Rankin Inlet radio bingo mishap results in online uproar

Proof of how seriously Northerners take their bingo became apparent Sunday in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, after a $10,000 radio bingo game ended without a valid winner.

On Saturday night a listener thought she had bingo. She called in and the game ended. Later it turned out she didn't actually have bingo; she had misheard a number.

The next morning, organizers went on The Rankin Inlet News Facebook page and asked players to find and keep their bingo cards until they decided how to proceed.

This resulted in a string of more than 137 comments — players demanding refunds, players lamenting ripped-up or burned bingo cards, players claiming wins on the next number that was to be called, players lobbying for a restart, players calling for changes to the way bingos are run and one person asking everyone to "please calm down."

Ultimately, five people shared the jackpot after organizers decided to go with winners from the next number to be called in the game: G55.

The hamlet administers all the lottery licences in the community, and the senior administrative officer said council is satisfied with the outcome.

"We believe that we've done the right thing and the right people were awarded the jackpot," said SAO Justin Merritt.