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The Gambling Commission plans stronger rules for non-compliant gaming machines and more enforcement against illegal land-based gambling.
Good to Know
The UK Gambling Commission is preparing tougher oversight for gaming machines while keeping close ties with compliant bingo operators.
Acting chief executive Sarah Gardner outlined the plan at the Bingo Association annual general meeting on 7 May. She said cooperation with the sector had already helped fix gaps in national gambling data, including bingo participation figures.
Gardner said:
“We know what we can achieve through our powers, but we know that we can achieve a whole lot more for our objectives by working with those in industry who are willing to work with us.”
The Gambling Survey for Great Britain had drawn questions from some bingo operators over player estimates. After work with the Bingo Association, the Commission added a new question to show more clearly where people play bingo.
The updated data showed 3.3% of adults in Great Britain played bingo in 2024. Of that group, 1.2% played in traditional bingo clubs. The Bingo Association had reported 1.0% based on venue admissions. The new question will remain as the sample grows.
Gardner also pointed to the social side of bingo, saying GSGB data confirmed “the social nature of bingo” as a key reason people still visit venues.
Bingo revenue remains closely tied to machines. In 2024/25, total bingo Gross Gambling Yield reached £816 million, out of £16.8 billion across the wider UK gambling market. Land-based bingo generated £650 million, while remote bingo reached £166 million. Gaming machines produced two-thirds of land-based bingo GGY, with bingo games making up 35%.
That split explains the next regulatory step. From 29 July 2026, land-based operators must remove machines at once if the Commission says they lack the right technical operating licence or fail technical standards. Gardner said the aim is to “streamline processes and ensure non-compliant machines are swiftly removed from premises.”
The Commission plans to publish its full gaming machines consultation response “this summer.”
Illegal land-based gambling will also get more attention. The government has allocated £26 million to the Commission over three years for enforcement work, alongside £25.4 million for gambling harm prevention groups. Gardner said:
“This funding will allow us to invest, arguably for the first time in a serious way, in addressing land-based illegal gambling.”
She also said police and other enforcement partners will remain part of the work.
The comments came as the industry waits for more decisions tied to the Gambling Act review, Commission fees, and future funding. Gardner also praised outgoing Bingo Association chief executive Miles Baron for 10 years of engagement and welcomed Nicole Garrett, who said she would “continue to build that collaborative relationship.”