On 15th October 2025 the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) issued a consultation paper on licensing for bingo premises. The consultation closes on 30th January 2026 and businesses wishing to respond have until that date to provide their views to the DCMS. If you’re working in or near bingo, this one’s for you, says Nick Arron, lead solicitor for licensing law firm Poppleston Allen.
Bingo venues
The government refer to bingo venues varying significantly from traditional bingo clubs such as those operated by Mecca, Buzz and Club 3000 to bingo in holiday parks, working men’s clubs, and smaller bingo venues on our high streets which tend to be predominantly gaming machine led venues but that wish also to offer a bingo product.
The DCMS explained that they are consulting on changing to bingo licensing because changes in the bingo sector, with increasing numbers of high street gaming venues, mean that the distinction between some licensed bingo premises and the adult gaming centres is unclear to many customers, although no evidence is provided to support this statement. The government believes that it is important that consumers have clear expectations about types of licensed premises and for there to be a clear distinction between them.
Currently the principal distinction in the Gambling Act 2005 (the Act) between the two venues is that a bingo licensed venue can provide both bingo and gaming machines whereas an adult gaming centre can only provide gaming machines. Bingo licensed venues can allow the consumption of alcohol, whereas adult gaming centres cannot. Other than these differences they are largely regulated in similar ways under the Act, for instance in relation to the numbers of category B gaming machines permitted.
The government says that a clear delineation between the types of licensed gambling premises is important to ensure that gambling licensing system and regularly framework are fit for purpose.
The consultation also looks at the varied ways in which bingo is provided with the government stating in the consultation documents that it “…wants to ensure that all land-based gambling premises have a licence type that is appropriate to the offering in their premises”.
The consultation documents set out a number of proposals including:
•Mandatory ‘bingo areas’ which require a minimum proportion of floor space in a venue being dedicated to providing facilities for bingo. Three options are suggested regarding the percentage of floor space in a licensed bingo premises to be designated a continuous bingo area, either 30 percent, 40 percent, or 50 percent.
• Restrictions on machine types within licensed bingo areas, specifically a proposal to ban cabinet and infill style machines from being placed within a bingo licensed area, with a minimum distance between gaming machines and the ‘bingo area’ of between 0.5m and 2m.
• Minimum number of bingo only positions to ensure genuine bingo activity is taking place and is accessible, numbering 30 to 40, or with spatial restrictions.
• Many venues that do not fit the traditional bingo club model may struggle to adhere to some of the proposals, particularly on dedicated bingo floor space
Transitional Arrangements
The consultation recognises that, should the proposals go ahead, some operators may want to keep their business model as machine-led and as such a conversion of bingo premises licences to adult gaming centre premises licences is considered. The consultation advises that an operator would need to check their operating licence and add ‘Gaming machine general: adult gaming centre operating licence’ as a new activity if this activity type was not already held.
The conversion of a bingo premises licence to an adult gaming centre premises licence would require a variation of the premises licence to be submitted. This will be of concern to those operators whose venues do not fit the criteria, as there is considerable cost and risk in applying for a variation to adult gaming centre, particularly in this current climate of local authorities seeking to limit gambling on their high streets. Conditions could be added, and even applications refused.
Then what?
On transitional arrangements the government does not appear to have balanced the rights of those operators who do not fit the criteria. They are proposing to prevent them from enjoying bingo, which has been lawfully granted, and require them to run the gauntlet and cost of applying to local authorities for adult gaming.
The government is also considering transitional arrangements, with how these will function and timescales being informed by evidence it gathers during the consultation period. Proposals include a phased implementation period allowing operators to adapt their premises and/or business models and guidance and support from the Gambling Commission to help with compliance.
Consideration is also being given to enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with any new requirements.
How to respond
You can take a look at the consultation documents and the online portal to respond to the consultation:
Stakeholders, industry representatives, and member of the public are invited to respond via the online portal or via email gamblingactreview@dcms.gov.uk.
The consultation closes on 30 January 2026 at 23:55 BST.
Clear lines
Nick Arron said……. “The government believes that it is important that consumers have clear expectations about types of licensed premises and for there to be a clear distinction between them…
