Recent research has shown that playing bingo helps improve your brain skills. This is not the first study of its kind and companies such as Nintendo DS with their Brain Training game regularly advocate similar trials to support their products.

Tests involving both bingo and non bingo players showed that the bingo players had a much better mental speed, memory and ability to take account of information around them. The investigations were carried out by Julie Winstone as part of her PhD with the University of Southampton's Center for Visual Cognition. 112 people between 18 and 40 and an older group between 60 and 82 were involved in the research. Half of the people played bingo and half were not bingo players.

The study tested skills of the participants, which lead to the conclusion that those that played bingo were more accurate than those that didn't play the UK's favourite form of entertainment.

Spokesperson, Kevin Stacy of the  Rank Group, which operates the Mecca Bingo chain commented: people who play bingo get a great deal of interest and excitement. Playing bingo not only gives you chances of winning gigantic jackpots but it also helps you maintain your mental ability.