Increased prize gaming limits mean new licences for bingo operators

Press release

Date: 15 March 2010

The Gambling Commission (the Commission) is this week issuing new licences to 225 licensed bingo operators after Parliament approved a Department for Culture Media and Sport proposal to increase prize gaming limits in bingo clubs.

Individual licences need to be updated to reflect the new limits and will be posted to all non-remote bingo licence holders this week, who are being asked to return their previous licence as soon as possible.

The changes, which took effect on 11 March, mean that the maximum participation fee for any one chance to win a prize in a particular game is increased from 50 pence to £1. In addition, where a prize for which a game is played is money, the maximum amount of the prize is increased from £50 to £100 in cases where no persons under 18 years of age are permitted on the premises at any time when the game is being played; and from £35 to £70 in all other cases.

Ends

Notes to editors

The Gambling Commission

  1. 1. The Gambling Commission (the Commission) regulates gambling in the public interest. It does so by keeping crime out of gambling, by ensuring that gambling is conducted fairly and openly, and by protecting children and vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling. The Commission also provides independent advice to government on gambling in Britain.
  2. 2. The Commission is responsible for licensing and regulating all gambling in Great Britain other than the National Lottery and spread betting, which are the responsibility of the National Lottery Commission and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) respectively.  

Further information

  1. You can call John Travers on (0121) 230 6700, (07852) 124624 or email him via communications@gamblingcommission.gov.uk.