Bingo callers are given utmost importance as far as the game of Bingo is concerned. For some years now, Bingo players across UK have been voting every year to nominate their favorites as the national ‘caller of the year.’

This contest is conducted by the National Bingo Game Association (NGBA) which links more than 300 Bingo clubs across the nation annually. While regional caller awards are also given, the race is for the ‘national caller’ award.

Along with the coveted National Bingo Caller of the Year award, comes fame and fortune and opportunities to travel the world. Winners also get to call Bingo numbers at Las Vegas, the mecca of casinos.

For a Bingo caller, it is nothing less than a dream come true to win the award. In the words of Blake Robson, 2007 National Bingo caller of the Year, in the UK: “When they first announced me as the winner I was absolutely elated. Everything seemed to happen in a blur – I barely remember receiving the trophy. Within a few hours I was being interviewed on Radio Five Live, then the next morning I was a guest on BBC’s Breakfast programme.”

There are others who have also won the award. Brett Hyrjak, Karl Seth, Mandy Gargan, Mike Vyse, Peter Lewis, Alan Stockdale, Phil Groom, and Steve Linder – have all won this trophy in the past.

Alan Stockdale, one of the winners, became so excited that he called his job “the best job in the world” after winning the award.

With the Bingo industry growing at a fast pace, many Bingo clubs and sites have also started hosting in-house Bingo caller competitions. Michael Edwards won the award for Best Caller at the Gala Bingo Club in 2007. Last year when the NGBA failed to conduct the competition, Gala Club stepped in and Edwards was chosen as the Bingo Caller of the Year.

Wonder who would be the chosen one in 2009?