Key Points
- Regulations on non-compliant gaming machines will be tightened
- These regulations will impact the bingo industry
- The Gambling Commission’s Sarah Gardner addressed the Bingo Association
The Gambling Commission is planning to tighten regulations on non-compliant gaming machines, with £26 million of funding over the next three years in part going towards this effort, as the British regulator attempts to continue dialogue with the Bingo Association.
Speaking at the Bingo Association’s annual general meeting, the Commission’s Acting Chief Executive Sarah Gardner announced that from July 29, non-remote operators will be required to remove gaming machines if informed by the Commission that they are lacking the required technical operating license or fail to meet technical standards.
Not holding each other back
When addressing the importance of having a positive relationship with the bingo industry, Gardner said: “Working together, rather than retreating to the entrenchments, means we can build a shared understanding instead of creating mistrust. We can look to make progress instead of holding each other back.
“At the Commission I and my team value the way the bingo sector and the Bingo Association work with us. We want to keep that going and we look forward to continuing to work with all of you through the year ahead.”
The Commission has been working with the bingo industry, with a particular view to improving understanding of important bingo industry data. Operators had previously questioned the accuracy of industry data presented in the Gambling Survey for Great Britain, which is generally known for showing problem gambling rates. As a result, the Commission introduced a new survey question to ascertain where bingo is played.
The results showed 3% of respondents had played bingo at a venue in the previous four weeks, in a period covering April to July 2025. This was higher than the Bingo Association’s estimation of 1% based on premises admissions.
According to the Commission’s industry statistics, non-remote bingo generated gross gambling yield (GGY) of £650.4 million for April 2024 to March 2025, up from £628 million the previous year; gaming machines contributed £424 million of this total, with the rest being contributed by bingo games. Remote bingo generated £165.6 million, down slightly from £167.3 million.
Change at the Bingo Association
Gardner also paid tribute to outgoing Bingo Association CEO Miles Baron, and welcomed his replacement Nicole Garrett, stating: “Today, I wanted to put on record the thanks of myself and the Gambling Commission for Miles’ contribution over the years: how he has worked with us in a spirit of collaboration and for the tireless efforts he has made in representing the bingo sector.
“And because in gambling you can never stand still, I also want to say that we’re looking forward to working with Nicole as incoming Chief Exec as well, and continuing to build that collaborative relationship as we go forwards.”
Baron had been leading the Bingo Association since 2012, having previously been Sales & Marketing Director for Mecca Bingo. Garrett steps into the position with extensive gambling industry experience, having previously worked in senior management positions for industry trade body the Betting and Gaming Council, Bet365, and former National Lottery operator Allwyn.
Bingo duty scrapped
Bingo was recently spared from increased taxation in the UK. From the start of April, remote gaming duty, paid on online casino bets, went up from 21% of GGY to 40%. In addition, general betting duty, paid on online sports bets, will be raised from 15% of GGY to 25% in April 2027, with the exception of bets on horseracing. However, bingo duty was scrapped last month, as part of the changes mentioned in the November Budget.
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