UK Bingo Licensing Faces Questions As Machine Revenue Grows

Highlights

• Gaming machines generated £461.7 million in GGY at UK bingo premises in the year to March 2026.
• Rising machine revenue is raising questions about the difference between bingo premises and adult gaming centres.

The UK bingo sector is facing renewed questions over UK bingo licensing as gaming machines take a larger share of venue revenue.

UK Gambling Commission figures show that gaming machines generated £461.7 million in gross gambling yield (GGY) at bingo premises in the year to March 2026. Bingo games generated £242.1 million during the same period.

Machine revenue has risen sharply since 2019-20, when it stood at around £293 million. Category B machines accounted for about £361 million of the latest machine GGY.

The figures have increased debate over the role of gaming machines at bingo venues. Some smaller high-street operators now generate most of their gambling revenue from machines. Traditional bingo clubs continue to earn a larger share from bingo games.

The UK government has previously considered changes to the licensing framework. The proposals aimed to create a clearer distinction between bingo premises and adult gaming centres.

One option was to require a set proportion of each venue to be used for bingo. Suggested levels ranged from 30% to 50%.

The number of traditional bingo clubs has also fallen. Government data cited in the analysis shows a decline from 335 in December 2018 to 248 in August 2024.

Meanwhile, licensed bingo premises reached 714 in March 2026, up from 688 a year earlier.These changes could keep pressure on policymakers to clarify UK bingo licensing and which activities should qualify for a bingo licence.

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