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Bingo Premises Licence

Bingo is deemed to be "equal chance gaming". This is defined as gaming where:

  • it does not involve playing or staking against a bank;
  • the chances are equally favourable to all players.

It is immaterial how the bank is described or whether the bank is controlled or administered by a player. In order to provide bingo as a commercial venture, a Bingo Operating Licence is required from the Gambling Commission and a premises licence is required from the licensing authority.

Conditions may be attached:

  • limiting amounts that may be staked; 
  • limiting the amount that may be charged; 
  • limiting the amount or value of a prize or class of prize; 
  • requiring that at least a specified proportion of stakes be paid out by  way of prizes;
  • imposing requirements that are specific to games of bingo played  on more than one set of premises.

Bingo may be played in commercial Bingo Clubs where there should be no statutory limits on:

(a) stakes and prizes;
(b) frequency of multiple bingo games.

The Gambling Commission should approve any new games and rollovers would be permitted.

Clubs and Pubs

No authorisation is needed under the Gambling Act 2005 unless the bingo offered is "high turnover bingo".

High turnover bingo is defined as bingo where the total stakes and prizes in any 7 day period exceed £2,000. The "high turnover period" expires 12 months after the first day of the 7 day period that triggered the period to begin. Any subsequent high turnover period does not result in a new 12 month period beginning.

Equal Chance Gaming

In order to provide equal chance gaming all three types of club must comply with the following conditions: 

  1. Each player must be a person who is - A member of the club or institute who applied for membership , was nominated for membership, or became a member not less than 48 hours before participation; Is a guest of such a member of the club or institute.
  2. Gaming must satisfy the requirements in relation to limiting the amounts that - may be staked, or the amount or value of a prize.
  3. No amount may be deducted or levied from sums staked or won,
  4. Any participation fee must not exceed any maximum prescribed,
  5. Any game played on one set of premises must not be linked with a game played on another set of premises.

If the equal chance gaming is bingo and, during a seven-day period, the aggregate of stakes or prizes exceeds £2000 a period known as “the high turnover period” commences.  If during the following 12 months (starting with the start of the original seven day period) the aggregate of stakes or prizes again exceeds £2000 the exemption is lost and a bingo operators licence is required.

The club or institute must notify the Gambling Commission and failure to do so is an offence.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 18 August 2010 14:47

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