Gambling Policy

This licensing authority notes that the Gambling Commission's Guidance states:

"18.5 Licensing authorities need to satisfy themselves that bingo can be played in any bingo premises for which they issue a premises licence. An operator may choose to vary their licence to exclude a previously licensed area of that premises, and then apply for a new premises licence, or multiple new premises licences, with the aim of creating separate premises in that area. Essentially providing multiple licensed premises within a single building or site. Before issuing additional bingo premises licences, licensing authorities need to consider whether bingo can be played at each of those new premises."

This authority also notes that from 13 July 2011 a holder of a bingo premises licence may make available for use a number of category B gaming machines not exceeding 20% of the total number of gaming machines which are available for use on the premises. A licence variation must be applied for if operators wish to take advantage of the change to the legislation.

"18.7 Children and young people are allowed into bingo premises; however they are not permitted to participate in the bingo and if category B or C machines are made available for use these must be separated from areas where children and young people are allowed. Social Responsibility (SR) code 3.2.5(3) states that 'licensees must ensure that their policies and procedures take account of the structure and layout of their gambling premises' in order to prevent underage gambling."

Bingo in clubs and alcohol licensed premises

Bingo is a class of equal chance gaming permitted on alcohol-licensed premises, and in clubs and miners welfare institutes, under the allowances for exempt gaming in Part 12 of the Act. There are regulations setting controls on this form of gaming, to ensure that it remains low stakes and prizes activity. Where the level of bingo played in these premises reaches a certain threshold, it will no longer be authorised by these rules and a bingo operating licence will have to be obtained from the Commission for future bingo games. The aim of these provisions is to prevent bingo becoming a predominant commercial activity on such non-gambling premises.

The threshold is that if bingo played during any seven-day period exceeds £2,000 (either money taken or prizes awarded), all further games of bingo played on those premises in the next 12 months will require an operating licence to be legal. The Gambling Commission has developed a statutory code of practice, The Code of Practice for gaming in clubs and premises with an alcohol licence, which is available on its website.