Gambling sectors

What operating licences do I need - bingo?


 

The following types of licence apply to bingo businesses. Please read the details below to see which licence you need:

Activities you undertake in relation to the above licences may bring with them other licensing requirements in relation to gaming machines or gambling software.

If you apply for one of these licences you can also apply for linked licences to help maintain your gaming machines and gambling software.

Non-remote bingo operating licence

This licence allows you to run bingo games on premises licensed by your local licensing authority. It also allows you to site up to eight gaming machines or 20% of the total machines, whichever is greatest. The gaming machines have to be in machine category B3 or B4, but not category B3A.

However, as this is a bingo licence the primary activity on your premises must be bingo games, to comply with your licence. Please see our Licence conditions and codes of practice - consolidated December 2011 for full details. Apply for an operating licence.

Remote bingo operating licence

This licence allows you to run online bingo games on a website, through mobile technology, interactive TV services or radio technology. You must apply to us for an operating licence if any part of the equipment you use to run your remote service is sited in Great Britain. Apply for an operating licence.

Ancillary remote

If you are applying for a non-remote bingo operating licence, but want to offer bingo by  remote means, such as linking live games to devices such as electronic bingo terminals, you can add an ancillary remote licence to your main licence type.

The Gambling Commission considers an activity to be ancillary to the specified licensed activity when an activity is only an additional or secondary activity to the specified licensed activity.

 

page reviewed: March 2012

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