Bingo Regulations UK

Bingo, or Lotto, as it is sometimes known, is a family friendly game that has been bringing people together since the middle of the 1500’s. These days, there is an abundance of online UK casino’s, which have a strong focus towards bingo gaming. 

The UK is at the nucleus of the online gambling industry, and so has a responsibility to implement laws which ensure safety and fairness throughout. These regulations involve bingo, so we are going to look into what all players should be aware of when gaming in the UK.

The Responsibilities of the UKGC and the Roles it has

The United Kingdom Gambling Commission has worked locally to implement licensing and regulation for both online and retail gambling operations, since September 2007. It regulates online lottery, sports betting, online casinos, and online poker. As well as licensing gambling operators, the commission has a responsibility to ensure safe and fair practice. The work it does is as follows:

• Prevent illegal activity associated to gambling – License holders are asked by the UKGC to apply effective policies with the aim of avoiding as much illegal activity as possible. If the policies in place are insufficient, then the operator will be subject to punishment. Read review for more information.
• The use of GAMSTOP – The UKGC will ensure that an operator offer products obtained only from licensed providers. Online bingo operators may not be registered to GAMSTOP and still provide games of high quality, but the UKGC works to ensure that consumers are not being deceived by non-GAMSTOP advertising.

• Gambling License Delivery – Each gambling form requires a separate licensing, in the UK, and the UKGC provides operators with each type of license. There are 7 different licenses, as follows, Casino, Betting, Arcades, Gaming machines, Lotteries, Gambling software, and Bingo.

The Regulations and Legislations for UK Bingo

Bingo has a large following in both bingo halls, clubs, and online platforms. It is a game reliant on chance, and can be played either remotely or in a public premises. The law in the UK, states that bingo gaming can only be performed under licensed premises. Bingo is included in the Gaming Act of 1968, and 2005, where it regulates that the game must be based on three fundamentals:

• The game is fair
• There can be no illegal or criminal activity involved
• Children and other vulnerable players must be protected by the operator

 Bingo also features in the Gaming Act 2014, where it rules that any platform conducting business involving UK based must be licensed through the UKGC. In addition, advertising laws must be adhered to, and they must follow tax laws.

UKGC Whitelist

There is a whitelist in the UK for rules regarding licensing and advertising. The countries listed below are permitted to provide services and operate in UK territory. These countries each have similar legislations to protect players, like the scheme whereby a player can self-exclude. The countries gambling commissions for are as follows:

• EEA Countries
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Alderney
• Isle of Man
• Gibraltar
• Tasmania

Safety and Protection is Crucial for Sustaining the Industry

Player safety should be at the forefront of all gambling operations, and bingo is no exception. The future of the industry relies heavily on safety and fairness, and that is why regulations are so important. Gambling in any form is for the purpose of entertainment, so any unfair or dangerous actions would put that in jeopardy.

As a consumer, it is important that you know your rights, as you can then gauge what to expect from a gambling operator.

The commission is working constantly to keep gambling activity legal, which will improve the experience for the player.