I came across a new twist of bingo last week, which seems to be catching on in these recession-hit times. At a number of land based live Bingo Halls, they are running a "Bring and Bingo" game during the evening. What this entails is people bringing quality goods (and services) to their local Bingo Hall in exchange for a Bingo cards. Each item brought is assessed for its likely desirability among the players and exchanged for one or more Bingo cards for the Bring and Bingo session. Often people are bringing items that might grace a local Antiques Road Show, or a superior car boot sale. Depending on how many cards are exchanged the goods are then put into categories, low medium and high. People can then inspect the goods available in each category, and decide how many Bingo cards they wish to buy. The low value goods are for one line, two lines get you a medium category, while a full house gets you the high. Upon winning you get to choose which good in that category you wish to claim as winnings.

By all accounts this has proved to be a success, being able to turn unwanted gifts, bric-a-brac or other items, into Bingo cards, and to have the opportunity to play for non-cash, but desirable prizes.

Interestingly the most sought after items are not goods, but services. Here those with a trade, skill or bent offer their services in return for Bingo cards. These services have so far ranged from a portrait in charcoal of you or your pet, having all your windows cleaned inside and out, four hours of gardening from a qualified gardener, or 30 quid's worth of free taxi rides! I spoke to one of the organisers, and he said he too was a little surprised that this had taken off. While cash was always going to be more desirable, the goods and services Bingo games had aroused a lot of attention and interest, bringing people out to play who might otherwise have stayed in to save money. Also it's giving an opportunity for those professionals who are having difficulty keeping their order books full, to keep working, and keep playing Bingo!

I wonder if it will catch on across the country?!

Be at Bingo lucky folks!