Gala Bingo players who believed they had won a share of £1.6 million were left devastated after the company announced the winnings were the result of a technical error.
Several players received notifications saying they had won an online bingo game, with some able to withdraw the money before being told the winnings did not exist.
Emma Wills, a 34-year-old mother of three from London, was mistakenly credited £920. She told Sky News: 'I was shocked, I was thinking, 'Oh my gosh, I can take the kids out somewhere nice while they're with me for the holidays, I can pay off a few of my debts, and I can give money for a car,' and obviously that quickly went out the window.'
Technician Adam Wall, 45, from north Wales, thought he had won £7,200 and began planning his wedding. The affected players were taking part in the Summer Nights Bingo promotion, which normally costs 1p a ticket with a maximum prize pot of £150. However, the error inflated the prize pot, crediting players with a share of more than £1.6 million over two hours.
More than 170 people have joined the Facebook group 'Justice for Gala Victims' to share their experiences. Some players have complained to Gala Bingo and received £20 in compensation. A Gala Bingo spokesperson said: 'We apologise to customers for a technical error... Our customer terms and conditions clearly state that in the event of a malfunction, winnings can be voided. Affected players have been contacted directly with a gesture of goodwill.'
