P322 Teletext 322 Aug22 17:01:00 BINGO CALLERS ——————————————————————————————————————— Movers and shakers from Britain's bingo halls are gearing up for a battle to win the most coveted title in the industry — Bingo Caller of the Year. Bingo was played by the Romans but it was officially recorded as a game for children under the name of "Lotto" in 1778. It was given its present name in 1930 when it was patented by the American Edwin Lowe. ——————————————————————————————————1/6—— News in Focus 320 National Lottery 123 ALL THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS p400 ITV Next News Poll Letters In FocusP322 Teletext 322 Aug22 17:44:42 BINGO CALLERS ——————————————————————————————————————— Bingo halls up and down the country are staging heats for the industry's most prized title, Bingo Caller of the Year. Bingo was the only gambling game permitted in the armed forces and has a long history with the navy. Its popularity grew rapidly in the 1960's, but then the Government introduced restrictions through the 1968 Gaming Act which led to the setting up of the Gaming Board. ——————————————————————————————————2/6—— News in Focus 320 National Lottery 123 OUR WEB SITE — www.teletext.co.uk Next News Poll Letters In FocusP322 Teletext 322 Aug22 17:44:17 BINGO CALLERS ——————————————————————————————————————— The search to find Britain's Bingo Caller of the Year is to get under way in bingo halls up and down the country. After years of heady growth, the industry fell into decline and by 1990 the number of licensed bingo clubs was at an all time low. The game was dealt a serious blow by the National Lottery but it responded by transforming itself and drawing in a new generation of players. ——————————————————————————————————3/6—— News in Focus 320 National Lottery 123 TONIGHT'S TV ON ONE PAGE p121 Next News Poll Letters In FocusP322 Teletext 322 Aug22 18:02:41 BINGO CALLERS ——————————————————————————————————————— The bingo industry is searching for this year's Bingo Caller of the Year. Many of the old bingo clubs were in converted cinemas, but in the 1990's higher prize money and better facilities were introduced on purpose built sites. The game has undjrgonj a renaissance in the last three years, with more than three million people now playing regularly. ——————————————————————————————————4/6—— News in Focus 320 National Lottery 123 OUR WEB SITE — www.teletext.co.uk Next News Poll Letters In FocusP322 Teletext 322 Aug22 18:04:01 BINGO CALLERS ——————————————————————————————————————— The battle to win the most coveted title in the bingo industry — Bingo Caller of the Year — is to begin. Statistics show that despite the game being regarded as a pastime for old people, more than a third of those playing regularly are now undjt 35. In the 60s and 70s the numbers were printed on ping pong balls which were blown randomly through a plastic tube and announced by a caller. ——————————————————————————————————5/6—— News in Focus 320 National Lottery 123 GET AWAY FROM IT ALL! HOLIDAYS p200 Next News Poll Letters In FocusP322 Teletext 322 Aug22 18:44:33 BINGO CALLERS ——————————————————————————————————————— The search to find Britain's Bingo Caller of the year is under way. Numbers were traditionally announced using catch phrases like "two little ducks", but clubs now use computers. A study in 1993 showed that bingo was as effective in prolonging life among the elderly as physical exercise. The average National winner plays for 14 years before netting the "big" one. ——————————————————————————————————6/6—— News in Focus 320 National Lottery 123 TELETEXT NATIONAL AND REGIONAL NEWS PAGES ALL AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE Next News Poll Letters In Focus