Bingo players in the Portuguese resort of Albufeira were questioned by police for four hours after breaking the strict gambling laws that saw biscuits and chocolate as prizes.
The game took place in an English pub called The Yorkshire Tavern, and while you may have assumed it was a game for the more elderly folk, the age profile of the 30 customers arrested ranged from 23 – 73. Even those not playing were taken in for “observing a crime”.
The gambling laws state that organisers have to apply for a one-off government licence to host such events and the pub is facing a fine of potentially £8,500 for the game where the prizes included biscuits and chocolate prizes.
“I thought bingo was only illegal if cash prizes were being handed out. We were just giving away a few little prizes for fun,” landlady Marianne Pittaway said in The Sun.
“We took about 50 euros from customers to cover the cost of prizes. We didn’t make any profit.”
The customers were taken to a police station on a mini-bus while officers took the remaining prizes, the bingo machine, cards and pens plus a microphone and speakers, as evidence.
We couldn’t think of a more pitiful way of getting arrested.
Hat-tip to Marty Blee for sending this our way on Facebook.
