Bingo premises must primarily offer bingo

Press release

Date: 19 April 2011

The Gambling Commission (the Commission) has today reminded licensed operators that licensed bingo premises must offer bingo as the primary gambling activity in line with the Commission’s Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP).

The Commission is monitoring closely a number of former arcade businesses, who appear to be offering gaming machines as the primary gambling activity on bingo premises. Earlier this year the Commission issued a similar reminder with regard to betting premises.

The Gambling Commission’s Director of Strategy, Research and Analysis Matthew Hill said:

“You cannot expect to use a bingo licence to run a business that isn’t bingo just to take advantage of the gaming machines entitlement.

“Operators of bingo premises should ensure that sufficient provision is made to ensure the primary gambling activity is bingo.”

The Commission has said that bingo premises where bingo is not the primary gambling activity are likely to attract further regulatory attention.

Ends

Notes to editors

The Gambling Commission

  1. 1. The Gambling Commission (the Commission) regulates gambling in the public interest alongside its co-regulators local licensing authorities. 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 and local licensing authorities are 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.
  3. 3. See the Terms & Conditions section of our website for information on legal advice.  
  4. 4. Guidance to licensing authorities - May 2009 and Licence conditions and codes of practice - consolidated December 2011 are available on the Gambling Commission website. 

Further information

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