TLDR
- The UK Gambling Commission is tightening rules on non-compliant gaming machines and ramping up enforcement against illegal land-based gambling.
- From 29 July 2026, operators must immediately remove gaming machines that lack proper licences or fail technical standards.
- The UK government has allocated £26 million over three years to help the Commission tackle illegal gambling in land-based venues.
- New survey data shows 3.3% of British adults played bingo in 2024, with total bingo gross gambling yield hitting £816 million.
- Two-thirds of land-based bingo revenue comes from gaming machines rather than bingo games themselves.
The UK Gambling Commission has laid out plans to crack down on non-compliant gaming machines and illegal gambling operations across the country. The announcement was made at the Bingo Association’s annual general meeting on 7 May.
Acting chief executive Sarah Gardner delivered the news, outlining a strategy that pairs cooperation with licensed operators alongside tougher enforcement measures. She stressed that working with the industry has already produced results.
“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,” Gardner said.
Gardner praised outgoing Bingo Association chief executive Miles Baron for a decade of engagement. She also welcomed his replacement, Nicole Garrett, who pledged to maintain the collaborative relationship.
One area where that partnership has paid off is in improving gambling participation data. Some operators had previously questioned the accuracy of the Gambling Survey for Great Britain’s estimates on bingo player numbers.
New Survey Data Paints Clearer Picture of Bingo Participation
To address those concerns, the Commission and the Bingo Association worked together to add a new survey question. The goal was to identify more precisely where people were playing bingo.
The updated figures showed that 3.3% of adults in Great Britain played bingo in 2024. Of those, 1.2% played in traditional bingo clubs. The Bingo Association’s own admissions-based data had put that figure at 1.0%.
The new question will be kept in future surveys as the sample size grows. Gardner said the data also confirmed “the social nature of bingo” as a key reason people visit venues in person.
The Commission also released its Industry Statistics for 2024/25. Total bingo gross gambling yield came in at £816 million, representing about 5% of the UK gambling industry’s £16.8 billion total.
Land-based bingo generated £650 million, while remote bingo brought in £166 million. Two-thirds of land-based bingo revenue came from gaming machines in venues, with actual bingo games making up 35%.
That heavy reliance on gaming machines is directly connected to the Commission’s ongoing Gaming Machines consultation.
Tougher Rules on Gaming Machines Take Effect in July
Gardner announced that starting 29 July 2026, non-remote operators will be required to immediately remove gaming machines if the Commission finds they lack the proper technical operating licence or do not meet technical standards.
The move is designed to “streamline processes and ensure non-compliant machines are swiftly removed from premises,” according to Gardner. A full response to the consultation is expected to be published this summer.
On the enforcement side, the UK government has committed £26 million in new funding over the next three years. That money will go toward the Commission’s efforts to tackle illegal gambling, with a focus on land-based venues.
The government has also separately allocated £25.4 million to gambling-harm prevention organisations.
“This funding will allow us to invest, arguably for the first time in a serious way, in addressing land-based illegal gambling,” Gardner said. She added that continued cooperation with law enforcement agencies, including the police, remains important.
The announcements come as the government is expected to make decisions on the Gambling Act review and consultations on the Commission’s funding and fees. The Commission is currently in the final year of its corporate strategy.
Gardner closed by reaffirming the Commission’s intent to work closely with the Bingo Association and compliant operators to deliver “safer, fairer and crime-free gambling.” Further details on the Commission’s plans will be published after ministerial decisions on fees are made.
