Can social clubs hold bingo games for their members?
Under the new Act clubs can offer bingo and other equal chance gaming without a permit or a licence provided that: • the club complies with limits to be set in regulations for the amounts which may be deducted from sums staked or won (unless a club gaming permit is held); • the participation fee is no more than the regulations allow (expected to be £1 per person per day, or £3 where a club gaming permit is held); • games are held on the premises; • games are not linked with games held on other premises; • games are only open to club members and guests (unless your club is a commercial club); • and/or the total stakes or prizes for bingo games played in any seven day period does not exceed £2,000 more than once in 12 months. You will need to apply for a bingo operating licence if you operate bingo on your club premises with total stakes or prizes that go above £2,000 a week and you plan to do so again at any time during the following twelve months. After the first week of high turnover
