Bingo at a premises: prize gaming
The rules about playing bingo as prize gaming depend on the type of premises it is played in.
What you must do
You must make sure you only offer the type of gaming you're permitted to, as follows:
- Licensed bingo premises - any type of prize gaming
- Adult Gaming Centre (AGC) - any type of prize gaming
- Family Entertainment Centre (FEC) - any type of prize gaming
- Unlicensed Family Entertainment Centre (UFEC) - can only offer equal chance prize gaming (under their gaming machine permit)
- Travelling fairs - can only offer equal chance prize gaming, which must be ancillary (additional) to other amusements at the fair.
Time restrictions
For the following, the game of bingo must take place over one day only:
- prize gaming permit holders
- Adult Gaming Centre (AGC)
- Family Entertainment Centre (FEC)
- travelling fairs.
These restrictions do not apply to licensed bingo premises.
In Adult Gaming Centres, licensed and unlicensed family entertainment centres and travelling fairs, you must also make sure that:
- all chances to play are allocated or acquired on the premises where the gambling is taking place and on one day
- the game must be played and completed on the day the chances are allocated
- the result of the game must be made public in the premises on the day the game is played.
Additional rules
You must also follow additional rules - including keeping to the maximum prize limits. These depend on the type of premises, as follows.
What you can't do
You can't:
- base the value of the prizes on the number of people playing, or the amount raised by the game
- play the bingo virtually, or online in any way.
Additional rules
You must also adhere to the following rules, including prize limits and maximum participation fees, which vary depending on the type of premises.
Licensed bingo premises
The rules
The maximum participation fee you can charge people is ￡1 per chance to win 1 or more prizes in a game.
The maximum aggregate participation fees per game are ￡500.
The maximum single prize limit is ￡70 cash or in prize value (if under 18s are allowed on the premises). Or, the maximum prize limit is ￡100 (if under 18s are not allowed on the premises).
The maximum aggregate prize fund (cash or in prize value) per game is ￡500.
Under 18s cannot take part in prize gaming at a bingo hall.
Adult Gaming Centre (AGC)
For example, AGCs offer games which include slots, casino-style games and fruit machines. AGCs must have a Gambling Commission licence.
The rules
The maximum participation fee is ￡1 per chance to win 1 or more prizes in a game.
The maximum aggregate participation fees per game are ￡500.
The maximum single prize limit is ￡70 cash or in prize value.
The maximum aggregate prize fund (cash or in prize value) per game is ￡500.
Under 18s cannot take part in this kind of gaming at an AGC.
Family Entertainment Centre (FEC)
They're allowed to provide an unlimited number of certain types of gaming machine in a premise which is open to all ages. FECs must have a Gambling Commission licence.
The rules
The maximum participation fee is ￡1 per chance to win 1 or more prizes in a game.
The maximum aggregate participation fees per game are ￡500.
The maximum single prize limit is ￡70 cash or in prize value.
The maximum aggregate prize fund (cash or in prize value) per game is ￡500.
Unlicensed Family Entertainment Centre (UFEC)
Unlicensed FECs must have a permit from the local licensing authority.
The rules
The maximum participation fee is ￡1 per chance to win 1 or more prizes in a game.
The maximum aggregate participation fees per game are ￡500.
The maximum single prize limit is ￡70 cash or in prize value.
The maximum aggregate prize fund (cash or in prize value) per game is ￡500.
Travelling fairs
The rules
At a travelling fair, the bingo must be an ancillary (additional) amusement at the fair. For example, a travelling fair could offer bingo as well as their main attractions of fairground rides.
The maximum participation fee is ￡1 per chance to win 1 or more prizes in a game.
The maximum aggregate participation fees per game are ￡500.
The maximum single prize limit is ￡70 cash or in prize value.
The maximum aggregate prize fund (cash or in prize value) per game is ￡500.
Under 18s can take part in this kind of gaming at a travelling fair.
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Last updated: 29 April 2024
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