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Bingo has been played for a really long time in a lot of different forms. Every week you can find hundreds of thousands of players in bingo halls hunched over their cards and hunting for called numbers before someone else steals their bingo. It’s a lot of fun to play bingo, and while we do prefer the online form, obviously, there is an appeal to playing it in person.

But one bingo hall wants to take the popularity of playing online bingo to a whole new level. Call it a marketing stunt if you want, but Mecca Bingo, a big hall in the UK, has launched a campaign to make bingo an Olympic sport. Yes, you read that right.

And if you don’t believe us, believe the video!

Lesly Clifford at Mecca Bingo said: “Successful bingo playing requires a steady hand, intense concentration and mental agility; three attributes that most athletes are keen to possess and that our members have by the bucketload.”

“All of the factors which make for a great game of bingo are evident within the criteria set by the committee and we are proud to launch this campaign today.”

They hope to get bingo declared an Olympic sport for the 2020 Summer Games.

We don’t know if they have a shot, but just in case, may we recommend getting your training started at BingoMania? Our halls have different levels of difficulty. Many players play bingo for the social aspects so they let our software handle finding the numbers and calling Bingo. But those features can be easily turned off to build up your number finding skills.

When your skills get better, print off some random bingo cards off the net and turn the autoplay back on, then try finding the numbers with a dauber. Go for time and find the best routes to move the pen across the cards so you can beat your opponents. If the IOC announces official card taping rules to keep them from sliding, you’ll want to start doing that as well.

As your speed gets better, you may need to start playing speed bingo. We think this is the best game for an Olympic-level event. The numbers are called pretty rapidly, requiring players to think fast on their feet and move the pen efficiently. If you can start consistently hitting the numbers in a good speed bingo game, you just might be ready to try out for the national team!

If the IOC accepts the bid, of course.

Your turn, do you think Bingo Should be an Olympic Sport?

1. Share, Like, Google+ or Tweet this post
2. Let us know in the comment box below if you think bingo should be part of the Olympics?
3. and on Monday, April 25th 8pm ET, we will randomly select 10 players and award you $10 free cash.

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It might not be bingo, but Game of Thrones is swiftly becoming one of the favorite guilty pleasures of the people of North America and is one of the hottest water cooler topics at the Bingo Mania office.

So, why exactly has this fantasy-themed TV show got us (and much of the rest of the world) in such a fluster? Well, imagine the anticipation of playing for the biggest Full House prize you can think of, only to fall at the final hurdle with 1TG, but then winning another amazing prize unexpectedly, just an hour later… This comparison goes some way towards describing the highs and lows of the emotions that this smash hit show causes among its fan base each week.

If you’ve been missing out on watching the series unfold due to lack of time, or just because you think fantasy-based dramas such as Lord of the Rings are the most boring things you can imagine, we urge you to think again. We know plenty of people who never expected to like the show end up raving about how great it is, and it’s currently ranked as the second-most popular TV broadcast in North America, which has to say something about how addictive it is…

So, without giving away too many spoilers, here’s some interesting background information, along with some fascinating facts and figures about one of the most popular TV shows of all time.

Where did the show come from?

Game of Thrones came about as a direct result of a series of fantasy novels written by American novelist and short-story writer, George R. R. Martin. The debut book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series is called Game of Thrones, which is where the TV show took its name from, and it was first published back in 1996. George has written seven books in the series so far (Book 2: A Clash of Kings; Book 3: A Storm of Swords 1 – Steel and Snow; Book 4: A Storm of Swords 2 – Blood and Gold; Book 5: A Feast for Crows; Book 6: A Dance with Dragons – Dreams and Dust; and Book 7: A Dance with Dragons – After the Feast), and it’s said that he plans to write eight novels in total.

D. B. Weiss and David Benioff came up with the idea of adapting the fantasy series in 2006 after reading the first book, and managed to quickly convince both HBO and George R. R. Martin to help them make their dream a reality. Development began in early 2007 once HBO had acquired the TV rights to the books, upon which D. B. Weiss and David Benioff were commissioned to write and executive produce the series.

Cinematography

One of the most talked-about things of this hit TV series is the amazing cinematography. While some of the locations featured are created using CGI (Computer Generated Imagery), others are very much real-life locations. For example, the wedding scene for the Dothraki wedding, where Daenerys Targaryen weds Khal Drogo, was shot at the Azure Window in Malta. Many locations in North Ireland have also been used throughout the series, with Castle Ward and Doune Castle being used for some of the Winterfell scenes, Magheramorne Quarry standing in for Castle Black, and Sandy Brae being used for Vaes Dothrak. Later on, the cast got to travel to more exotic locations such as Morocco and Croatia, where some of the scenes requiring sunny climates were filmed.

