AN investigation has been launched at a Glasgow bingo hall after tens of thousands of pounds of prize money could not be accounted for.
Police are probing claims of "financial irregularities" at the Possilpark branch of Gala Bingo.
The venue, in Hawthorn Street, is run by the Gala Coral Group and is one of five owned by the company across the city.
The Evening Times understands the reports relate to about £80,000 of unclaimed prize money that now cannot be found.
Gala Bingo is assisting with the investigation.
Sessions in the hall take place seven days a week and range in price from £5, on a Monday morning, to £15 on weekend evenings.
Customers of the branch are shocked at the claims.
After one afternoon session earlier this week a 78-year-old woman, who goes to the hall with her friends, but asked not to be named, said: "We put trust in everyone there.
"I go once a week but have been going for years and you see the same faces all the time.
"This report does put me off from going, but this is a big part of my week."
An 81-year-old woman, who visits the bingo venue regularly, said: "We heard rumours about this. It would be terrible if it turned out to be true."
Another customer who also asked not be named said: "I have been coming for years and years and have never heard anything like this."
A 56-year-old man in nearby Balmore Road said the bingo hall was a large part of the community.
He added: "Everyone knows someone who goes. It's definitely well used here.
"People travel from all over Glasgow to go to it because it is easy to get to on the bus."
A police spokeswoman said an investigation had been launched recently.
She said: "Inquiries are continuing into a report of financial irregularities at the bingo hall in Hawthorn Street."
Gala Coral Group Ltd is a betting shop, bingo and casino operator owned by a shareholder group led by Apollo, Cerberus, Park Square and York Capital Management.
Gala Bingo is the leading operator in the UK Bingo sector, with a market share of around 45%.
A spokeswoman for Gala Bingo said: "We are working with the police to assist them with their investigations.
"It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time."
rachel.loxton@ eveningtimes.co.uk
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