' to be included on there premises. After reading it it brought me back to my time in the USA last year when I got to call at the Suncoast casino in Las Vegas. (the suncoast in Vegas.....they run hour on, hour off sessions of bingo) One of the things that amazed me

COTY Brett Gala TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120104242581157912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-18627981155180269122008-06-29T20:16:00.000+01:002008-06-30T10:19:00.622+01:00

ITS SUNDAY 29TH JUNE TODAY AND THIS IS WHAT I GOT UP TO: 10am: Me and the missus are on the motorway travelling to Birmingham to watch the gala caller of the year grand final. It's going to be a weird one for me as this will be my first competition where i will be just a spectator instead of a contestant or a judge! strangely I'm beginning to get nervous for the finalists, I wonder how they're

Dio Bachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16617561451901472333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-28489817049995215772008-06-20T04:24:00.003+01:002008-06-20T04:46:56.686+01:00

I know this is some more shameless plugging........but I don't care! One of the most common comments I get from bingo players when I speak to them about Gala TV is that 'oh I haven't got Sky so I can't watch it!' Well that's no excuse now because you can now watch and play with us live on the Web!!!!!!! (look mum, I'm on the internet!!!!) It's a completely different way of playing bingo

COTY Brett Gala TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120104242581157912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-25725527633071206892008-06-18T03:33:00.008+01:002008-06-18T14:22:42.546+01:00

THE NATIONAL BINGO CALLER OF THE YEAR HAS BEEN SUSPENDED FOR THIS YEAR!!!!! Yes, you have read this right: On the National website today the following press release has been issued: Due to the considerable challenges and issues facing the bingo industry at present, it has been decided to suspend the National bingo caller of the year competition for 2008. It is fully anticipated that the

COTY Brett Gala TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120104242581157912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-17364688519467147642008-06-12T14:21:00.003+01:002008-06-12T14:30:30.838+01:00

I know i have been all doom and gloom over the last few posts, so I am going to be more cheery this time around! Posted here are a couple of recent videos of me 'working' on Gala TV. The first one was when we had an all male team on and we decided that we would do a 'boyband' introduction to the show! The other is celebrating the recent Eurovision song contest, where we dedicated a whole

COTY Brett Gala TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120104242581157912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-12603812687098083592008-06-05T01:10:00.003+01:002008-06-05T01:25:16.034+01:00

What's that I hear? I think it could be the sound of another live interactive bingo channel (finally) getting into the scene! 'Bingo night live' appeared on our screens on ITV tonight and, although with a few glitches and a couple of presenters not so experienced with the 'live' aspect of it apart; the show went rather well. I might do a fuller review on this in the coming weeks; but one thing

COTY Brett Gala TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120104242581157912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-71029932369084380292008-05-31T12:30:00.004+01:002008-06-02T19:26:18.016+01:00

Well as promised this month is all about the national game. As you may have read, Gala have recently announced that they will be withdrawing from the National bingo game on the 31st of August and replacing this huge game with a new and improved in house link game (the Hi Five). In a statement Gala felt that: 'With 2 national jackpot games now in place alongside each other, it clearly made sense

COTY Brett Gala TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120104242581157912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-25192813270301202332008-05-26T01:53:00.002+01:002008-05-26T02:00:49.583+01:00

congratulations to the clever lawyer-type people who spotted the loophole which could mean that the bingo industry could get millions back from the tax man!!!! The government have been routinely screwing the bingo industry (with other, more profit making, gambling areas being 'overlooked') for a number of years now. It just goes to show that when bingo clubs are backed into a corner, we are

COTY Brett Gala TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120104242581157912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-28873547629769399412008-05-22T02:58:00.002+01:002008-05-22T03:06:18.096+01:00

BIG NEWS in the bingo world!!!! More of which I will mention in my main blog post next week.......Gala are pulling out of the national bingo game and it is in the national press!!!!! I'm sure lots of comment will be posted in the coming weeks but from this bingo caller: I can now say that I am the LAST Gala bingo caller to be the NATIONAL bingo caller of the year!!!! Put your bets on now for a

COTY Brett Gala TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120104242581157912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-81050053303662091242008-05-13T01:11:00.002+01:002008-05-13T01:25:32.462+01:00

here we go again. It looks like my recent couple of posts are still ringing true check this story out about the bingo employee who stole £16,000!!!!!!!! The manager was done as well!!!!!!!!!! It reminds me of the time when I was first working in bingo and I put my pinny on to give out some change at the start of the session and found £5 in one of the pockets............"keep it" said the

COTY Brett Gala TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120104242581157912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-21134511891584604702008-05-07T00:45:00.003+01:002008-05-07T00:56:34.372+01:00

with regards to the recent post about illegal activities in the clubs, two contrasting stories caught my eye today. Firstly the tale of a lady who stole from her dead bingo partners account goes to show how low some people can go. And the award for 'serves you right!' goes to the robbers of a bingo club in sunderland recently who whilst making a getaway and torching there car managed to set fire

COTY Brett Gala TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120104242581157912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-67212727415242936052008-04-29T01:03:00.003+01:002008-05-02T15:11:04.005+01:00

The story about the bingo manager who got sent to jail for stealing £31,000 from her employers does not surprise me. Although I never saw anything on a huge scale like this, I have seen instances of money being 'borrowed' from the staff in clubs that I have worked at. When you are working in an industry where the majority of people are overworked, underpaid and living on a shoestring budget, any

