Service Description: The Licensing Authority will issue a premises licence for: Casinos, Betting Offices and Race Tracks, Bingo Clubs, Adult Gaming Centres, Family Entertainment Centres. They will issue permits for: Gaming machines in members' clubs and licensed premises, prize gaming and Unlicensed Family Entertainment Centres.
Answer: Under the new Act clubs can offer bingo and other equal chance gaming without a permit or a licence provided that: the club abides by 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 bingo the club will commit an offence if high turnover bingo is played again in the following twelve months, unless a bingo operating licence has been obtained. If your total stakes or prizes for bingo reach £2,000 in any seven day period without an operating licence you must notify the Gambling Commission. Provided conditions outlined in the new Act are complied with you do not need a premises licence