Money

With such a huge cast and crew, plus significant travel costs to shoot all over the world, it’s fair to say that Game of Thrones is possibly the most expensive television series ever commissioned. Many sources say that each episode costs an average of $5,000,000 to make, which comes to an eye-watering total of $50 to $60m for a whole series.

Characters

The show is said to employ the largest cast on TV, with no less than 257 actors’ names (not including extras) being recorded by the time the third series was broadcast. Understandably, therefore, it can sometimes be a little hard to keep up with who’s who. The main families in the show are The Starks (Ned, Catelyn, Sansa, Arya, Robb, Bran, Rickon), The Lannisters (Cersei, Jaime, Tyrion, Tywin, and Joffrey), the Greyjoys (Theon, Balon, and Asha), and the Targaryens (Daenerys and Viserys).

Nationalities of the Cast

One of the wonderful things about actors and actresses is their ability to put on convincing accents, and this is proven brilliantly in Game of Thrones. Some of the characters who speak with English-sounding actors are, in fact, American, such as Peter Dinklage (who plays “The Imp”, Tyrion Lannister), while Aidan Gillen (who plays Lord Baelish), Jack Gleeson (who plays Joffrey), and Michelle Fairley (who plays Caitlyn Stark) are all Irish. Mellisandre (played by Carice Van Houten) is Dutch, and Tyrion’s secret lover, Shae, is played by German actress Sibel Kekilli.

5 fun facts about the show

1. Alfie Allen, who plays Theon Greyjoy, is UK singer, Lily Allen’s brother. She even sang a song about him in 2006, which included the lyrics, “My little brother’s in his bedroom smoking weed”.
2. Flame-haired Sansa Stark is really a blonde; well, the actress who plays her is at least.
3. Jack Gleeson, who plays the tyrannical Joffrey, starred in the hit movie Batman Begins.
4. Michelle Fairley, who plays Catelyn Stark, appeared in the Harry Potter movies as Hermione’s mom.
5. Natalia Tena, whose character is the wildling called Osha, is the lead singer of a band called Molotov Jukebox. She also plays the accordion!

Summary

The last episode of Season 4 of Game of Thrones aired on HBO East at 9pm (ET) on Sunday 15th June 2014, but all’s not lost, as you can catch up with many of the previous series via HBO’s On Demand service or buy purchasing the DVDs. Just imagine if you’d never tried a game of bingo, you’d be kicking yourself; so, give Game of Thrones a try and see why millions of Americans think it’s one of the best TV shows ever!

You’re Turn

What’s been your favorite twist from the past four seasons? Share below & win 1 of 10 free $10 cash prizes.

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Since the invention of the Internet, site owners and programmers have devised countless ways for people to have fun and enjoy themselves by playing online games.
One of the best ways to keep gaming online fun and help you socialize while self-isolating is to be gracious whether you win or lose. Following the rules, being respectful, and being polite and helpful to fellow players can make the entire room you’re playing in light up every time you sign on.

• Follow the Promotions

One of the best ways to increase your fun playing bingo online is by following the promotions on Bingo Mania. Such bonuses equate to free money just to play games on the site! Be sure to check out the latest Bingo Mania promotions. Since 1996, BingoMania has offered some of the most lucrative payouts with no bonus wager rule requirements.

• Consider Playing in a Tournament 

Tournament play on BingoMania can offer a sure-fire way to increase the level of fun and enjoyment for online gaming. Any day of the week, whether you play online poker, bingo, slots, or any of the other casino games, on any given night of the week, there are tournaments going on. Playing in a tournament can bring you even more fun because you have a chance of winning bigger cash prizes!

• Getting More Cash the Easy Way

Some of the great ways to get cash right from the start are just by signing up! BingoMania offers $100 free just for signing up and depositing $20 in your account! You can also get an additional $100 for your second deposit as well as $30 just for trying various games. 
Progressive bonuses and jackpots can also increase your fun and chances of winning real money through experience or XP points. These XP points can help to unlock even more cash bonuses.