COTY Brett Gala TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120104242581157912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-80216128764287483632008-04-22T04:24:00.003+01:002008-04-23T00:14:51.856+01:00

Well Gala's (thats Gala's.......not the NBGA!!!!!) caller of the year regional finals have been completed and a big well done to one of my former relief callers, Andrew who scooped the prize for the south-east region. There are 11 regions in the Gala company so Andrew will be faced with 10 other regional finalists in the grand final at the end of June in Birmingham. It would be arrogant of me

COTY Brett Gala TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120104242581157912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-73063370957510618822008-04-19T20:44:00.003+01:002008-04-19T21:24:01.528+01:00

I never share with family and friends when I play bingo. Now you may say that is a selfish and 'scrooge-like' attitude but I do not want to get into the situation that some people do when they win big! The recent news this week of Sisters going to court to get a share of a £50,000 jackpot cements my belief. The whole story was in the national press today (mirror) and it is just a sorry state of

COTY Brett Gala TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120104242581157912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-68055554450560229522008-04-11T20:01:00.003+01:002008-04-11T20:09:27.447+01:00

Didn't win on the national the other day: all of my bets fell or pulled up.........damn it!!!!!!!! but I have had a few days off and managed to go back home to Bognor Regis and had a Sunday night session at the local club there. It's the first time I've been in a hall this year and it was nostalgic to be back!!! Spoke to couple of old friends and told them what I was up to. Most of them haven't

COTY Brett Gala TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120104242581157912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-53866269739523873952008-04-05T16:03:00.002+01:002008-04-05T16:10:40.454+01:00

The Grand national today reminds me of my early days working in an independent bingo club. We would always do a sweep stake with the staff and some of our regulars-it was always good because the race would be between the afternoon and evening sessions so we would all crowd round the TV during our break to watch it!!!! I never managed to pick the winner in the sweepstake but I do remember dashing

COTY Brett Gala TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120104242581157912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-45467505229544224452008-04-01T00:40:00.006+01:002008-04-01T01:47:37.776+01:00

For the last couple of weeks I have been on facebook having a right conflab about the bingo caller of the year comp. This all stems from my disappointment that there were hardly any Gala entrants in the NBGA version of caller of the year last year. The consensus seems to be that my calling companions at Gala would rather enter the internal Gala caller of the year competition; the regional

COTY Brett Gala TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120104242581157912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-63860397630180199952008-03-20T12:13:00.004Z2008-03-21T03:23:53.550Z

Over the weekend there are loads of special offers coming to you on Gala TV (Sky channel 841) Free bingo, rising ladder prizes and comedy bingo are all in the schedule; but one thing you have got to watch out for is a promotion this Saturday called 'Bring it back bingo' Over the next four Saturday's celebrities from the golden age of TV will be coming to the studio to participate in our live TV

COTY Brett Gala TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120104242581157912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-57100686449536924202008-03-15T02:59:00.003Z2008-03-15T03:12:34.006Z

What is going on with this double taxation malarkey? it seems pretty obvious to me: Every other gaming establishment has only got one form of tax to pay, so why is this not the case with the bingo industry? Once again the government are prioritising filling there coffers with our money before looking at the long term consequence's! How many more clubs have to close before this oversight is

COTY Brett Gala TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120104242581157912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-78021610973003742772008-03-06T02:48:00.002Z2008-03-06T02:57:42.490Z

Hello, Just got back from a busy night of work (it is nearly 3am you know!) and i forgot to mention to you guys sooner (what with all the 'Eggs' hype!) that our little bingo channel (Sky 841 Gala TV.....plug,plug,plug) gave away our biggest ever win on Sunday 24th February!!!! Margaret1223 called a full house in 30 calls and claimed not only the full house prize; but also got the CashClimber

COTY Brett Gala TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120104242581157912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-44563080431579018612008-03-02T03:39:00.004Z2008-03-02T03:45:13.542Z

Well I'm sure you all know by now that the Eggheads trounced the bingo callers of the year last Friday!! It's strange because even though it is only a week ago in most peoples minds, to me the whole day began over four months ago in Shepherds Bush!! The national bingo game had called me and asked if I would be interested in appearing on the BBC2 show 'Eggheads' For those of you that don't

COTY Brett Gala TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120104242581157912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-44314796041968848312008-02-24T02:17:00.003Z2008-02-24T02:25:39.953Z

Well if you don't know by now the bingo callers of the year could only finish second behind the eggheads!!!!! And i am still getting grief about not getting my question right on the show; not only from my colleagues at Gala TV but also from my mother and her friends!!!! Next week I will give you the FULL breakdown on the whole Eggheads occasion.......what it was like..........meeting the other

COTY Brett Gala TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120104242581157912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3927558583855251699.post-13864019967962210442008-02-18T00:15:00.003Z2008-02-18T23:45:44.061Z

Just to warn you guys that there is a team of former bingo callers of the year (including myself) taking on the 'greatest quiz team in Britain' the Eggheads this coming Friday (22nd) at 6pm on BBC2. If you don't know what the programme is all about then take a look at the link below where a team of students won over £70,000!!!! I can't tell you how we did until after the show is aired! But my

COTY Brett Gala TVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120104242581157912noreply@blogger.com