Bingo winners

Winning the jackpot again, I decided to head to the Lakes! Carol Thorp, 67, Sheffield

Clicking off the TV, I grabbed a cup of tea and padded up to the computer in the bedroom that I shared with my partner Martin, 56.

Since signing up in 2011, I liked to poke my head into the bingo chatrooms and catch up with my friends.

I’d made lots online – and we’d chat about this and that.

Plonking my tea next to the keyboard, I logged into my account.

It was last

October, and

I spotted a new game called Dragon’s Luck Jackpot Slot. I thought I’d give it a whirl. I clicked the spin button and stared at the screen, watching the reels as Oriental coins and symbols spun around. This time, as they came to a juddering halt, my computer froze – talk about bad timing! I tapped my keyboard, eventually switching my old computer off and on again. The screen booted up, so I logged back in and my mouth fell open – I’d won a huge £5,811! As I jumped out of my seat, Martin jumped out of his, too. ‘I’ve won!’ I screeched. ‘What are you talking about?’ he asked, clearly confused.

‘I’ve won!’ I repeated, pointing at the screen. ‘That’s fantastic!’ he cried.

Almost exactly four years earlier, I’d been really surprised by scooping up £4,933 while playing 90-ball bingo in Sapphire.

Back then, we’d put the money towards revamping the living room, and had replaced our old leather sofas with two brand-new ones.

That night, we sat on those very sofas and talked about how to spend my latest win.

My scoop had come just before Christmas and, even though I’d done most of my shopping, the win gave me a bit of extra cash to share.

So, I added some more surprises under the tree.

I’d also had my eye on a new vacuum. My back had been hurting and I’d been thinking of upgrading to a lighter one.

So now, it would be the perfect treat for me.

‘How about an extra trip away as well?’ I suggested to Martin over dinner next day.

We had a trip planned to Jersey, and I was itching to slip in another few days away. ‘Where to?’ he asked. ‘How about the Lake District?’ I suggested. That evening, I scoured the web to find the perfect deal on a lovely hotel. My eyes flicked

I logged back in and my mouth fell open...

from picture to picture of quaint buildings nestled in vibrant green hills.

We hoped it would be the perfect getaway, and it was. We had a lovely time.

After we returned home,

I swapped our bulky computer for a sleek laptop. Now I can play in any room of the house!

My favourite games are the Double Bubble and Reel Deal Diner slot games. They’re so much fun, with classic slot symbols, and you can play from just 1p a spin.

It’s possible to enjoy the spins, stick within a budget and still have great entertainment.

You really don’t have to spend a lot of money, as any spin could be a win.

I’d definitely recommend giving Chat Mag Bingo a go!

It’s such a nice way to have a bit of ‘me time’ and to enjoy a few spins and join in all the friendly bingo banter in the chatroom.

There are so many games to choose from, and new ones to try.

I never would have guessed when

I joined that

I’d hit a big jackpot…not once, but twice!