• Join in a Bingo Chat

Outside playing games online, there’s even more fun to be had by chatting while you play. Playing games both online and off are social pastimes. Many players at BingoMania find they have even more fun when they can chat up friends and family when they’re playing bingo online from the comfort of their own home. Another nice thing about chatting online at BingoMania in chat games. Chat games that offer additional fun and excitement while you’re conversing with friends and playing bingo or other casino games on the site. Keeping it Fun

Playing on BingoMania is meant to be fun. In order to keep it that way, it’s good to keep your limits in mind. Always keep in mind the amount of money you can spend on any given session. By being responsible, you can keep your online gaming both exciting and enjoyable. BingoMania believes in assisting in keeping it fun by incorporating controls that allow players to set spending allowances for each day or even a whole month.

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There are about as many different reasons as to why someone frequents their local bingo parlor as there are players. Believe it or not, one of the reasons why many go out to the bingo hall is the food. It’s more than just frozen pizza, hotdogs, burgers, and soft pretzels. Some bingo halls boast some pretty wonderful fare for players to enjoy. Along with homemade Made-Rites and nachos dripping with cheddar cheese sauce are dessert treats such as fudge with ice cream and angel food cake smothered with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. 

Even if you are playing most of the time, there is absolutely no reason why you can’t bring those concession stand favorites home. You can recreate some of these special dishes at home and have the joy of being in the place you are most comfortable. Find out some ideas for some super easy and delicious snack foods.

• Maid-Rite Sandwiches

In the American Midwest, many consider the loose meat sandwich commonly known as the Maid-Rite to be standard bingo hall concession stand fare. Every bingo hall, from non-profits such as the city’s Catholic Churches and Emerald Knights Drum and Bugle Corps to the Meskwaki Casino, located a short drive away, serves Maid-Rite sandwiches in that part of the country. This simple sandwich gets its name from the Maid-Rite Restaurant established in 1926 in Marion, Iowa. Unlike the sloppy joe, the beef that makes up this tasty concession treat is slow-cooked to perfection in a slow cooker or Crock-Pot.

• 1 cup of warm water
• 1.2 cup beef or chicken stock
• 1 small onion
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
• 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire or steak sauce

Add approximately 3-4 pounds of uncooked, lean ground beef.

Place in a crock pot and set the temperature on high for approximately 1 hour. Break apart chunks of beef during cooking until it reaches a fine, uniform texture. Switch temperature to low and continue to cook for an additional 2-3 hours or until most of the liquid has been cooked off. Stir occasionally. Serve on hamburger buns and embellish with cheese, ketchup, mustard, pickles, and onions to suit your taste. 

• Fabulous Funnel Cakes

Another tasty concession treats to enjoy while playing online bingo at home are funnel cakes. These tasty treats originally created by the Amish are the perfect snack not only at state fairs, carnivals and fundraisers, but are considered the perfect snack by many bingo players as well. The recipe is one of those that have been published over and over again with some slight variations. 

Here is a basic funnel cake recipe for you to try at home. This particular recipe will yield approximately 8 funnel cakes.

• 2 eggs 
• 1 cup milk 
• 1 cup water 
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 
• 3 cups all-purpose flour 
• 1/4 cup sugar 
• 3 tsp. baking powder 
• 1/4 tsp. salt 
• Vegetable Oil or Vegetable Shortening melted to fry funnel cakes

Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine milk, water and vanilla with a wire whisk.

In a deep cast-iron skillet, Dutch oven, an electric skillet or fryer, heat the oil to 375°. Using your finger, cover the spout of a funnel. Pour or ladle approximately ½ cup of the batter into the funnel. Let the funnel drain into the pan with hot oil, moving it in a spiral or lattice pattern until all of the batters is released into the oil. 

Fry for 2-3 minutes until the cake is golden brown. Remove from the oil and let the cakes drain on paper toweling or a brown paper bag. Dust with confectioner’s sugar, cinnamon and sugar, honey, maple syrup or other favorite topping and enjoy!

• Nachos

Nachos are probably one of the easiest yet most popular foods at the bingo parlor. You can make them with just corn or flour tortilla chips and cheese sauce or go for a half dozen elements added on top for an easy meal.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Spread corn chips or tortilla chips over a baking sheet and place in the oven to warm them. After about 3-5 minutes add shredded cheese. Let warm until the cheese is soft and just at the melting point. Remove from the oven, top with ground beef, sour cream, guacamole, black olives, jalapeno peppers or any other topping you like.

Try whipping up one of these before your next big round of online bingo play. Just don’t get your touchscreen or mouse too greasy!